Spider-Man: Homecoming Writers Explain Film's Ending

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Spider-Man: Homecoming. 

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Spider-Man: Homecoming scriptwriters John Francis Daley (Freaks and Geeks, Bones) and Johnathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses, Vacation) opened up about the film's villains, hilarious one-liners, and that unexpected ending in which Peter (Tom Holland) turns down the offer to join the Avengers. 

When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) invited Peter to climb aboard the ranks of the illustrious superhero group, and presented him with an even more high-tech Spidey suit, he declined—despite having spent the majority of the movie hoping to become an Avenger. Goldstein explained the motivation behind that surprising decision, stating that it's a matter of individuality for Peter.

"It's part of the overall arc for where Peter is in learning that he doesn't need the suit to be a hero, nor does he need membership in the Avengers to be a hero," explained Goldstein. "He is his own guy, and the ultimate embrace of that is turning down an offer from Tony Stark."

Shortly after Peter's "a-ha" moment, audiences are hit with another final shocker: Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) discovers that Peter is Spider-Man, and the film comically cuts to the credits as she's expressing her disbelief. Daley stated that such a revelation adds a new dynamic to Aunt May's relationship with her nephew. 

"It sets up a fun storyline of having this maternal figure, who is supposed to protect this kid, but also knowing this kid is so much stronger than she is, and in fact his job is going to be to protect her, presumably," said Daley. 

Additionally, Goldstein stated that Aunt May learning Peter's secret "sort of diminishes what is often the most trivial part of superhero worlds [and] takes the emphasis off that." Now that the all cards are on the table, Aunt May can have a stronger bond with Peter. "[It] lets her become part of what's really his life, so it's not cloak-and-dagger stuff. It's how does he best use these powers to help the world, help himself and his family and act responsibly," Goldstein said. 

Now that we've finally seen the newest Spidey flick for ourselves and read up on what the ending really means, take a look at the hidden references and easter eggs you may have missed in Spider-Man: Homecoming.