Spider-Man: No Way Home is newly available on Netflix. Few people know: Plans for Tobey Maguire’s fourth Spider-Man movie were well advanced. Why did nothing come of it?
The following are spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home: Tom Holland becomes the first Spider-Man actor to get a fourth Spider-Man installment. Andrew Garfield’s series was canceled after just two films. Tobey Maguire created an extremely successful trilogy – which Sony would have loved to continue. Why didn’t it happen?
On Netflix, you can now stream Tobey Maguire’s comeback in Spider-Man: No Way Home alongside Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield. We explain why the plans for a fourth part fell through and what you missed.
Cast was set: Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire was waiting in the wings
Spider-Man 3 had grossed nearly $900 million at the box office in 2007 . Accordingly, there were no reasons to end the working series – although Part 3 did provide a satisfying conclusion to the story of Peter, MJ and Harry (James Franco).
These would have been Tobey Maguire’s opponents in Spider-Man 4
Spider-Man would have had to deal with a handful of villains in his fourth adventure. However, only the following would have played bigger roles:
Before Tobey & Sam were bid adieu by Sony, work had actually begun on SPIDER-MAN 4, and I visited friends who were working on the Vulture’s costume intended for actor John Malkovich. Once production shut down, all materials were turned in. I’ve sat on this for almost 15 years. pic.twitter.com/iY3VmzUrHI
– Ken Penders (@KenPenders) November 28, 2022
Why did Spider-Man 4 never come?
During the film’s protracted development, a major creative rift opened up between director Sam Raimi and studio Sony. Raimi was not satisfied with the scripts (revised several times) that were submitted to him, reported Deadline . Raimi finally doubted , under these conditions and the increasing time pressure to deliver a good film.
In January 2010, Raimi abandoned the project and Sony then ended the development of the film completely. Two and a half years later, The Amazing Spider-Man, the reboot of the series, appeared in theaters. Andrew Garfield replaced Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker.
After No Way Home, are there still chances for Spider-Man 4?
Following the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, rumors surfaced that Sam Raimi would make his version of Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire after all. Raimi expressed interest in the project, as did Kirsten Dunst, who did not appear in No Way Home. To date, however, nothing has come of the plans.
Spider-Man 4 with Tom Holland is, however, firmly scheduled. Starting in 2025, three more parts with the third Spider-Man actor are to be released.
