There have been few breaks between Spider-Man solo films since 2002, when the first film debuted in theaters. Sony was eager to build on the success of Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire’s first two solo films, so they crammed in three villains for the third instalment, resulting in an overcrowding issue that hampered the film’s momentum.

Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man reboot came about a few years after director Sam Raimi refused to return for the planned fourth instalment. Despite this, fans now have a good idea of what Raimi had planned for Spider-Man 4 thanks to several publicly released storyboards and plot tidbits.

For Spider-Man 4, Raimi proposed to introduce Bruce Campbell as Mysterio, based on early storyboards showing that Peter would have arrested and unmasked him.

There was a time when John Malkovich had been cast in the role of Vulture, the story’s primary antagonist.

Anne Hathaway would have played the Black Cat, and Dylan Baker would have played Curt Connors, who would have been transformed into the Lizard in Spider-Man 5.

Despite all of Raimi’s plans, the film was shelved; there was even a video game in the works. In any case, the news of Tobey Maguire’s return in NWH has reignited speculation that he will come back for Spider-Man 4, and at least one producer shares those sentiments.

Maguire’s Spider-Man Producer Shares Continuation Dreams

Grant Curtis, the producer of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, spoke to Gizmodo about his desire to see the canceled fourth instalment of the superhero franchise get made in the future.

It was an “incredible opportunity career-wise” for Curtis to work on the original trilogy, and he expressed his admiration for the stories told in the films:

“The Spider-Man movies we made were an incredible opportunity career-wise. As a fan, I love the narratives that were generated from those three movies.”

Moon Knight’s now-producer went on to talk about how he hoped “those stories” and the “narrative” would continue in the other films he worked on.

“There were other stories within those movies that did not get told. I hope someday, as any Spider-Man fan would tell you, that all those stories come out and that narrative continues.”

Is a Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire on the way?

No Way Home brought Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man back to the big screen for the first time in fourteen years, much to the delight of the audience. Sony is eager to replicate the excitement generated by Maguire and Garfield’s surprise appearances in the future following their appearances.

As long as Tom Holland is the future of Spider-Man, the studio may look to incorporate his Multiverse Variants in other ways. Garfield has already been called back to reprise his role as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 3, but what’s in store for Maguire? Doctor Strange 2 is already rumored to bring back the classic Spider-Man, but a fourth solo outing for him might be in the works.

Sam Raimi, the original Spider-Man director, has recently expressed an interest in helming another Spider-Man film. Tobey Maguire’s fourth solo outing could be directed by Sam Raimi if Sony wants to bring him back, according to a report in Variety.

It is possible that the original plans for Spider-Man 4 will need to be adjusted to accommodate an older Peter Parker and bring it into the modern era, given that Tobey Maguire is now in his late forties, as opposed to his early thirties at the time of writing.

Sony’s involvement could be a stumbling block to a fourth Spider-Man film. After all, Marvel Studios was responsible for the Maguire depicted in No Way Home. A number of issues arose due to the studio’s intervention with Raimi’s vision for the third instalment.

Even if a Spider-Man 4 movie is never made, the story still has a chance of being told. Michael Keaton’s Batman from the 1980s gets a comic book sequel from DC just recently. As a bridge between Spider-Man 3 and his return in No Way Home, it could highlight his comeback. While Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man has yet to see the light of day again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, No Way Home is almost certain to be his final outing.