Almost as soon as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returned on-screen in Spider-Man: No Way Home, speculation swirled that one or both of their incarnations of Peter Parker could get true sequels to their Spider-Man movies. The rumor that has been most persistent is about Maguire reuniting with director Sam Raimi for Spider-Man 4. Earlier this month, Spider-Man 3 actor Thomas Hayden Church even expressed his belief that Spider-Man 4 would happen. However, Raimi was less confident about that when asked about the rumors at WonderCon last weekend.
“I did read [those rumors], but I’m not actually working on it yet,” Raimi told CBR. ” I mean, Marvel and Columbia are so successful with current Spider-Man [movies], and the track there, and I don’t know that they’re going to go back to me, and say, ‘Well, folks, we can also tell that story!’”
Raimi initially developed his version of Spider-Man 4 with John Malkovich in mind to play the Vulture and Anne Hathaway as Black Cat. But when he couldn’t make the story work to his satisfaction, Raimi walked away from the franchise and The Amazing Spider-Man followed with Garfield taking over the title role from Maguire. While speaking with CBR, Raimi noted that he and Maguire haven’t spoken about making another Spider-Man sequel together. But he didn’t downplay the possibility that Maguire has been open to it.
“I haven’t talked to Tobey about [a fourth movie with me], but maybe Marvel has or Columbia Pictures,” related Raimi. “I just worked with Marvel on a movie called Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’ So, I’m on great terms with them. I’m sure I would hear about it if it was in the works.”
Additionally, Raimi shared his admiration for the most recent Spider-Man movies, especially Spider-Man: No Way Home.
“I love all the new Spider-Man movies,” said Raimi. “I loved Spider-Man: No Way Home. It was really, super powerful seeing Tobey [Maguire] again in it.”