Last weekend, Malet Street was blockaded by a multitude of trucks, buses, and orange gates, preventing students from accessing the shortcut between the UCL, Birkbeck, and SOAS campuses.
Since a large production company had shut down the street for two days, it is likely that a major motion picture was being filmed. Some eagle-eyed students spotted a certain teenage, crime fighting, spider-costume-clad superhero standing in the square of Senate House.
As Peter Parker is a high school student, could this fourth instalment of the Spiderman franchise be “Spiderman: Leaving Home”, where Parker must grapple with the new UCAS prompts for the personal statement? With Glasgow as the previous filming location, may part of the narrative for this blockbuster be Parker visiting open days and making the decision to study at the 9th best university in the world?
With UCL’s reputation for fostering the development of “disruptive thinkers” since 1826, and Parker fighting in the “Infinity War”, it would not be surprising if his higher education adviser recommended the university.
But considering Parker’s status as an international student, and UCL’s drama with guaranteeing accommodation that was unavailable, as well as trying to send back international students after giving out too many visas, the antagonist in this next instalment could look like a hairless, power-hungry, misguided leader… Michael Spence.
Did you think I was talking about Thanos?
We will be waiting in anticipation to see what the next MCU film has to offer; perhaps Parker will have to retire his famous “web-shooters” and learn the art of “disagreeing well”.
