Is Spider-Man: Freshman Year Set In The MCU? Answered

We got out first look at Spider-Man: Freshman Year last night at Marvel’s animation panel and it’s safe to say that it left a lot of fans feeling very confused.

The animated series has long been billed as a prequel to Spidey’s adventures in the MCU before he met Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War. Take one look at the cast, though, and it’s clear to see that things don’t quite add up with how Peter Parker’s story has played out over the years. Here’s everything we know about whether Spider-Man: Freshman Year is Set in the MCU.

Is Spider-Man Freshman Year Set In The MCU?

According to Marvel and Disney, Spider-Man: Freshman Year is indeed canon to the MCU. Series head writer Jeff Trammell spoke at the animation panel yesterday and reiterated that Spider-Man: Freshman Year is set before the events of Captain America: Civil War.

The official synopsis which has been released for the show seems to further confirm that Spidey’s animated adventures will be canon to the MCU:

Spider-Man: Freshman Year is an animated series that follow’s 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.

How is this possible though with the addition of classic rogues like Doc Ock and Chameleon and Spidey’s nemesis Norman Osborn. Spider-Man: No Way Home made it clear that Peter hadn’t faced these villains before.

Well, the answer could be right under our noses. Given the direction that the MCU has been heading in it’s highly likely that there are some multiversal shenanigans afoot. Spider-Man: No Way Home brought back Andrew Garfield’s and Tobey Maguire’s versions of the character so it’s a definite possibility that Spider-Man: Freshman Year will follow yet another Peter Parker variant.

Who’s In Spider-Man: Freshman Year?

Spider-Man: Freshman Year will include many classic villains like Doc Ock, Rhino, Scorpion, and The Chameleon. Based on the framing of the image it looks like Doc Ock will be Spidey’s main nemesis throughout the series.

The supporting cast will include Nico Minoru, best known as part of the superhero team The Runaways, and is Peter Parker’s best friend in this series. Both Daredevil and Doctor Strange will factor into the series in some capacity with Charlie Cox returning to voice Matt Murdock.

Aunt May is confirmed for the series and so is Harry Osborn, Peter’s best friend in the comics and the son of his greatest enemy Norman Osborn, who appears to act as a mentor to Peter in this series.

When Is Spider-Man Freshman Year Out?

Spider-Man: Freshman Year will be coming to Disney+ sometime in 2024. We’ll likely learn an exact release date closer to the time. It was also revealed that the show has already been renewed for a second series.

That’s everything we know about whether Spider-Man: Freshman Year is set in the MCU. Be sure to check out our coverage of all the latest Marvel news coming from comic-con this weekend and our countdown to the release of X-Men ’97.