The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman wanted a Spider-Man cameo in the finale. Now that Marvel Studios’ second Disney+ series is finished, fans are still processing what happened and what didn’t. The Marvel Cinematic Universe show delivered on the expectation of Sam Wilson becoming Captain America and showing how Bucky Barnes is moving past his Winter Soldier identity. As with any MCU property, though, fans had greater hopes and dreams about what The Falcon and The Winter Soldier could contain.
Even though the series brought back multiple MCU characters, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s finale raised questions about Spider-Man’s whereabouts. The final confrontation between Sam and Bucky and the Flag-Smashers was set in New York. This left many to wonder why Tom Holland’s friendly neighborhood web-slinger didn’t help out. The Flag-Smashers taking government officials hostage is something that could’ve caught Peter Parker’s attention. Fans have created different explanations for why Spider-Man didn’t appear, but it was unknown if Marvel actually considered a cameo from Holland.
During an interview with Inverse, showrunner Malcolm Spellman was asked about the lack of a Spider-Man cameo in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s finale. He revealed that they wanted Spider-Man to appear in the episode and considered how this could work. However, it appears Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stepped in to ask if it was really necessary for Spider-Man to appear. They clearly decided not, but Spellman and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s crew did want it at first.
Of course! Then Kevin Feige tells you, “No. Stop it.” Listen, when you first show up to these projects, in your mind you think you’re gonna get to use everybody in the MCU. But Marvel always asks, “Does this person belong in this story? You cannot just geek out and put all of our characters in your project because you like them. They have to occur organically.” So Spider-Man did not make it.
The rationale for Spider-Man’s absence in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s finale makes sense in terms of how Marvel Studios likes to craft its stories. The final battle in New York already included Captain America, Bucky, U.S. Agent, Sharon Carter, Batroc the Leaper, Karli Morgenthau, and the rest of the Flag-Smashers. That’s a lot of characters to balance in a single episode set piece. Spider-Man could’ve organically helped out his fellow Avengers to stop the Flag-Smashers, but it was probably for the best that the finale didn’t add another major character. After all, Spidey isn’t the only New York superhero in the MCU, so his appearance would only raise more questions about why Doctor Strange and others didn’t join the fight.
Although fans might be disappointed that Spider-Man didn’t appear in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s finale, there should still be an opportunity for Peter, Sam, and Bucky to reunite on screen. There were also discussions of Anthony Mackie having a cameo as Captain America in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but that idea was also scrapped. It might not happen in Spider-Man: No Way Home either, but perhaps Spidey will appear in Captain America 4. That could give Spider-Man and the MCU’s new Captain America more time to interact than a cameo in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier could provide.
Source: Inverse
Originally from https://screenrant.com/falcon-winter-soldier-spider-man-no-cameo-finale/