Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)


Peter Parker is a fictional character portrayed by Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film franchise—based on the character of the same name by Marvel Comics —commonly known by his alter ego, Spider-Man. In the films, Parker is a high school student at Midtown School of Science and Technology while secretly being a vigilante. He is also the protégé of Tony Stark.
, the character is one of the central figures of the MCU, having appeared prominently in five films from his introduction in ' up to '. In Iron Man 2, director Jon Favreau's son Max appears as a child wearing an Iron Man mask whom Iron Man saves from a drone. This was, retroactively, the introduction of a young Peter Parker to the MCU, as confirmed in June 2017 by Holland, producer Kevin Feige and Homecoming director Jon Watts.

Concept and creation

Peter Parker first premiered as a comic book character in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15. Following a surge in teenage demand for comic books, Marvel Comics editor and head writer Stan Lee wanted to create a character with whom teens could identify. Lee cited pulp magazine crime fighter the Spider as an influence, and stated that he was further inspired by seeing a spider climb up a wall—adding in his autobiography that he has told that story so often he has become unsure of whether or not this is true. Lee "wanted the character to be a very human guy, someone who makes mistakes, who worries, who gets acne, has trouble with his girlfriend, things like that". Jack Kirby, meanwhile, had an unpublished character on which he had collaborated with Joe Simon in the 1950s, in which an orphaned boy living with an old couple finds a magic ring that granted him superhuman powers. Lee and Kirby had a story conference, and Lee directed Kirby to flesh out the character and draw some pages. Unsatisfied with Kirby's story direction, Lee turned the project over to Steve Ditko, who designed the character with a costume with a face mask, a clinging power, and wrist-fired webs. Under Kirby's direction, the character "became high-school student Peter Parker, who gets his spider powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider".
A tokusatsu series featuring an original character named Takuya Yamashiro assuming the mantle of Spider-Man, "Supaidā-Man" was produced by Toei and aired in Japan from 1978 to 1979. The character was featured in a trilogy of live-action films directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire as the titular superhero, with installments released from 2002 to 2007. A third sequel was originally scheduled to be released in 2011, but Sony later decided to reboot the franchise with a new director and cast. The reboot, titled The Amazing Spider-Man, was released in 2012; directed by Marc Webb and starring Andrew Garfield as the new Spider-Man, followed by a sequel in 2014.
Following the November 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures' computers, emails between Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal and president Doug Belgrad were released stating that Marvel wanted to include Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, but talks between the studios concerning this were believed to have broken down. However, in February 2015, the studios reached a licensing deal for the use of Spider-Man in an MCU film, and reports indicated that the character would indeed appear in Civil War. According to the deal, Sony Pictures would continue to own, finance, distribute, and exercise final creative control over the Spider-Man films. The next month, Marvel Entertainment CCO Joe Quesada indicated that the Peter Parker version of the character would be used, which Feige confirmed in April. Feige also stated that Marvel had been working to add Spider-Man to the MCU since at least October 2014. The following June, Feige clarified that the initial Sony deal does not allow the character to appear in any of the MCU television series, as it was "very specific... with a certain amount of back and forth allowed." The same month, the companies announced that after many auditions, Tom Holland had been cast to play Spider-Man within the MCU. Tom Holland made his debut as Spider-Man in Civil War, before later starring in ' ; directed by Jon Watts. Holland reprised his role as Spider-Man in ', ' and '.
In August 2019, negotiations between Sony and Marvel broke down, leaving the character's future in the MCU uncertain. The following month, however, the companies agreed to a new deal to have Spider-Man return to the MCU, beginning with a sequel to Spider-Man: Far From Home, to be released on November 5, 2021. Disney will provide 25% of the film's budget and receive 25% of its profit.

