How Spider-Man: Homecoming begins and ties into the MCU

The structure of the Marvel Cinematic Universe typically has the films taking place right around the time they’re released in theaters, but the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming will be doing things a little differently. While many might expect it to pick up a year after last year’s Captain America: Civil War, where Tom Holland made his debut as the webslinger, the film actually dials the clock back, way back, all the way to Phase 1 of the MCU.

Spider-Man: Homecoming will begin just after the conclusion of 2012’s The Avengers, as the clean-up of the Battle of New York has begun, not only retconning the character’s place in the world but grounding it in the ideals Marvel wanted to explore in the film.

“All the other movies so far, take place in this weird penthouse level,” executive producer Eric Carroll told us on set. “Where you’ve met this alien royalty, and Tony Stark, who very literally lives in a penthouse. (Spider-Man) is a guy who grew up in a world where all these characters are real. Seeing it from the ground, what is that like? How is that different?”

The film literally begins in the shadow of Stark Tower, now with its trademark “A” still hanging on. Michael Keaton’s Toomes has arrived with his boys to begin the clean-up process, a nice little contract he’s picked up for his salvage business, only to be stopped by the Department of Damage Control (a nod to the classic Marvel comic series) who are taking over the clean up and send Toomes away. (You can read our full report on the Vulture’s role in the film by clicking here).

Following that, and the Sony and Marvel logos, things will jump into the middle of Civil War, just after Tony Stark has recruited Peter to his side of the fight. A montage will show Peter’s exploits in leaving New York, riding on a private jet to Germany, and taking place in the big airport fight. We’ll also see what he did right after that, hanging around in Europe… literally, as he explores the world in his brand-new Spider-Man suit.

“It’s kind of the first time you get to see this tone,” Carroll says. “We’re really excited about, and we think is fun.”

Then, snap back to reality.

“After seeing all this amazing, glamourous stuff,” Carroll says “Boom… hard cut to him back in his cold weather gear. Riding the subway to school. Crammed next to all the other students, riding public transportation to school and we’ll realize that he’s still waiting for his call from Tony.”

Spider-Man: Homecoming will swing into theaters on July 7. For more coverage from the set visit, click here.

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