Even though the MCU has been pretty tight-lipped about Uncle Ben, most reasonably assumed his story might’ve followed the usual path, where his death was directly tied to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. Joe Russo, however, has now confessed that Peter’s MCU origin largely deviates from the traditional canon, revealing that he wasn’t directly responsible for his uncle’s demise (via CBR).
Although most would agree that skipping Spider-Man’s origin in Captain America: Civil War was the right call, the decision to move away from such a crucial part of what defines his sense of responsibility has understandably divided fans.
Joe Russo Defends Changing Spider-Man’s Origin in the MCU
Elaborating on the decision to stray from the traditional canon, Joe Russo explained that if Tom Holland’s Peter had carried guilt over his uncle’s death, it would have resulted in a very different character in Captain America: Civil War.
While the director emphasized that he has always resonated with the original canon and how it shapes Spider-Man as a character, he noted that adhering to it would have made for a far more intense version of Peter than the one audiences were introduced to. In his interview with CBR, Russo said:
What Tom Holland is as an actor, if he blamed himself for his Uncle Ben’s death, I think he becomes a very different character. So in our minds, no, he wasn’t responsible for Uncle Ben’s death. That would have been a different interpretation. A more intense interpretation of the character.
Although it’s easy to see why many would disagree with this interpretation, as it’s akin to stripping Bruce Wayne’s trauma over his parents’ murder, it ultimately makes one key moment in Spider-Man: No Way Home even more impactful.
Joe Russo’s Revelation Makes Aunt May’s Death Even More Devastating
A still from Spider-Man: No Way Home | Credit: Marvel Studios
It is not a stretch to view the Homecoming trilogy as a prolonged origin story for a more traditional, comic-accurate Spider-Man, especially with Spider-Man: Brand New Day expected to tap into the character’s street-level roots.
This more jaded and comic-accurate interpretation also feels like a natural progression following the events of No Way Home, which ends with Peter losing Aunt May. And what makes this moment all the more devastating is that it’s possibly the first time Peter hears the line “with great power comes great responsibility”, effectively making Aunt May’s death the defining canon moment for this version of Peter Parker.
As for comic purists, since the MCU has yet to address the ambiguity surrounding Ben Parker, it remains possible that a future creative team could backtrack on the Russo Brothers’ interpretation of the webhead’s origins. But for now, expect a more comic-accurate version of Peter Parker in the new chapter of his story in Brand New Day.
Share your thoughts on Joe Russo’s comments below!
Captain America: Civil War is currently streaming on Disney+.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is slated to release on July 31, 2026.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
