Marvel Studios Head of Streaming Brad Winderbaum has confirmed that Spider-Man: Freshman Year does not take place on Earth-616 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In an interview with ComicBook.com, the Marvel executive explained how the upcoming Disney+ animated series fits into the established MCU timeline. "Well, like we said, in the [San Diego Comic-Con] panel, it follows the pattern that you see in [Captain America:] Civil War," Winderbaum said. "Down to Peter getting the broken Blu-ray player from the trash and he walks into his department for the famous moment where Tony Stark is waiting for him to offer him the Stark internship and take him to Berlin. But because of things that happen in the multiverse because of new, random occurrences, it's not Tony Stark who's waiting for him there. It's Norman Osborn and that sends his life in an unexpected trajectory that collides him with many unexpected characters in the Marvel universe."
Spider-Man: Freshman Year was announced in November 2021 and will explore Peter Parker's origin story and early days as Spider-Man in an alternate reality from the mainline MCU timeline. The series will essentially serve as an episode of What If...? only expanded into an entire animated series, answering the question: What if Norman Osborn mentored Peter instead of Tony Stark? Freshman Year will be animated in a style that "celebrates the character’s early comic book roots." Jeff Trammel serves as head writer and executive producer on the series.
Freshman Year Introduces New Heroes, Allies and Villains
So far in the MCU, Tom Holland's Peter Parker has fought alongside Iron Man, Doctor Strange and the rest of the Avengers, befriended Ned and MJ, and fought classic comic book villains like the Vulture, Mysterio and Thanos. However, Marvel Studios revealed during its animation panel at 2022's San Diego Comic-Con that Freshman Year will introduce new faces in the MCU. Instead of Ned and MJ, Peter's friends will be Nico Minoru from Runaways, Lonnie Lincoln, Amadeus Cho, Pearl Pangan, Jean Foucault and Harry Osborn. Confirmed villains for the series so far include the Unicorn, Chameleon, Scorpion, Speed Demon, Tarantula, the Rhino, Butane, Carmela Black and Otto Octavius. While Doctor Strange will still appear in Freshman Year, the series will also feature Daredevil.
The full voice cast for Spider-Man: Freshman Year has not been announced, but Charlie Cox will voice Matt Murdock/Daredevil, reprising his role from previous MCU media. Paul F. Tompkins has been cast as the voice of Bentley Wittman, a new character created for the series. Tom Holland will reportedly not voice Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Freshman Year. The actor did not voice the web-slinger in What If...? either with Hudson Thames lending his voice to various Spidey variants.
Spider-Man: Freshman Year will premiere on Disney+ in 2024. A second season, subtitled Sophomore Year, is in development.
Source: ComicBook.com