Spider-Man: No Way Home is the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it pushes the boundaries of the MCU in some unexpected way. No Way Home deals directly with the fallout of the previous film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and how having his secret identity made public changes Peter's life forever.
The events of No Way Home are cataclysmic, altering the fabric of the MCU irrevocably, but the movie doesn't just impact Spider-Man's life. From small teases to direct references, there are quite a few different storylines and characters Spider-Man: No Way Home sets up to be explored in the future of the MCU.
8 Peter's New Status Quo
It wouldn't be a Spider-Man movie if it didn't have a lasting impact on the titular character, and Peter Parker's life will never be the same after the events of No Way Home. In order to save the multiverse from coming apart at the seams, Peter makes the choice to erase himself from everyone's memories, including MJ and Ned.
This leads to him living alone in a studio apartment and hand-sewing his own Spider-Man costumes. This lifestyle is more in line with the Peter Parker of the comic books, and it sets up all sorts of new possibilities for the character. He could get a job taking photographs of Spider-Man, and even encounter some of the more street-level criminals in Spider-Man's rogues gallery.
7 The Multiverse
While both Loki and What If...? have tapped into the multiverse concept already, No Way Home established the concept on the main Earth the MCU takes place on. Not only does Dr. Strange directly mention the multiverse, but a few recognizable characters from other realities also play a critical role in the film's plot.
The multiverse is set to take the stage in a big way in the rest of Phase 4, from the second season of Loki to the upcoming Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but No Way Home is the first time audiences get to see it on the home turf. It also establishes Sony's previous Spider-Man films as alternate universes within the MCU.
6 Miles Morales
Miles Morales is one of Marvel's most popular characters right now, especially after the runaway success of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, and he gets a quick tease in No Way Home that suggests there might be plans for the character down the line.
After most of the alternate reality villains have been dealt with, Spider-Man stops to talk to Jamie Foxx's Electro, who expresses surprise that Spider-Man is a Caucasian kid. When Peter apologizes, Electro waves him off by saying that he's sure there's an African-American Spider-Man out there somewhere.
5 Symbiotes In The MCU
One of Spider-Man: No Way Home's post-credits scenes features none other than Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom. He's sitting at a bar trying to get as much information from the bartender about this new universe he's suddenly found himself in.
Shortly after deciding to go talk to this Spider-Man character, though, Eddie is whisked back to his own universe along with this symbiote partner, but not before leaving a small piece of the alien lifeform behind. This is a clear setup for Spider-Man's black suit and the arrival of symbiote characters in the MCU.
4 Dr. Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
The second post-credits scene for Spider-Man: No Way Home is actually just a sneaky trailer for Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The trailer shows off brand new footage from the upcoming movie, including a look at Strange and Wanda meeting and Baron Mordo's new look.
The trailer also confirms the appearance of an alternate, evil version of Dr. Strange who's was first introduced in the Disney+ series, What If...? This version of Strange has absorbed the power of countless arcane beasts and was last seen guarding a pocket reality on behalf of Uatu the Watcher.
3 Sorcerer Supreme Wong
When Peter first goes to Dr. Strange for help, he incorrectly assumes that Strange still holds the title of Sorcerer Supreme. The title now belongs to Wong, Strange's colleague and the former librarian at Kamertage, after Strange was blipped out of existence for five years.
Wong now has the responsibilities of the Sorcerer Supreme, making him one of the most powerful figures in the entire MCU. His role in the film franchise has become considerably more important, and he'll certainly have a part to play in any future parts of the MCU that involve magic.
2 J. Jonah Jameson's Rise To Prominence
J. Jonah Jameson sees a remarkable rise in status over the course of Spider-Man: No Way Home. His first broadcast comes from his own, cluttered apartment, but by the end of the movie he seems to be running his own media empire with a full studio and roaming journalists sending him tips.
Jameson's existence in the MCU sets up a number of storylines the character is directly involved in. Jameon's most famous role in the comics is as Peter's boss at the Daily Bugle, but he also funded the creation of both the Scorpion and the Spider-Slayer, two of Spider-Man's most persistent villains. His son, John Jameson, also plays a prominent role in many Spider-Man stories as both an ally and enemy.
1 The Devil Of Hell's Kitchen Returns
One of the biggest surprises that came out of Spider-Man: No Way Home was the identity of Peter Parker's legal counsel: Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, played once more by Charlie Cox. The return of both the character and the actor have been requested by fans since the cancellation of his Netflix series, and Marvel clearly listened.
Daredevil's triumphant return to the MCU opens the door to all manner of different storylines and could indicate the return of other Marvel characters previously trapped on Netflix shows. It's reasonable to assume that Daredevil will get his own film or Disney+ series at some point, and whatever project he's involved with will be fully integrated into the rest of the MCU.
