The anticipation for Spider-Man 4 is reaching new heights among fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the success of the previous Spider-Man movies, viewers are eagerly waiting for the next installment. In this blog post, we'll dive into all the exciting details about Spider-Man 4, from the cast to the plot, giving you an inside scoop on what to expect from this highly anticipated movie.
Spider-Man 4 is definitely happening, but not as soon as many fans would want. Sony and Marvel confirmed the film is officially in development, but the writers' strike in Hollywood and Tom Holland's break from acting have left the project on hold.
Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal teased a new trilogy was in the works prior to No Way Home's release. Then, swiftly, she backtracked on that in December 2021, essentially saying it was wishful thinking, or maybe manifesting, because...
Shortly afterwards, Feige confirmed that a new Spider-Man movie was in development. By May 2022, Sony boss Tom Rothman said they "hope to get working on the next Spider-Man movie" with "that whole group" (Tom Holland, Zendaya and co).
A year later, while promoting the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Pascal confirmed this saying: "Are we going to make another movie? Of course, we are."
With that in mind, here's what we know so far about Spider-Man 4.
Spider-Man 4 potential release date: When will Spider-Man 4 be out in cinemas?
Spider-Man 4 might be in development, but doesn't yet have a release date confirmed. As with anything Marvel or Marvel-adjacent, rumours abound. Until there's something confirmed, however, we will steer clear of any unsubstantiated whispers.
In the past, there have been two years between each Spider-Man movie within the MCU, but we have a feeling for the reasons mentioned above, it'll be a bigger gap for the next film.
The Sony date that has inspired the aforementioned whispers is an unconfirmed Marvel project for June 7, 2024.
This could be Spider-Man 4, but this would place the film one month after Deadpool 3 and two months prior to Captain America: Brave New World in Marvel's revised release schedule. This feels like an overload of films, even for a cinematic universe as chockablock as the MCU.
While Sony reportedly was keen to have Jon Watts return as director, he's currently taking a superhero break after exiting Fantastic Four. But if there's as big a gap as we think there'll be before Spider-Man 4, never say never.
Also taking a break (from acting) is Tom Holland, which may cause delays in the production of Spider-Man 4. His work in the TV series The Crowded Room was quite difficult, as the actor explained in an interview with Extra! in June 2023.
"It was a tough time, for sure," he said. "We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before. And then on top of that, being a producer, dealing with the day-to-day problems that come with any film set, just added that extra level of pressure.
"I'm now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was."
The preparation for the film is also affected by the writers' strike in Hollywood. "We're in the process, but [with] the writers' strike, nobody is working during the strike. We're all being supporters and whenever they get themselves together, we'll get started," said Amy Pascal in an interview with Variety.
In the same outlet, Holland added: "I can't talk about that, but I can say that we have been having meetings. We've put the meetings on pause in solidarity with the writers. There's been multiple conversations had, but at this point it's very, very early stages."
All this to say that, as of writing, it's hard to guess when the fourth instalment will be out. If Sony is keen to keep Holland in the suit, it might be sooner rather than later. But if a new man is to take over the mantle, we may be waiting a while longer.
Spider-Man 4 cast: Will Tom Holland return as Spider-Man?
Initially, Tom Holland was a bit cagey about his future as Peter Parker, understandably. After the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, he was quoted as saying: "Maybe it is time for me to move on. I have to take Peter Parker into account as well, because he is an important part of my life," and added: "If I'm playing Spider-Man after I'm 30, I've done something wrong."
However, he then clarified those quotes, saying: "I don't know what the future of Spider-Man looks like. "I don't know whether I'm going to be a part of it. Spider-Man will always live on in me and I know that [producer] Amy [Pascal] and the studio are keen to figure out what the next chapter of Spider-Man looks like.
"If that happens to be with me, then that's very exciting but, you know, if it's time for me to walk away then I'll do so proudly."
There's always the possibility that Holland could move into more of a mentor role for a new Spider-Man (Miles Morales, perhaps), but there are no teasers for that in No Way Home so we can only speculate for now.
We'd imagine that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon would return as MJ and Ned, respectively, but by the end of No Way Home, neither remember Peter is in fact Spider-Man.
That could mean MJ and Ned won't be in a potential fourth movie, although we're just speculating for now. Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) doesn't know Peter now either, but he does know Spider-Man so he could be back again.
One person who definitely won't be in it is Marisa Tomei, as Aunt May is tragically killed by the Green Goblin. The multiverse does offer the possibility of an alternate Aunt May (like the alternate Spider-Men), but we feel this won't be done.
It's also unlikely that Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire would return, again, to their roles, given that their brief but meaningful appearance in No Way Home is rectified as the plot reseals the multiverse up.
However, they do now have official MCU names as "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" (Maguire) and "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Garfield), so who's to say they couldn't swing by the MCU again?
Garfield would certainly be up for another team-up movie as long as the story called for it: "It would have to be something very unique, very special and serving to an audience and in service of the character."
Could we see Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom in the fourth movie? He does appear in the credits scene, but is taken back to his own universe. (More on him later.)
Spider-Man 4 plot: Does No Way Home set up Spider-Man 4?
Short answer: not really. The climax effectively wraps up the trilogy and sets a blank slate for the future. The possibilities for that new movie are endless!
What we do know is that the story, mysterious as it is, is being written. Kevin Feige said: "We have the story. We have big ideas for that, and our writers are just putting pen to paper now."
A potential fourth movie can do whatever it likes, whether that's having Peter train up a new Spider-Man, a standalone adventure where he faces a new villain or something else entirely.
"At the end of the movie we just made, you see Spider-Man make a momentous decision, one that you've never seen him make before. It's a sacrifice. And that gives us a lot to work with for the next film," Pascal teased to The New York Times.
One potential option is to deliver a long-awaited battle between Spider-Man and Venom on the big screen. As we saw in the Venom 2 credits scene, Eddie Brock and Venom are transported to the MCU.
It's because of the botched spell that Doctor Strange casts, but he rectifies it at the end which means Eddie and Venom are taken back to their universe. A piece of the Venom symbiote is left behind though, so it could take over somebody in the MCU.
We'd be surprised if the MCU set up its own Venom though, as Tom Hardy is so popular with fans. So we imagine if the face-off is going to happen, they'll manufacture a way for either Spidey to cross into Venom's universe, or vice-versa. Watch this space.
No Way Home also makes a fun nod to Ned's villainous turn as Hobgoblin in the comics. We think it's unlikely we'll see it play out on screen, but stranger things have happened in the MCU.
Spider-Man 4 trailer: Any Spider-Man 4 footage yet?
Of course not! You'll have to make do with No Way Home rewatches for now.
