‘Is it MCU or not?’: Spider-Man’s much-anticipated Marvel return is leaving confusion in its wake, but not because Tom Holland is out the picture
Dylan Hughes Spider-Man is coming back to the MCU, much earlier than we were expecting! But, wait, hold your (Spider-)horses, as there are probably some things you should know first before you start counting down the days to Spider-Man 4.
Recommended VideosWhile Sony and Marvel have yet to announce another Spidey flick, the House of Ideas has surprised us all with the news that the MCU’s first ever TV show based around the webslinger is on its way in 2024. And it goes by the name of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Although we haven’t heard this title before, the project itself is one you should be familiar with, as it used to be called Spider-Man: Freshman Year.
That show earned a fair bit of buzz when it was first announced in fall 2021, as it was pitched as a Captain America: Civil War prequel revealing the secret origins of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. Unfortunately, its creative development has changed since then and now the series is believed to take place in an alternate reality. What’s more, Holland won’t reprise his role. Voice actor Hudson Thames (who already plays Peter in What If…?) will take up the part.
So when news of the title update and its impending release hit the — forgive me — web, most reactions weren’t necessarily one of excitement but puzzlement.
Is this still supposed to be the MCU Peter Parker or a different one?
— 𝑺𝑼𝑵𝑫𝑼𝑺𝑻 ☄️💫 (@SundustCrusader) December 12, 2023
Did they ever make up their mind about whether this is in the MCU or not?
— Fizz-sama (@FizzAgain) December 12, 2023
So does it take place in the MCU or not? I’ve seen some sources say it does and some say it doesn’t.
— Aero (@Aero1164) December 12, 2023
So, to answer everyone’s question, Your Friendly Neighborhood… You-Know is part of the MCU, in terms of being part of its multiverse. It’s just that it’s not part of the MCU’s Sacred Timeline. We know because characters who definitely aren’t part of Peter’s life on Earth-616 at this point in time, like Norman and Harry Osborn and Doctor Octopus (played by Hannibal’‘s Hugh Dancy, FYI), will feature in the show.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man it’s called, but we’re still not entirely sure which neighborhood he belongs to.
