How Spider-Man: Homecoming Introduced A New Fan-Favorite Hero

Spoilers for Spider-Man: Homecoming follow. The new film from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures is now playing in theaters worldwide.

In Spider-Man: Homecoming a fan-favorite character was introduced without ever appearing on the screen. The Marvel Cinematic Universe made the first reference to Miles Morales, a popular character from Marvel Comics who takes on the role of Spider-Man.

Morales was never explicitly named in Spider-Man: Homecoming but referenced by Donald Glover’s character Aaron Davis. In Marvel Comics, Aaron Davis is an uncle to Miles Morales. During a sequence which saw the character being interrogated by Spider-Man, the character tells Spidey, “I got a nephew…” The nephew in reference is, therefore, Miles Morales.

Speaking to Spider-Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts, Comicbook.com learned a bit more about the reference. “I mean, I always wanted Donald [Glover] to be in this movie,” Watts said. “That was one of my first ideas, just because I knew… I remember all the excitement surrounding him being Spider-Man, you know? And I was like, ‘If he’s going to be in this movie, who could he be?’ So, we’re not saying anything specifically, but Aaron Davis having a nephew in New York City… I wouldn’t say it’s a definite hint, but I think it definitely opens that door.”

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made a similar tease. “He does have a nephew,” Feige said. “He has a nephew.”

For now, fans of Miles Morales can look forward to an animated film coming in 2018 from Sony Pictures. However, this reference is not unlike the first call out to Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2015’s Ant-Man, a character referenced “one who can crawl up walls,” before Peter Parker was introduced in Captain America: Civil War less than a year later.

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You can find the official synopsis for Homecoming below, which has a 4.13 out of 5 on ComicBook.com’s anticipation rankings young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

The cast includes Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Tyne Daly, Bokeem Woodbine, with Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr. It also includes Jon Favreau, Martin Starr, Kenneth Choi, Michael Mando, Selenis Leyva, Isabella Amara, Jorge Lendeborg, Jr., JJ Totah, and Hannibal Buress.