Spider-Man is one of the most beloved superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As a result, the next journey of this character continues to attract the attention of many fans, especially now that Spidey has become a truly independent hero following Doctor Strange’s “mind wipe” spell in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Spider-Man Will Have a Fourth Standalone Film, Director Identity Revealed
After the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home at the end of 2021, there were concerns that Spider-Man might have to return to Sony’s cinematic universe due to character copyright issues. However, Amy Pascal, the head of Sony Pictures, quickly reassured fans with her statement: “This is not the last film we are co-producing with Marvel. This is not the final standalone project for Spider-Man. We will proceed with the next Spidey film with Tom Holland and Marvel. We view the three films we have produced as one major project, and now we will embark on the next trilogy.”
From Pascal’s remarks, it is evident that Sony and Marvel are planning to develop another trilogy specifically for Tom Holland’s version of Spider-Man. The previous three films – Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home, referred to as the “Home trilogy,” have closed a chapter in Peter Parker’s life within the MCU. Future projects related to Spidey may no longer adhere to the title (including the word “Home”) or the theme, as Peter is now completely alone and can freely explore many other aspects of his superhero journey.
Although there have been hints about the next trilogy for Spider-Man, only Spider-Man 4 has officially been greenlit. According to recent information from The Hollywood Reporter, Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been chosen to direct Spider-Man 4, with Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers returning as screenwriters.
The Hollywood Reporter also revealed that Spider-Man 4 is set to begin filming in 2025 and may be released in 2026 or 2027. This suggests that the next Spidey film will either premiere at the end of the Multiverse Saga or after the multiverse storyline concludes with Avengers: Secret Wars, similar to how Far From Home was released after Avengers: Endgame.
As of now, Marvel Studios has not provided any feedback regarding this information.
Cast of Spider-Man 4
As mentioned earlier, No Way Home has closed a chapter in Peter Parker’s life within the MCU. Starting from the fourth film, Marvel Studios can take this character in various directions: a more mature version of Peter played by a different actor; a completely different version of Spider-Man, such as Miles Morales; or continue the story of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Additionally, since all of Peter’s loved ones like MJ and Ned have been “mind wiped” by Doctor Strange’s spell, they could potentially be written out of future film projects by Marvel Studios.
According to Amy Pascal, it is almost certain that Tom Holland will continue to portray Spider-Man in the MCU, despite the actor revealing that he doesn’t want to play Spidey after turning 30 (he is currently 28). Tom Rothman, President of Sony Pictures, shared with Deadline that he wants to “proceed with the next Spider-Man project with all the actors from the previous trilogy.” This means that if everything goes according to plan, Tom Holland, Zendaya (as MJ), and Jacob Batalon (as Ned Leeds) will soon return to the MCU.
Script of Spider-Man 4
Currently, there is limited information regarding the content of Spider-Man 4 as the film is still in pre-production. However, the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home left many potential script development directions.
If the trio of Holland, Zendaya, and Batalon all return for Spider-Man 4, the film will need to find a way to reverse or undo Doctor Strange’s spell, or once again confirm that MJ and Ned truly have no memories related to Peter Parker. In other words, the writing team will have to find ways to create new roles for MJ and Ned, as these characters no longer have a connection with Spidey.
Spider-Man 4 could also focus on a more independent, detached version of Spider-Man, becoming a true street-level superhero. Alongside the multiverse storyline, Marvel Studios is quietly building smaller-scale heroes and villains, including Moon Knight, Daredevil, and Kingpin. Kingpin has appeared in projects like Hawkeye and Echo and has shown that he could easily become a major villain in New York City. Daredevil also appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, even serving as the lawyer who helped Peter Parker avoid a murder charge. This duo will return in the series Daredevil: Born Again and is likely to play a significant role in Spidey’s next superhero journey.
Finally, the after-credit scene of No Way Home hinted at the appearance of Venom in the MCU. This opens up opportunities for Marvel Studios to delve deeper into the antagonistic relationship between Spidey and Venom—something Sam Raimi attempted to explore in his Spider-Man films and a dream that Sony has yet to realize, even as they finish the trilogy for Venom. Nevertheless, the first trailer for Venom: The Last Dance indicated that the universe that Venom “dropped” in the MCU will soon be “reclaimed” and brought back to Sony’s cinematic universe. Therefore, the chances of Venom appearing in Spider-Man 4 and the MCU in general are quite slim.
Source: ScreenRant