Characterization

first appears as Peter Parker in the MCU in , where he is recruited by Tony Stark to help him arrest Captain America and his rogue Avengers. Producer Kevin Feige said that Parker would be torn between superhero ideologies, saying, "Does he want to be like these other characters? Does he want nothing to do with these other characters? How does that impact his experience, being this grounded but super powerful hero? Those are all the things that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko played with in the first 10 years of his comics, and that now we can play with for the first time in a movie." On aligning with Tony Stark, Anthony Russo said that, despite entering the conflict after the two factions have formed and not having much political investment, Parker's choice comes from "a very personal relationship" he develops with Stark. The Russos hoped "to take a very logical and realistic and naturalistic approach to the character" compared to the previous film portrayals. Anthony Russo added that the character's introduction had to fit "that specific tonal stylistic world" of the MCU, as well as the tone established by the directors in Winter Soldier, saying, "It's a little more grounded and a little more hard-core contemporary." That was "coloring our choices a lot" with Parker. On the Spider-Man suit, Joe Russo described it as "a slightly more traditional, Steve Ditko influenced suit," and that the film would explore the way the suit operates, particularly the mechanical eyes.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Appearances

Early life

In the continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter Parker was born in Queens, New York City on August 10, 2001. Since his childhood, Parker was raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, the latter of whom died later in his life. Parker attended the Midtown School of Science and Technology, where he befriended his classmate Ned Leeds but also found himself deadlocked in rivalry with Flash Thompson. In 2010, Parker visited the Stark Expo. During his visit, Hammer Drones began attacking the expo sent by Ivan Vanko, prompting Tony Stark, to fight them as Iron Man. One drone landed in front of Parker, who held his hand up in defiance. Iron Man arrived shortly afterward and annihilated the drone, thanking Parker for his help before flying off to continue his battle, leaving Parker awestruck. In adolescence, Parker was bitten by a spider and acquired superhuman powers, including strength and speed proportional to that of a spider and an uncanny ability to adhere to walls. After the death of his uncle, Parker resolved to use his abilities to help those in need and becoming Spider-Man.

Civil War

In Captain America: Civil War, Parker is found in New York City by Tony Stark, who recruits Parker into the Avengers and provides him with a new suit in exchange for his help in dealing with Steve Rogers and his faction, the latter having gone rogue in the wake of the implementation of the Sokovia Accords. During the battle Parker proves to be a formidable opponent, going toe-to-toe with Falcon, Winter Soldier, and finally Captain America himself. Parker later helps Stark and War Machine take down Giant-Man / Ant-Man but is injured in the fight and sent home by a grateful Stark.

Conflict with the Vulture

In , he is mentored and monitored by Stark primarily through the latter's chauffeur Happy Hogan, while balancing his high school life with his vigilantism. He later stumbles on a group of smugglers and criminals led by the mysterious Vulture, who is revealed to be the father of his high school crush and Decathlon leader Liz Toomes and goes on a quest to defeat them to prove his mettle to Stark and his worthiness of being an Avenger which he dreams of becoming. However, after defeating Vulture, he declines Stark's offer of membership and decides to be a friendly-neighbourhood Spider-Man instead.

The Infinity War

In ' on a school bus, being alerted to Thanos' invasion by his spider-sense. He sets out to investigate and ends up saving Iron Man from Cull Obsidian. He later joins Stark, much to the latter's chagrin, in rescuing an abducted Doctor Strange from Ebony Maw. The two kill Maw by ejecting him out of his ship into deep space, and free Strange. The trio then head to Titan to confront Thanos, where they are joined by several members of the Guardians of the Galaxy in combating the Mad Titan. The heroes are ultimately defeated and, upon Thanos snapping his fingers with a completed Infinity Gauntlet in Wakanda, Parker along with Strange and the Guardians are reduced to dust, alongside half of all life in the universe.
Five years later, in ', Bruce Banner uses a reconstructed Infinity Gauntlet to bring back everyone who had been destroyed by Thanos, including Parker, who is then transported to Earth by Doctor Strange to help fight an invasion by Thanos and his armies. Parker has an emotional reunion with Stark, and helps to protect the new Infinity Gauntlet from being taken by Thanos, until he is overwhelmed, and passes the gauntlet on to Captain Marvel. Tony Stark sacrifices his life to use the Infinity Gauntlet to disintegrate Thanos and his army, and Parker later attends Stark's funeral.

