'Spider-Man: Homecoming 2' will most like not feature Iron Man
While “Spider-Man: Homecoming” hits theatres in a matter of weeks, Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures, and Disney already have big plans for the franchise going forward. “Spider-Man: Homecoming 2” is already set for release on July 5, 2019, and while there isn't any official word on who's writing or directing that movie yet, the complex deal that brought together Marvel and Sony has stipulations that leaves clue into what may be coming down the pike.
According to The Hollywood Reporter's extensive profile of “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, star Tom Holland is contractually obligated to star in “Spider-Man: Homecoming 2” and “Spider-Man 3”, but when it comes to the next sequel it won't be Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man working alongside Peter Parker. The inclusion of Iron Man in “Homecoming” was a smart way to clue fans into the fact that “Spider-Man: Homecoming” does indeed take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Downey Jr. is a busy and expensive actor. So the current contract between Sony and Marvel—which lets Marvel take the creative lead on the Spider-Man movies while Sony pays for and reaps the profits from them—says that Sony will get another MCU character that it does not own to use in “Spider-Man: Homecoming 2”.
It won't probably be clear who will be starring alongside Holland in the sequel, until “Avengers: Infinity War” is released, which hits theatres next May and finds Peter Parker fighting alongside every hero that the MCU has brought to the big screen. Holland made his debut in “Captain America: Civil War” and had a fun antagonistic rapport with Chris Evans' Captain America, but Evans has made it pretty clear that once his contract expires with “Avengers 4”, he's eyeing the door.
THR's report also notes that Michael Keaton's contract only has him playing the villainous Vulture in one movie, and it doesn't seem likely that he will make an appearance in the next Spider-Man films.
All eyes will be on “Homecoming” to see how audiences respond, but it's safe to assume preliminary discussions about “Spider-Man: Homecoming 2” are already taking place. Will it be Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange? Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow? Or maybe Paul Rudd's Ant-Man? Only time will tell.
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