'Captain America: Civil War' Update: Spider-Man Is In, Hulk Is Out

Gwynne Watkins
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The web-slinger in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′

A certain web-slinging hero has been confirmed for Captain America: Civil War — while a familiar green favorite will be sitting this one out. After much speculation, Entertainment Weekly has announced that Spider-Man will make his Marvel movie universe debut in the next Cap film (in theaters May 2016).

Spidey, of course, is no stranger to cinema: The character has been played by Toby Maguire in three Spider-Man films and Andrew Garfield in two Amazing Spider-Man films, all released by Sony Pictures. However, in an unusual licensing deal, Sony has agreed to lend the character to Marvel Studios for its superhero ensemble films, prior to the relaunch of a Spider-Man solo franchise (which will be produced by Sony). Young British actor Tom Holland officially stepped into the role in June. Still, the studios remained tight-lipped on whether he’d debut the red-and-blue suit in Civil War or another film (like 2018’s Avengers: Infinity Wars — Part 1). Fans have long been anticipating Spidey’s inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, since he’s always been one of the big missing characters in the Avengers world.

Related: It’s Cap vs. Iron Man in Action-Packed, Avenger-Riving ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Trailer

But after spying Holland in a Spidey costume on a Civil War set visit, EW got his co-star Robert Downey Jr. to spill the beans. “[Don] Cheadle and I are just going, ‘Wow, dude, look at this.’ We’re now like the old guard, and our storyline carries real weight just because of our history in the [canon],” Downey told the magazine. “But we’re also looking around like, ‘Who thought that Falcon and Black Panther and Ant-Man and now Spider-Man…?’ I mean it’s like wow, this thing is just crazy.”

Though most of the familiar Marvel universe heroes will appear in Civil War alongside Spider-Man, a few will be waiting in the wings for their next adventure. Contrary to rumors, EW says that the Incredible Hulk (played by Mark Ruffalo) isn’t a part of this particular battle. Neither is Thor (Chris Hemsworth). “You put those guys in a fight, it’s over quickly. It’s like, ‘Well, we have the Hulk on our side.’ Oh, fine, then,” screenwriter Christopher Markus told EW. Fortunately, fans won’t have to miss them for long: Both the Asgardian and the big green guy will return in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. Read more over at EW.com.

Watch the ‘Civil War’ trailer: