This article contains spoilers forSpider-Man: No Way HomeThere is no denying thatSpider-Man: No Way Homeis a global sensation. As of this writing, the film has already grossed more than $1.5 billion in less than one month. All during a global pandemic where many folks are still hesitant to go to the movie theater.
Spider-Man: No Way Homehas a few catalysts going for it. For one thing, Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) rarely make a poor product. Most of the time, they hit it out of the park. Not to mention blockbuster films that come out around Christmas tend to fare relatively well historically. Furthermore, Spider-Man is Marvel’s most popular character, and arguably the most popular superhero on planet Earth.
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The film is a triumph, shattering all notions that superhero fatigue has set in among the general public.Spider-Man: No Way Homeis heartfelt, uplifting, tragic, and humorous all at once without feeling like a tonally confused film. That is no easy feat. So what can the next Spider-Man film do to possibly follow inSpider-Man: No Way Home’s footsteps? There are many directions Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures can go in, but one thing is certain: the next Spider-Man film should not try to hit the grand-slam that its predecessor did.Expectations are sky-high, but sometimes swinging for the fences leads to a strike-out.
Spider-Man: No Way Homewas a rare type of Spider-Man film where Spider-Man has to rectify problems that he caused. This led to potentially world-altering consequences. The next film should go ground-level as a result of the events ofSpider-Man: No Way Home.
Embrace Peter Parker’s Knack for Poor Luck
In Spider-Man comics, occasionally readers will hearPeter lament about the ‘Parker Luck.’This refers to his seemingly poor luck as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Whether it comes to love or keeping the streets of New York City safe, sometimes Spider-Man hits the wall.
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures can embrace this aspect from the comics to makePeter Parker seem like just a regular guy,even if he does have extraordinary powers. For example, Peter can catch a cold after swinging through New York City during the winter months. Or he can be struggling to make ends meet with a low-wage job. The possibilities are plenty when it comes to how the next Spider-Man film can toy with the ‘Parker Luck.’
Utilize Ground-Level Villains
In the MCU, Spider-Man has been punching above his weight for some time. The wall-crawler literally punched Thanos multiple times during the second act ofAvengers: Infinity War. He helped the Avengers save the world inAvengers: Endgame. Furthermore,Spider-Man: No Way Homedeals with problems on a multiversal scale.
Now, the MCU shouldfocus on Peter saving New York City, one neighborhood, street, or even person at a time. This requires ground level-villains to set the stage of this next film. Having Spider-Man go against the Kingpin, Black Cat, Hammerhead, Tombstone, or Kraven makes good sense here. The MCU can introduce Venom into its universe in this film, but should explore him in greater depth in future films, as he presents a greater threat than the formerly mentioned supervillains.
The Daily Bugle and Spider-Man’s Reputation as a Menace
Now that Peter Parker (with Doctor Strange’s help) is no longer known to be Spider-Man, a huge problem is resolved. However, this is only half of the battle for the Wall-Crawler.
Peter Parker’s reputation might be in good standing, but Spider-Man’s certainly is not. Conspiracy theorists still believe he murdered Mysterio at the end ofSpider-Man: Far From Home.TheDaily Buglenews program is largely to blamefor this. The next Spider-Man film would be wise to embrace a New York City where Spider-Man is beloved by half and despised by half. This would mirror the fractured American society and make the film feel even more ground-level.
Explore Individual New York City Neighborhoods
Part of the reason theMarvel Netflix shows likeDaredevilandLuke Cagewere fantastic is they really made viewers feel as though they were exploring a specific part of New York City. Daredevil’s home is Hell’s Kitchen, on the west side of Manhattan. Luke Cage is Harlem’s favorite son, located north of Central Park.
The next Spider-Man installment can take the lead from these shows and embrace New York City’s eclectic nature. Imagine Spider-Man swinging through the Financial District, where the New York Stock Exchange is located. Or he could traverse through Times Square and meet and greet flocks of tourists. Best yet, he could head into Brooklyn and possiblyintroduce Miles Morales into the MCU.
Pain and Healing in the Aftermath ofSpider-Man: No Way Home
Peter Parker endured things inSpider-Man: No Way Homethat no one deserves, let alone a person with his moral compass.He lost his Aunt Mayand everyone close to him who knew he was Spider-Man no longer knows who Peter Parker is. On top of the personal loss, he also no longer has access to Stark technology.
The next Spider-Man installment can embrace Peter Parker’s pain. It should, after all the character has been through. But it should also show Peter Parker beginning the healing process after enduring so much loss. After all, in his natural state Spider-Man is an upbeat superhero who wants the best for everyone, even his enemies. This once again makes him arguably the most relatable superhero in all of comics.
The next Spider-Man film has large, webbed shoes to fill. However, by staying grounded and embracing both Spider-Man and Peter Parker’s problems, the film can produce a winning formula and top the box office once again.
