For years, we’ve seen various film adaptations of Marvel’s iconic web-slinger on screen, but it seems like third time’s a charm when it comes to the latest Spider-Man. Whether it was through creative fan theories and other speculation, fans have been making some serious noise for Spider-Man: Homecoming. After months of anticipation, the wait is finally over, and fans have been granted their wish with an explosive new foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Deadline, Spider-Man: Homecoming crushed the box office competition over the weekend, cashing in at $140 million for its debut weekend alone. Sony and Marvel's latest has even surpassed the opening gross for other summer blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Wonder Woman. The film also stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, who reprises his iconic role as Iron Man.

While previous film adaptations starring the web slinger have fallen short in certain areas, Homecoming provides fans with a fresh, modern approach. Instead of creating a more mature, self-assured portrayal of Peter Parker, Marvel has finally found the perfect match with budding young actor Tom Holland taking the lead. Eager to learn, but a little rough around the edges, Holland has charmed audiences with his enthusiastic approach as Peter Parker. With a diverse blend of young talent, including Zendaya (Michelle), Jacob Batalon (Ned) and Laura Harrier (Liz), it’s clear that there’s a bold new future for this new Spidey franchise.

Unlike some of the other Spiderman films, including Sam Raimi’s trilogy and the more recent Amazing Spider-Man reboot, Homecoming is clearly the new MVP. Some fans staunchly believe that Tobey Maguire nailed it as Peter Parker, but he seemed to fall short with his duties as a full-fledged Spiderman. On the other side of the spectrum, other fans believe that Andrew Garfield was stronger at playing the masked hero as opposed to Peter Parker. With Homecoming, Marvel and Sony seem to have found the perfect balance with young actor Tom Holland.

Originally from London, the 21-year-old actor is known for starring in Billy Elliot the Musical. Later, Holland made the jump to the silver screen with The Impossible. He also appeared in the British film How I Live Now and In the Heart of the Sea. Holland has secured himself a leading role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Next up, he is also set to appear in The Current War, Chaos Walking, and as a younger Nathan Drake in the upcoming film series based off of the Uncharted video game series. To prepare for his role as Peter Parker, Holland purportedly went undercover as a high school student in New York. No, it wasn’t Midtown School of Science & Technology, but props to Holland for going the extra step!

Critics have been raving about Spider-Man: Homecoming as one of the best blockbusters of the summer. The film does an expert job at setting the tone for Michael Keaton's bold portrayal of Vulture. Instead of relying on the diabolical villain route, Keaton nails it with a vulnerable portrayal as the Vulture. 

Jacob Batalon, who plays Peter's best friend Ned Leeds, is easily the heart and soul of the film. Although Homecoming is his second film credit to date, the Hawai’i native charmed audiences with his flawless delivery and hilarious one-liners. Although a title for the sequel hasn’t officially been confirmed, catch Spider-Man swinging back into theaters on July 5, 2019. Stay tuned for more updates regarding Spider-Man and Marvel on our blog here at Nerd Kung Fu.

Written by Jade Nicolette

Twitter: @nicolette_style