School Trip to Europe

Eight months later, Parker's school restarts its academic year to accommodate the students who were among those resurrected. The school organizes a two-week summer field trip to Europe. Parker, while still distraught over Stark's death, plans to confess his growing feelings for classmate MJ. He attends a fundraiser for the homeless, coordinated by his Aunt May. There he disconnects a call from Fury and leaves after being posed questions about Stark.
In Venice, Italy, during the trip, Parker and his friends are among those attacked by the Water Elemental, which proceeds to wreak havoc on the city; Quentin Beck arrives and destroys the creature, while Parker attempts to help. Fury sabotages Parker's trip and gives him Stark's glasses, equipped with the artificial intelligence E.D.I.T.H., which were meant for Stark's successor. Parker rejects Fury's plea for help and rejoins his class, but Fury covertly redirects the school trip's itinerary to Prague, where the Fire Elemental is projected to strike. It appears there at a carnival, but Beck, with Parker's help, destroys it. Fury and Hill invite Parker and Beck to Berlin to discuss the formation of a new superhero team. Parker considers Beck worthy of being Stark's successor and bequeaths him the E.D.I.T.H. glasses.
MJ deduces that Parker is Spider-Man. They discover that a piece of detritus she retrieved during the battle is a projector that presents an image of the Air Elemental. The two realize Beck is a fraud. At a nearby pub, Beck — a former holographic-illusions specialist at Stark Industries who was fired for being unstable — thanks his team of fellow disgruntled ex-Stark employees. Parker travels to Berlin and meets with Fury, only to realize that the version before him is an illusion created by Beck. Parker battles multiple illusions and is ultimately hit by a train. Surviving the impact badly injured, he falls unconscious in a train car. Awakening in a jail cell in the Netherlands, he breaks out and contacts Happy Hogan. Hogan flies Parker to London and reveals a suit-manufacturing machine left behind by Stark, which Parker uses to synthesize a customized costume. In London, Beck, seeking to kill MJ and any others to whom she might have revealed his secret, orchestrates a tempest Elemental. Parker breaks through the illusion using his "Peter-Tingle", gains control of E.D.I.T.H., and defeats Beck, who is shot by a misfired gun and apparently dies. Peter reunites with MJ on the bridge, where he tells her he wanted to romance her on the European trip. The two confess their feelings to each other and share their first kiss, leading them to becoming a couple.

Exposed

Parker returns to New York City and begins a relationship with MJ. In a mid-credits scene, J. Jonah Jameson, publisher of TheDailyBugle.net, blames Spider-Man for the Elementals' attacks, broadcasting modified footage of the incident filmed and recorded by Beck in which he reveals Parker is Spider-Man.

Differences from the comics

The MCU depiction of Peter Parker omits explicit reference to the death of Uncle Ben, whose death was a significant event both in the comic books and in previous film series. Parker's proper Spider-Man suits in the MCU are also designed by Stark, or built by Parker with Stark Industries technology, whereas in the comics Parker designed and constructed his suits entirely by himself.
Another change is Parker's close paternal relationship with Stark. This was partially adapted from J. Michael Straczynski's run on The Amazing Spider-Man, the first five issues of the limited series Civil War and the Ultimate Comics where Stark and Parker share a trainer-trainee relationship.
Peter Parker's relationship with Mary Jane "MJ" Watson is also omitted; instead, Parker falls in love with Michelle "MJ" Jones, a fellow high school student.

Accolades

Holland has received numerous nominations and awards for his portrayal of Peter Parker.
YearFilmAwardCategoryResult
2016'Golden Schmoes AwardsBreakthrough Performance of the Year
2016'Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie: Scene Stealer
2017'Empire AwardsBest Male Newcomer
2017'Saturn AwardsBest Performance by a Younger Actor
2017'London Film Critics' Circle AwardsYoung British/Irish Performer of the Year
2017'Teen Choice AwardsChoice Breakout Movie Star
2017'Teen Choice AwardsChoice Summer Movie Actor
2018'Saturn AwardsBest Performance by a Younger Actor
2018'Teen Choice AwardsChoice Action Movie Actor
2019'Teen Choice AwardsChoice Summer Movie Actor
2019'Saturn AwardsBest Performance by a Younger Actor
2019'People's Choice AwardsMale Movie Star of 2019
2019People's Choice AwardsAction Movie Star of 2019