Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man 4 finally has the best possible story for it to happen and the right person to pen it. Maguire became one of the most important actors in superhero movie history due to his work in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movie trilogy. The actor was the first star to portray Peter Parker on the big screen for mainstream Marvel movies.
That came years before the Marvel Cinematic Universe started, and well before the MCU had any plans to bring in Tom Holland as its Spider-Man. Maguire helped establish the superhero genre in theaters alongside Fox’s X-Men movies and Wesley Snipes’ Blade franchise. As such, Maguire’s films as Peter Parker stand as some of the best Spider-Man movies of all time.
Sadly, his time as the hero was cut short when Spider-Man 4 was cancelled. The movie was originally set to be released in theaters on May 6, 2011, with Sony eventually deciding to reboot the franchise, leading to Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man movies. However, 14 years after Maguire’s Spider-Man was set to premiere, the movie has gained the perfect story to finally happen.
Tobey Maguire Has Already Returned As Spider-Man To Huge Success
In the years since Spider-Man 4 was cancelled, Tobey Maguire has not starred in many movies and TV shows. As such, it became increasingly harder to see the actor coming back to the big screen as Peter Parker one day. However, Marvel Studios and Sony finally made it happen in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which became an unforgettable cinematic experience.
With the MCU’s Multiverse Saga allowing Marvel to explore other live-action franchises, Maguire and Andrew Garfield returned as their Spider-Men, with villains from their Spider-Man movies also coming back. The result was a mᴀssive hit, with No Way Home nearly grossing $2 billion worldwide despite not being released in China. The MCU movie was positively received by fans and critics.
On Rotten Tomatoes, its critics’ score sits at 93%. When it comes to fans, the Spider-Man crossover movie performed even better, rising to a mᴀssive 97%. Maguire’s Spider-Man return included scenes both as the hero and Peter Parker, with the character having impeccable chemistry with Garfield and Holland’s Spider-Men. Maguire played a supporting role, but his Spider-Man undoubtedly helped boost ticket sales immensely.
Tobey Maguire & Sam Raimi Are Open To More Spider-Man
While Spider-Man: No Way Home feels like a miracle, it seems like the lightning could strike twice. After Maguire’s Marvel return, Spider-Man trilogy director Sam Raimi saw his MCU debut, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, gross nearly $1 billion worldwide, which was quite a boost from the first film in the hero’s franchise.
After his Marvel return, Raimi addressed Spider-Man 4 chances (via CBR), saying, “I think all things are possible.” Raimi also commented on how it would be “beautiful” to get together with the Spider-Man trilogy cast for a new movie, but made it clear that he had no story or plans in mind for the project. Still, it seems that he would be game to return.
The same rings true for Maguire. After the huge success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans started to campaign for the actor and Garfield to get new solo movies. Maguire revealed he would love to play Spider-Man again. According to the actor, he would jump at the chance to play Spider-Man in a new project, no matter what kind of role it was.
The Batman Writer Has The Perfect Spider-Man 4 Story & Is Trying To Make It Happen
Well, both Maguire and Raimi must be in luck then, because it seems like someone might be trying to make Spider-Man 4 finally happen. In the past, The Batman franchise co-writer Mattson Tomlin took to X to share what he wanted to see happen in the film. His Spider-Man 4 story would focus on Peter Parker being a father.
That is the best possible story for Maguire’s Marvel hero. Spider-Man 4 could see Peter try to balance a life as a father, a husband to Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson — whom he was teased to still be in a relationship with in No Way Home — and a veteran superhero. It would instantly make Spider-Man 4 feel timely and different from other Spider-Man films.
Peter Parker has never been married or a father in a live-action Spider-Man movie. Given the success, both financially and critically, of The Batman, I believe that Tomlin could craft an emotional and exciting Spider-Man 4. Besides sharing his perfect story plans for the film, Tomlin recently took to X to claim he is “Trying” to make the movie happen.
How The MCU’s Peter Parker Story Could Help Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man 4
What could play against Spider-Man 4‘s chances is the fact that Tom Holland is still playing Peter Parker in the MCU, so Sony and Marvel might not want two conflicting Spider-Man franchises. However, the MCU is headed towards a reboot in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. In the past, Holland claimed that he wanted to see Miles Morales’ Spider-Man in the MCU.
After leading four solo movies, including 2026’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and potentially appearing in the two upcoming Avengers films, Holland’s Peter Parker could give way for Miles to be the MCU’s Spider-Man. In that case, having Tobey Maguire return as his Peter in Spider-Man 4 would not clash at all with Marvel’s plans. Either way, I hope we finally get the film.
