The MCU Set Up Miles Morales 6 Years Ago, So Where Is He?

Spider-Man is a big part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe now, but the franchise has yet to introduce Miles Morales - despite setting him up six years ago. The introduction of the multiverse in Phase 4 has allowed the MCU to utilize more of Spider-Man than ever before. Instead of just having Tom Holland's Peter Parker at its disposal, Spider-Man: No Way Home brought back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their respective Spider-Men. Yet, Miles Morales did not join the MCU through the multiverse event. The meeting of the three live-action Spider-Man actors did include an Easter egg for him, though.

There has been plenty of interest in Miles Morales appearing in live-action ever since he was created in 2011. The almost immediate popularity of his Spider-Man has not been lost on Sony and Marvel Studios. Spider-Man: No Way Home's Miles Morales tease had Jamie Foxx's Electro mention that he hoped a Spider-Man from Queens would be Black. Upon realizing Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker is not, he mentions that a Black Spider-Man must exist somewhere in the multiverse. This was not the MCU's first Miles Morales tease, but rather a reminder that it has now been six years since the franchise teased his existence and has not used him.

Spider-Man: Homecoming Teased Miles Morales In The MCU

The first example of Marvel Studios setting up the MCU's Miles Morales came in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which was released in 2017. The movie featured a massive cast of Spider-Man villains that included Donald Glover as Aaron Davis a.k.a. Prowler. The character played a small role in the movie, but his presence was notable because Aaron Davis is Miles Morales' uncle. Spider-Man: Homecoming includes a subtle reference to Miles when Spider-Man interrogates Aaron, who mentions that he has a nephew in the neighborhood and also wants Vulture's weapons off the street.

There was originally a plan for another Miles Morales reference in Spider-Man: Homecoming. A deleted scene showed Aaron Davis talking on the phone to his nephew and directly calling him Miles by name, taking away any doubt that the future Spider-Man is who he was referring to. Sony and Marvel ultimately cut the sequence, but the multiple references to him in the MCU are notable. It suggests that Marvel and Sony want to utilize the character and let audiences know they have not forgotten about him while telling Peter Parker's MCU story.

Miles Morales Has Become More Popular After The MCU’s Tease

The decision by the studios to not use Miles Morales after this MCU tease is even more surprising since he has become even more popular since 2017. Instead of making a live-action appearance in the MCU, Miles Morales was the main character in Sony's Oscar-winning animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film made him the focus of a multiverse story that surpassed all expectations and launched a new franchise. Miles will once again star in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and return for the sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. The movies' portrayal of Miles is exceptional and created even more fans of the character.

Video games have additionally helped boost Miles Morales' popularity after Spider-Man: Homecoming. He was included as a supporting character in Marvel's Spider-Man video game that launched on the PS4. The demand for more of Miles was so strong that Insomniac made a companion game, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. He is once again scheduled to appear in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and is expected to be an even bigger part of the sequel.

Why Neither Sony Nor Marvel Have Used Live-Action Miles Morales

Miles Morales in Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Part One

Miles Morales' incredible popularity and various MCU teases do raise questions about why neither Sony nor Marvel Studios have used him in live-action yet. There is no confirmation about the exact reason that he has been kept out of both studios' Spider-Man plans. Sony and Marvel are working together to make Spider-Man part of the MCU, but Sony is also working separately to build a universe revolving around Spider-Man villains like Venom. The latter does not have its own version of Spider-Man despite Sony holding the rights to over 900 Spider-Man-related Marvel characters, including Miles Morales.

There is the possibility that Miles Morales' live-action debut has not happened with either studio because of the complicated Spider-Man deal between them. Sony and Marvel Studios have some type of new agreement in place to help keep Spider-Man in the MCU. It is possible that this new deal and those that came before it include clauses that mean there somehow prevent Sony from introducing Miles Morales in live-action at the same time Tom Holland's Spider-Man remains. The MCU, meanwhile, might have wanted to wait a few years to let Holland's Spidey mature before introducing Miles.

Miles Morales Should Appear In The MCU’s Next Spider-Man Trilogy

The long wait to learn about the MCU's Miles Morales and his Spider-Man future could come to an end with the next Spider-Man trilogy. Marvel Studios and Sony are prepping for another trilogy of films that will star Tom Holland. The movies are expected to focus on Peter in college and bring him back down to be a street-level hero instead of fighting aliens and dealing with the multiverse. The new Spider-Man trilogy is also positioned to introduce a slate of new characters with Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), MJ (Zendaya), and everyone else no longer remembering who Peter Parker is. Miles Morales could be one of the new supporting characters.

While Miles might have been quite young during Spider-Man: Homecoming, almost a decade of time has passed in the MCU since this time. This means Miles could be a teenager by the time the next MCU Spider-Man trilogy takes happens. His origin story can then happen as Peter figures out this new part of his life. Marvel and Sony could even use the new movies as a chance to pass the baton from Peter to Miles. Spider-Man 6 could see Tom Holland's Spider-Man die or retire, allowing the live-action Miles Morales Spider-Man to become a new lead hero for the MCU for years to come and headline his own trilogy.

Will Miles Morales Be In Avengers: Secret Wars?

Miles Morales Into the Spider-Verse and Avengers Endgame

Miles Morales' MCU debut could happen in Avengers: Secret Wars if it does not happen before then. The upcoming MCU multiverse event film is expected to have an even bigger cast and scope than Avengers: Endgame. With variants from across the multiverse able to appear, a version of Miles Morales could be included then. It could even be Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse star Shameik Moore as a slightly older Miles. Avengers: Secret Wars' Miles Morales is even a chance to pay off the old fan casts for Donald Glover to play him, which would help bring the MCU's first Miles tease full circle.

The better option is that the main MCU Miles Morales will be in Avengers: Secret Wars. This would hopefully not be his first appearance in the franchise. Instead, it could be a chance for Miles to experience the greater stakes that exist through the multiverse after he thinks he has started to get a grasp on being a superhero. This would also present the MCU with a chance to outdo Spider-Man: No Way Home's team-up by adding a fourth live-action Spider-Man to the mix. It certainly would not be a leading role, but the MCU's Miles Morales appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars should happen.

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