Spider-Man 3: Spider-Verse Should Be The Main Arc For MCU’s Next Trilogy

Spider-Man 3 is tackling the Spider-Verse concept, which should really be the main arc of the next Spider-Man trilogy. There’s a lot more going on in the next Spider-Man installment besides the plot set-up in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Not only was Spider-Man framed for murder by Mysterio, but his secret identity was also exposed to the world. It appears Peter Parker will have his plate beyond full. Not only is Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange showing up, but also a number of legacy characters from past Spider-Man franchises.

Both Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina are reprising their respective Spider-Man villains as Electro and Doctor Octopus from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 2 respectively. It’s unclear if they’re playing new MCU takes on their characters or the same versions that appeared in the old franchises. But those aren’t the only mysteries surrounding the film as it has been reported that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire are also attached, in addition to their respective love interests, Emma Stone and Kirsten Dunst.

No matter how they’re doing it, the Spider-Verse is getting a live-action adaptation in some form. Even if it’s not the same as seen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the multiverse angle is being factored into Spider-Man 3, officially because of Doctor Strange (not to forget the fact Sony is reportedly developing a Madame Web movie). There is also some involvement with the Sinister Six given Electro and Doctor Octopus are appearing in the sequel. With so much going down, it’s becoming one of Phase 4’s most packed films. While this is all certainly a thrilling prospect, it would be best if the multiverse were left to a minimum in Spider-Man 3, leaving it to be properly explored in the next Spider-Man trilogy.

Every MCU Spider-Man Film Doesn’t Let Peter Be Clutch-Free

Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home have one thing in common and that is the need to give Tom Holland’s Peter Parker a crutch. The first installment had the inclusion of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man who formed a father/son-like relationship with Peter starting in Captain America: Civil War. Some criticized Tony Stark’s addition to the film as not letting Peter stand on his own legs after having just joined the MCU. Despite his death in Avengers: Endgame, the following Spider-Man sequel still relied on Tony to some degree, but in spirit and technology. There was also the involvement of Nick Fury (despite he being Talos in disguise) guiding as Peter took on Mysterio, not to mention Happy Hogan serving as the specter of Tony Stark and looking over Peter.

With Stephen Strange entering the picture in Spider-Man 3, Peter is once again having to rely on another major Avenger as a mentor figure of sorts. One of the important aspects of Spider-Man mythology is that he doesn’t actually rely that much on other Marvel superheroes. That was something that Sam Raimi and Marc Webb’s respective franchise captured so well by letting Peter be his own web-slinging hero (which is a lot easier when they aren’t part of the MCU).

Unlike the other versions of Spider-Man in live-action, this iteration is a teenager so he’s still learning how to be a superhero while growing up. But that doesn’t mean that Spider-Man should have a supervising baby-sitting Avenger in every movie. Even if Peter is the protagonist, some of the spotlight is definitely stolen from him any time another MCU character is added in a large role. Had Tony or Doctor Strange been given cameo parts, that would have been one thing, but that isn’t the case here. Marvel and Sony need to trust their Spider-Man to shine and stand on his own without having to rely on a major MCU crutch.

Spider-Man 3 Should Complete Peter’s Personal Struggle

After Spider-Man: Far From Home concluded with Peter’s secret being out to the world and being framed for murder, it automatically helped the sequel to be set up on a massive scale. This is the biggest plot twist that any Spider-Man film has ever done especially by ending on a cliffhanger to launch the follow-up. The stakes are now higher than ever for Peter as he goes forward in his still young life. However Spider-Man 3 plans to wrap this arc up, it’ll need to be done in a proper and believable way that doesn’t undo Mysterio’s action too easily. But if the third installment is going to focus on that as well as now at least two Spider-Man villains and possibly two other Peter Parkers, how can it be done in a 2-hour film?

Spider-Man 3 is getting extremely crowded because, should Garfield and Maguire truly be involved, it’s definitely not for just a cameo or one big scene. Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy should get to properly end with Peter’s major struggle being resolved without feeling like that it’s one storyline too much for the sequel. If the film now also aims to focus on the Multiverse aspect the MCU is getting ready to explore, it takes away from what should be Peter’s ultimate obstacle to overcome. Instead of focusing on the inclusion of Doctor Strange and now multiple Spider-Men, Spider-Man 3 should focus on Peter solving the situation from Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s cliffhanger ending.

A Spider-Man Sequel Trilogy Can Take Its Time To Develop Spider-Verse

But just because Spider-Man 3 shouldn’t be consumed by the Spider-Verse doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing in the MCU. The key to Marvel Studios’ success with the MCU is how they took their time to build-up each story. They spent over a decade building up to the Avengers taking on the villainous Thanos, which is largely why Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame felt so earned. While it’s unknown what their next big endgame might be, the Spider-Verse should be given the same opportunity.

Marvel Studios is only now starting to explore the Multiverse through projects like WandaVision, the next Doctor Strange film. Even though Into the Spider-Verse was a big hit, that doesn’t mean they can throw Tom Holland’s Spidey into his own Spider-Verse so hastily, especially when he still has major plot threads to resolve. In order to do both Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and the Spider-Verse justice, it should be more fully explored a sequel trilogy.

Peter is one of the new front faces of the MC, and with more young upcoming heroes on their way, Spider-Man isn’t going away that easily or that soon. Assuming he gets a sequel trilogy, the two studios could spread the Spider-Verse across several years. There’s more than enough to explore in the Spider-Verse and it will truly serve as one of the MCU’s biggest character arcs (while also being friendly to Sony’s MCU-adjacent Spider-Man franchise(s).

Because of how young this Spider-Man is, it was obviously intended by Marvel and Sony to have a long character arc that spans over multiple films than just one trilogy. Tom Holland is already on pace to beat Robert Downey Jr.’s tenure as Tony Stark, which is more than deserving of a full Spider-Verse trilogy, not just a Spider-Man 3 with some Spider-Verse flavoring.

About The Author

Andy Behbakht
(1045 Articles Published)

Andy is a senior writer at Screen Rant as he has covered the world of entertainment journalism since 2010, including superhero/comic book media. In addition to his work as a reporter, Andy co-hosts The Flash Podcast while running and producing the entire DC TV Podcasts network. He is also the founder/editor-in-chief of The Marvel Report since Fall 2015. Andy has previously written for sites such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It’s Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more.

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