There are a lot of crossovers and collaborations happening within the MCU, with writers of shows likeLokialso having a hand inDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, as well asSpider-Man: No Way Homeenlisting advice from Sam Raimi, who also directs Doctor Strange’s next adventure. However, it seems that not everything is shared when it comes to some secrets asHawkeyeexecutive producer and director Rhys Thomas revealed in an interview withVarietythat he was not made aware of theDaredevilconnection betweenHawkeyeandSpider-Man: No Way Home.Minor spoilers ahead.
“The Kingpin of it all was not on the cusp when I started the show, but I feel like his presence was never far,” Thomas said about bringing one of his favorite Marvel characters into theMCU. “Like, we were always circling this other ‘big bad guy,’ but there was a moment when a Marvel executive came over and said, ‘You know, this is what we’re gonna do about that.’ As far as a larger plan and a crossover withSpider-Man: No Way Home, I did not know that they would do that.”
Of course, everyone is aware of the secrecy around most Marvel projects, with actors sometimes not even being given the full script of a movie they are starring in to make sure as few leaks make it out as possible. As far as Thomas is concerned, the tight restrictions around the production of various projects are as much for the benefit of those working on them as those watching. He explained:
“They do a wonderful job at Marvel of keeping everybody quite siloed, and I think they do this for your own security. People seem to sort of assume that there is this room where everything is all mapped out, but, no, they keep you kind of focused on your own show and only give you the information that they feel they need to give.”
Although the introduction of Kingpin and Matt Murdock have come in consecutive Marvel projects, it is still not known whether they have previously met in the context of the MCU or whether that is to come further down the line. As it stands, the two characters have been introduced in a completely unconnected way, which means the events of the NetflixDaredevilseries may not be canon even if its two main characters are. Thomas finally elaborated on the way many Marvel shows and films are able to dip into the pot to weave characters into the huge sprawling tapestry that the MCU has become.
“I learned early on that the best thing I could do about that was not to worry too much about [MCU continuity] and just try to keep doing what I could with Kate, Clint, Yelena and all of those characters to do them justice on their own show and to treat it as such. These events are only happening for them at this moment at Christmas time. Luckily, I could keep that in focus, and when the legacy stuff or the multiverse stuff needed to come in you always had someone at Marvel to help out or to at least keep an eye on it. It’s been a weird feeling stepping into the MCU as someone that had been watching like every other fan. So, as a director, when you step onto a set and you’ve got Jeremy Renner dressed in a Hawkeye costume that you’ve been helping design, and you’re introducing new characters like Echo and Kate Bishop and Jack Duquesne, and you also have to fit this in all around the holidays, it makes it all so surreal.”
Spider-Man: No Way Homeis currently only available in cinemas, while the wholeHawkeyeseries is streaming onDisney+.
