Marvel Confirms Hawkeye Is Set AFTER Spider-Man: No Way Home

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel's Hawkeye episode 5

Marvel has seemingly confirmed that the events of Hawkeye take place after Spider-Man: No Way Home. Thanks to a brief reference from Black Widow's sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Hawkeye episode 5, it looks as though the multiversal shenanigans Peter Parker will face in the final film of the Homecoming trilogy will have already occurred. Hilariously, this new confirmation is made during Yelena's official (and comical) introduction to Hawkeye's new partner Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld).

In Hawkeye episode 4, a major brawl occurred between Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and series newcomer Yelena Belova who has been hired to kill him. Kate Bishop soon joined the fight followed by Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) of the Tracksuit Mafia. While the fight ended in a stalemate just before the credits rolled, Hawkeye episode 5 reveals Yelena waiting for Kate in her apartment, wishing to speak to Bishop about Clint and warning her to stay out of her way. However, she also makes a connection to No Way Home.

Despite Kate and Yelena's conversation ending with Black Widow's sister threatening Bishop, it's quite a funny interaction. As they talk, Yelena reveals some of the tourist attractions she hopes to see as her current mission is also her first time in New York. While she mentions her desire to see the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, she also mentions the "new and improved" Statue of Liberty. Thanks to trailers and promos for Spider-Man: No Way Home, it's known that a major battle will be taking place at the Statue of Liberty with the addition of Captain America's shield. However, there's also quite a bit of scaffolding and construction surrounding the statue in the teasers, suggesting that the additions haven't yet been completed during the Spider-Man film. As a result, the implication is that the Statue of Liberty's improvements are finished by the time Hawkeye begins, confirmed by Yelena's sightseeing hopes as she eats her macaroni (with generous amounts of hot sauce).

Yelena enjoying mac and cheese with hot sauce in Hawkeye

From a release standpoint, it does make sense that the events of No Way Home take place prior to Hawkeye in the MCU. While the series' release date on Disney+ didn't change, the same can't be said for the Spider-Man sequel. Due to the COVID pandemic, Spider-Man: No Way Home's original release date of July 2021 was moved to November and finally to December of the same year. While it would have released before Hawkeye and its November 24th premiere, that's no longer the case. However, the events of No Way Home still take place beforehand thanks to this new reveal.

Having the Statue of Liberty and its new shield is a very fun way to create further connective tissue between MCU projects, especially those taking place in New York as No Way Home and Hawkeye both do. Whether it's as the site of a major multiversal battle or simply on the bucket list of a Black Widow assassin, it serves as a literal landmark for Marvel fans to take notice of regardless of which project comes before or after in the official MCU timeline. It's certainly a fun Easter egg all the same which fans will get to further enjoy when Spider-Man: No Way Home comes to theaters on December 17th.

More: Why Yelena Is Still Called Black Widow In Phase 4

Hawkeye releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.