We’ve been racking our brains about what’s next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Multiversal madness? Secret Wars? Another talking raccoon spinoff? All solid bets. But one theory keeps crawling back into our heads like a radioactive spider with abandonment issues: what if Uncle Ben Parker is still alive in the MCU?
Yes, we know how that sounds. Uncle Ben being dead is about as foundational to Spider-Man as “great power” being followed by “great responsibility.” But the MCU has made it this far without ever confirming that he’s dead—or even confirming that he existed—which, for a cinematic universe that gave emotional send-offs to characters like Agent Coulson and literally every version of Tony Stark’s facial hair, is suspiciously vague.
So let’s get into it, because this theory isn’t just web-slinging nonsense. There’s actual evidence. And once you see it, you won’t be able to unsee it.
Exhibit A: The MCU Has Never Said the Words “Uncle Ben”
Not once. Not in Civil War, not in Homecoming, not even in No Way Home when Peter’s life went full Greek tragedy. Sure, there are hints—lines about past trauma, some emotional looks from Aunt May—but no one ever says, “Hey, remember your Uncle Ben who died and inspired your entire moral code?”
Even when Peter’s aunt dies in his arms, the movie doesn’t use the moment to draw any parallels or bring up a previous, similarly tragic loss. Instead, May is the one who delivers the iconic “With great power…” line, which in itself suggests that Ben either never said it… or never had the chance. Or, you know, maybe he’s just not dead.
Exhibit B: BFP – The Luggage Tag That Launched a Thousand Conspiracies
In Far From Home, we see Peter packing for his European school trip. Tucked in among his things is a worn leather suitcase. Nothing fancy—except for the initials stamped near the handle: B.F.P. That’s Benjamin Franklin Parker to you and me.
Now, that could be a nice tribute to a dearly departed uncle, sure. But if Peter really lost Ben, and it was that monumental to his life, don’t you think there would be more than just a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nod hidden on some luggage? Especially in a movie where Mysterio gets more exposition than half the Avengers combined?
Exhibit C: The Graveyard Scene That’s a Little Too Empty
At the end of No Way Home, Peter visits Aunt May’s grave. He stands there, alone, in the snow, mourning. Then Happy Hogan arrives and makes a comment about knowing May “through Spider-Man.”
But here’s what no one talks about: May’s headstone stands completely by itself. No Ben. No Peter’s parents. Just May.
Now, sure, maybe it’s symbolic. Maybe it’s meant to show how alone Peter is now. Or maybe—maybe—the reason there’s no grave for Ben is because he’s not in the ground. You’d think a man as important as Uncle Ben (if he died) would be buried beside his wife, right? Or at least in the same cemetery. But nope. Nothing. Just May.
Exhibit D: Screenwriters Admitted They Almost Mentioned Ben
Spider-Man: Homecoming writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley actually confirmed they had planned to mention Uncle Ben. In an interview, they said there was a deleted scene where May gives Peter an outfit made up of Ben’s old clothes for his school dance. It was supposed to be touching, but ultimately it was cut.
Why? Daley said, “If you’re going to talk about someone’s death, you don’t want it to be a throwaway.” That’s fair—but six movies in, and we still haven’t had the non-throwaway version, either.
Exhibit E: May Parker Is Still a Parker
Let’s talk about surnames for a second. Peter’s last name is Parker. His Aunt’s last name is Parker. This means that unless we’re rewriting basic family dynamics here, she got that name by marrying Ben, Richard Parker’s brother. That’s standard comic book lore, and nothing in the MCU has said otherwise.
If May and Ben had split up? Fine. Divorce happens. But you’d think that would have come up. Instead, she’s still Aunt May Parker. Which leads us to wonder: Did Ben just… leave? Is he still alive but estranged, off somewhere doing who-knows-what while his nephew becomes New York’s most popular arachnid-themed crime fighter? Of course, if Ben did die, May likely wouldn’t change her name back to May Reilly. Still, this is worth thinking about, if only for a moment or two.
Exhibit F: We Know Peter Was Already Spider-Man When Tony Found Him
When Tony Stark finds Peter in Civil War, he mentions he’s been watching him for a while. Peter’s had his powers for six months at that point and has already been stopping crime in Queens. Tony wouldn’t have recruited a kid who just got bit by a spider last week.
This makes one thing very clear: Peter’s origin already happened off-screen, and the MCU chose not to show it. Which makes sense if you think about it—they didn’t want to rehash a story we’ve seen a dozen times. But the absence of an origin also gives them an out. They never showed Ben dying, so he might not have. It’s a classic case of Schrodinger’s Uncle: until we’re told otherwise, he’s both alive and dead.
So… where the hell is Ben Parker?
That’s the million-dollar question. Maybe he’s alive and estranged. Maybe he’s in hiding. Maybe he’s a secret SHIELD agent (because everyone else in the MCU is). Or maybe the MCU has just been keeping him off-screen on purpose, building toward a reveal.
And now that Aunt May is gone, Peter is on his own, and no one remembers him thanks to Doctor Strange’s brain-wipe spell, we could actually see a moment where Ben returns (possibly not even recognizing his own nephew due to the spell)—and becomes Peter’s only remaining family. It would be emotional, powerful, and a total shock to audiences who assumed he was six feet under this whole time.
TL;DR: Uncle Ben Might Be the MCU’s Best-Kept Secret
Between the total lack of a confirmed death, the Easter eggs like the B.F.P. suitcase, the empty graveyard scene, and the writers’ own admission that they almost brought him up, it’s not that wild to believe Ben is still out there.
And if Marvel does eventually bring him into the fold, it would not only recontextualize Peter’s past—it would give him something he desperately needs moving forward: a connection to the life he lost.
