After weeks of teasing Spider-Man fans with fake titles for the third entry in the current set of films starring Tom Holland, Sony Pictures finally delivered an official update: The next film will be titled Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The third film in the rebooted Spider-Man solo franchise following Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home will premiere “only in movie theaters this Christmas,” according to Sony’s announcement.
The news was released via Twitter, with the studio’s official Twitter account posting a video of Holland discussing his frustration about the studio’s title misdirection with franchise co-stars Zendaya and Jacob Batalon. The trio wanders by a whiteboard with the film’s official title featured prominently, and the camera then shifts to focus on it. The video then reveals the premiere date for the film.
#SpiderManNoWayHome only in movie theaters this Christmas. @SpiderManMovie pic.twitter.com/tDfAdAuMro
— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) February 24, 2021
It appears that Sony is currently as committed to the “home” theme in the films’ titles as it is to the prospect of releasing the movie in theaters, which currently remain closed or at limited capacity throughout much of the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic. It remains uncertain — and arguably, highly unlikely — that theaters will be operating at full capacity by the end of the year, so the film’s targeted release date could indeed be pushed back as the year goes on.
When the film does arrive in theaters, it will find Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego dealing with the fallout from his battle with Mysterio in Far From Home — a clash that culminated in the villain revealing Spider-Man’s identity to the world. The film is also expected to continue exploring the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, which established a new normal (of sorts) for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Along with Holland, Zendaya, and Batalon, Spider-Man: No Way Home is expected to also bring back franchise cast members Marisa Tomei and Tony Revolori, among other familiar faces. What remains to be seen, however, is which (if any) characters from the greater MCU will also find their way into the next chapter of Spider-Man’s solo saga. Far From Home featured key roles for Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, and Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill, among other MCU veterans. Rumors have suggested that Benedict Cumberbatch could appear as Doctor Strange in No Way Home, possibly serving as Peter’s new mentor in the MCU.
