We have seen five Sony-led films featuring two different versions of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), but now Spiderman has returned to the hands of Marvel Studios, all ready to make a big impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The arachnophiliac hero debuted in the series in Captain America: Civil War, but now he will be starring in his own solo movie, entitled Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The movie, which is a deal between Sony and Marvel, means that 2017 will now have three MCU titles released, with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in April, Thor: Ragnarok in late October, and Spiderman slotting in between the two, on 7th July 2017.
The rating for the film can’t officially be announced until it has been nearly finished, but we can expect that, in line with the rest of the main MCU, the blockbuster will be aiming to be categorised as a 12A.
It also makes particular sense to keep to this rating, as Spiderman is not only the most optimistic of the Marvel comics heroes, but also the youngest. True to his origins, the new Spiderman is to be portrayed as just 15 years old, and it would be contradictory for a film starring the world’s most popular teen superhero to be inaccessible to teens.
Fortunately, Marvel have realised that by now we really do all know Spiderman’s origin story as Peter Parker, and so all of this has been skipped over in the new film. When we meet him in Civil War, he mentions having had his powers for about 6 months already, and it seems likely that Spider-Man: Homecoming will be set shortly after the events of Civil War.
We also know that Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spiderman will face down legendary Michael Keaton (yes, the one who played Batman) as Adrian Toomes/Vulture.
No official plot description has been released yet, but we do know from early footage shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 that most of it seems to be set in Midtown High School. Given the title, it seems likely that the school dance may feature as a plot point, too.
