Disney’s D23 Expo was filled with exciting casting announcements, like Kit Harington’s role in Marvel’s Eternals and Ewan McGregor’s return to the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and trailers ranging from The Mandalorian to Lady and the Tramp. But casting a shadow over the festival of all things Disney (an umbrella that at this point covers a hell of a lot) was the news that, due to stalled contract renegotiations with Sony, last month’s Spider-Man: Far From Home could mark the webslinger’s Marvel Cinematic Universe swan song. It’s still unclear just what Peter Parker's future will look like, but star Tom Holland revealed some info. He’s sticking with the role—and thank god for that, the last thing we need in these turbulent times is a changing of the Spider-Men—and helping to take the story in a different direction.
"Who knows what the future holds?” Holland told Entertainment Weekly Saturday at D23. "But all I know is that I’m going to continue playing Spider-Man and having the time of my life. It’s going to be so fun, however we choose to do it. The future for Spider-Man will be different, but it will be equally as awesome and amazing, and we’ll find new ways to make it even cooler.”
In an appearance at Philadelphia’s Keystone Comic Con, the actor reportedly offered hints at the future. "There’s definitely more to come,” he said. "We sat down with some of our creatives. We pitched Spider-Man 3, which is going to be something very special, it’s going to be something very different.”
It’s not a ton to go on (Holland really seems to have learned the error of his spoiler-machine ways), but at least it seems that audiences won’t be entirely left hanging after Far From Home. And with Deadline reporting that that film’s writers, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, are onboard to write the third movie, there will definitely be some continuity between the projects.
Sony will also likely put the character to use in its burgeoning cinematic universe. Venom was a box office hit, but it was also the kind of critical dud that could render diminishing returns for the sequel. The addition of a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man could do wonders. Peter Parker will have to be on the hunt for a new father figure though, as his days of hanging out with Happy Hogan are probably over.
Gabrielle Bruney is a writer and editor for Esquire, where she focuses on politics and culture. She's based (and born and raised) in Brooklyn, New York.
