Highlights
- Kevin Feige announced plans for Spider-Man 4, but the sequel’s development has faced obstacles due to the writers strike.
- Tom Holland advocates for a different direction for the sequel to avoid retreading old ground.
- Marvel and Sony are at odds over the direction of the film, with Marvel wanting to go back to Spider-Man’s roots.
Spider-Man 4 is currently in the planning stages, but there is currently no release date for the blockbuster sequel. Tom Holland has played the web-slinging superhero in the last three entries in the franchise, and he last played him in Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. There is some debate over what direction the sequel will take, with Sony Pictures keen to go with what worked previously, and Marvel Studios wanting to take Spider-Man back to his roots.
Marvel boss Kevin Feige announced in February 2023 that the story of a fourth Spider-Man film was already set and that writers were putting pen to paper. However, there’s been a writer’s strike since and plans for the sequel have shifted significantly. It’s also unlikely Jon Watts will return to direct another Spider-Man film after completing the previous trilogy. Watts was previously attached to director Marvel’s Fantastic Four before stepping down to take a break from superhero films. It looks to be the case that Feige and co are looking for a new Spider-Man director to take on the new movie. Tom Holland is expected to return, and he is very much involved in the creative process, with no other cast announcements being made yet.
Sony wants Spider-Man 4 to be a rehash of No Way Home
Back in 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home took the box office by storm and made almost $2 billion worldwide, becoming the sixth-biggest movie in history. According to reports, Sony Pictures want to take Spidey-Man 4 in a similar direction as it makes business sense, but fans are keen to see something different from the upcoming sequel, and it appears marvel Studios are too.
Spider-Man: No Way Home featured not one, but three versions of Spider-Man, with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield both teaming up with Tom Holland to save the world. Rumor has it, Sony Pictures want to bring back all three Spideys to repeat the success of the last movie, but this feels motivated largely by money, and not staying true to what was set up in the previous trilogy.
Tom Holland wants to go in a different direction for the upcoming sequel
Spider-Man 4 predictions are rife, but Tom Holland has stated that he is apprehensive about retreading old ground with Spider-Man 4, and sat in on development meetings before the strike was called. He told The Hollywood Reporter:
It was myself, Amy, [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige, [executive producer] Rachel [O’Connor], sometimes other executives from Marvel will sit in. It’s a collaborative process. The first few meetings were about, ‘Why would we do this again?’ And I think we found the reason why. I’m really, really happy with where we’re at in terms of the creative. But I’m also a little apprehensive about it. There’s a bit of a stigma about the fourth one in all franchises. I feel like we hit a home run with our first franchise and there’s a part of me that wants to walk away with my head held high and pass the baton to the next lucky kid that gets to bring this character to life.
At the Sands Film Festival, Tom Holland elaborated on his hopes for Spider-Man 4:
We have the best in the business working toward whatever the story might be. But until we’ve cracked it, we have a legacy to protect. The third movie was so special in so many ways that we need to make sure we do the right thing.
Holland is much more involved in the creative process for Spider-Man 4, than he was for the previous entries, and it appears he might have some leverage in terms of what direction the new movie will take, and this could be very good for the future of the franchise.
Marvel wants to take Spidey back to his roots, but is Sony standing in the way?
After the introduction of the Multiverse in the Marvel saga, it appears likely that it will continue into the future. However, Marvel reportedly wants Spider-Man 4 to be more grounded, and Sony Pictures want to cash in on their biggest ever box office hit. It appears that a compromise will have to be made, so both studios are happy with the outcome, and the fans are also satisfied.
The universe has no idea who Peter Parker is now, so there is a suggestion that he could break out on his own. No Way Home removed everything from Peter Parker, with the slate being cleared for a soft reboot and a new direction. Peter Parker in Spider-Man 4 has no family left, and his friends and love interest do not recognize him. He also lost the high-tech Spider-Man suit that turned him into an overpowered hero. Sony Pictures appear to be standing in the way of this idea, and it could see Spider-Man 4 fail if they opt to go back on the events that took place in No Way Home.
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