With recent comments from Sony producer, Amy Pascal, promising that a live-action Miles Morales movie is on the way, I have been pondering over the possibilities of the Brooklyn Spidey’s adventures in the medium. The big question everyone’s been asking, however, is what universe the film will be set in. Will we see Miles in a completely standalone world à la the Raimi trilogy or The Amazing Spider-Man duology or is the film going to be set in ‘Sony’s Spider-Man Universe’ alongside Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and the cinematic icon Morbius. These two options are very likely however, I believe the third likely option of the film being set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the best course of action for Sony to take.
The Spectacular Spider-Men
One of the main benefits of having Miles’ first live-action film be set in the MCU is having the character interact with Tom Holland’s iteration of Peter Parker. Seeing the main, on-screen Spider-Man of the past 8 years mentor and fight alongside a new, younger Spider-Man would be extremely rewarding and entertaining for fans. Introducing Miles to Holland’s Peter would allow for the character to become the figure of experienced, authority that he has been for decades in the comics. Both Miles and Peter benefit from operating at the same time as it makes for interesting story potential and fun team-up moments- they work off each other so well to elevate both characters and that would be a shame to not see that chemistry in the MCU.
Trinity of Champions
Miles isn’t just allies with his fellow web-head in the comics: he was a part of the ‘All-New All-Different Avengers’ and then the ‘Champions’ with other teen legacy heroes Ms Marvel and Nova. This trio has been a key pillar of Miles’ time in the main Marvel comics universe and would be incredibly cool to see on screen in the MCU. Whether the MCU adapts the Champions team or not, this modern Marvel trinity would work so well just based on Iman Vellani playing Kamala alone. Some of my favourite moments from Miles in the comics are his interactions with Kamala and Sam and having him alone in his own universe, unable to portray these important stories on-screen would be a massive, missed opportunity for Sony. This Spider-Man is a lot more of a team player in the Marvel universe than Peter ever has been and Sony’s current strategy of having other Marvel heroes appear in every Tom Holland movie would work more for Miles because of that.
The Baseball Cap-Loving Man with a Plan
For as much flack Kevin Feige gets from a lot of people, especially for the current Multiverse Saga, I still think he knows what he’s doing most of the time. At least 90% more of the time than the folks over at Sony heading their live-action Spider-Man movies, so I’d rather him have a hand in Miles’ time in front of the camera. Feige has a proven track record with the mega success of the MCU and therefore I feel like his oversight, planning and ability to integrate characters into a varied, lived-in cinematic universe would benefit Miles greatly. In a way, it would be unfair for one Spider-Man to have a portrayal in such an iconic franchise and leave out the other.
Childish Gambino is on the Prowl…
Almost 7 whole years ago, one of Miles’ most important supporting characters appeared in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’- Aaron Davis, played by the amazingly talented Donald Glover. This was a very meta casting as Glover was one of the main inspirations in the creation of Miles in 2011 due to his campaign to play the next on-screen Spider-Man. He has even voiced Miles Morales in the ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ show, so he has strong ties to the character and that’s why it was so exciting seeing him cast as his villainous uncle. But even past the meta element of this casting, Glover oozes charisma and memorability in the small time he has on screen, and it would be a crime not to follow up on this almost a decade later by having him return as the Prowler in a Miles Morales movie. The set-up is there and the actor’s recent cameo as a fully costumed Prowler in last year’s ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ only proves further that Glover is still perfect in the role (if not more now as an older man).
There are benefits and drawbacks to any way they decide to bring Miles’ Spider-Man to live-action and above all, I of course want a quality film to be the priority, but I believe having these stories be set in the interconnected world of the MCU would be better for the character in the long-term.
By @_ricebowl_ on Twitter
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