Spider-Man’s popularity has never really wavered. Much like Superman and Batman, he has almost always had a place in pop culture. Recently though Spider-Man has experienced a renaissance to rival the rest of the comics industry.
With Spidey’s addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alongside the budding franchise that has begun to grow on Sony’s PlayStation consoles, it looks like there is a lot in store for the character. The future begins to look even brighter when release dates for movies and games are put side by side.
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2016 and 2017 seem almost a lifetime ago when looking at the MCU but it was the beginning of Spider-Man’s stint in a new generation of films. While plenty of rumors have been circulating about returning Spider-Men for Spider-Man: No Way Home, Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming solidified what kind of character the new Peter Parker would be.
As a snappy high school student, the new Spidey delivered the endearing touches that many fans associate with a modern depiction of the character. While there was some insecurity regarding the character’s continued presence within the MCU his roles in standalone and ensemble films like Avengers: Infinity War point towards a bright future. Hopefully, this future will get just as weird as the comics.
In the fall of 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4 felt like the game that many Spider-Man fans have been waiting for. The beautiful open world of New York combined with Spidey’s classic rogue gallery let fans live out the Spider-Man experience of their dreams. The success of the game kept the train rolling and has helped to guarantee a growing array of Spider-Man media to enjoy.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse built on this sensation and is the exact movie that many fans have been hoping to see for years. While Miles Morales is a relatively new character, considering the decades-long history that Marvel and Spider-Man have, people have still formed a deep connection with him. The Brooklyn-based Spidey was one of the first pieces of evidence for many that there can indeed be anyone under the mask.
The December 2018 movie created a unique universe that paid homage to the character’s past in the comics as well as to others who don the persona of a Spider. With the broad success that the movie had the Spider-Verse sequel will likely set up an interconnected web of conflict and redemption as a young Miles begins to fully understand what it means to be the hero, he has become.
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Spider-Man: Far from Home was Peter’s summer vacation in 2019 and the first adventure since the loss of Tony Stark. While there can be plenty of debate on whether personality-wise Peter is closer to Tony or Steve Rogers as well as who would have been a better mentor there is no denying that Far from Home is a major step into the future of the MCU. Civil War might have been Peter’s intro into the universe but Far from Home was his full and true introduction as the Spider-Man.
2020 saw a lot happen in the world it also delivered Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5. The game has been hailed for its dedication to Miles as a hero and showing off his development. It did a great job at expanding Earth-1048 and set in stone that the Spidey games on PlayStation were not just to tell the story of Spider-Man from the perspective of Peter Parker. Miles sees a ton of development as a character and is able to delve deep into his training and growth as one of New York’s protectors.
While Spider-Man No Way Home is still unreleased there is already a ton to discuss about the movie. Many fans see it as almost an undeniable fact that it will draw the MCU into the web of the Spider-Verse and is directly connecting to past Spider-Man movies. While past villains, like the Green Goblin, have been confirmed the role of any individual characters is still up for debate.
One thing that many fans may want to consider though is the movie's current release date. While holiday release dates are common No Way Home’s 2021 release is so close to the exact anniversary of Into the Spider-Verse that it feels intentional. With any luck, Peter’s absence following Infinity War also saw Aaron Davis's nephew grow up so that Miles Morales can make his debut in the MCU.
Word on Spider-Man 2 for PS5 is quiet but fans are not wrong to hold out hope. With the schedule that Spider-Man media seems to be on it feels like only a matter of time before a 2022 release date is announced. The past two games have been incredible and considering the teasers, there is a strong chance Venom will debut as well. Hopefully, with Sony as a partner for Summer Game Fest there will be some info revealed on Spider-Man 2 and other PS5 titles. A 2022 release would also line up with how Spider-Man PS4 and Into the Spider-Verse released, keeping the renaissance release schedule going.