The Marvel Cinematic Universe is going insane with the announcement of Spider-Man: Freshman Year, but fans aren’t sure that it fits canon.
Doctor Octopus, The Rhino, Scorpion, Speed Demon, Tarantula, Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Harry Osborn, and Norman Osborn are appearing in the upcoming animated series Spider-Man: Freshman Year that’s hitting Disney+ in 2024.
That’s right, all of those names are joining the Marvel Collection, but is it a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? And is it canon?
The only bit of information released on Freshman Year is that Norman Osborn takes the place of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), officially replacing the role of Iron Man in Spider-Man’s life.
Marvel Studios appears to be setting up the future of Green Goblin with Norman and Harry Osborn, but is Freshman Year canon?
Marvel fans have been left to try and figure that out:
I don’t think ‘Spider-Man: Freshman Year’ is canon to the MCU.
Peter is seen working for Norman Osborn and this scene is a parallel to Peter meeting Tony Stark in Civil War.
There’s no way Spider-Man Freshman Year can be cannon. Aunt May knew Norman Osbourne but in the MCU she had no idea when she heard his name. Surely she would have said something. Not cannon
They also said today that Spider-Man Freshman Year was set before Civil War right? So they confirmed again it is canon
Marvel Studios has released the following statement confirming that Freshman Year is officially canon:
Jeff Trammell teased the show with the cast of characters, and Ryan Meinerding showed off the new Spider-Man suit designed for the series. A fun reveal was that moderator Paul F. Tompkins will be playing a character in the series. A second season was also announced, aptly titled “Spider-Man: Sophomore Year.”
“Spider-Man: Freshman Year” is an animated series that follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots. Executive producer Jeff Trammel serves as head writer.
“Spider-Man: Freshman Year” comes exclusively to Disney+ in 2024.
Given that Daredevil and countless villains are appearing in the animated series (which has been officially greenlit for a second season), fans are left wondering how this exactly fits into the MCU with the Multiverse.
Nonetheless, Marvel Studios has made it clear to state that the animated series follows the adventures of its MCU Spider-Man.
The Marvel Universe is becoming much more than iconic characters/Earth’s Mightiest Heroes like Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), and Thanos (Josh Brolin).
Tom Holland’s Avenger is leading the way for Marvel Cinematic Universe newcomers Kate Bishop, Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac), Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany), Eternals’ Thena (Angelina Jolie), and more — especially with his next Spider-Man trilogy that’s currently in the works.
