The return of Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man: No Way Home last year was one of the highest points for many Marvel Studios fans in recent years. The idea of him ever returning to the big screen once seemed like a pipe dream. But then, he did just that—and also shared the screen with both Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland, while also going against his old foe Green Goblin.
It was a dream come true for many, but one which reminded them of what could have been: Spider-Man 4. After the third film in the series, Sony had planned on a fourth film, one that never came to be.
From there, the character went on to be rebooted in The Amazing Spider-Man, and it was history. Sam Raimi was also a name who went on not to have his hand in further superhero films.
That was until he was hired to take over from Scott Derrickson on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With the Benedict Cumberbatch-led project now just around the corner, the famous director has been doing press for its release.
In a new interview, the topic of his canceled Spider-Man plans came up, and in them, he revealed what’s stopping him from directing a fourth installment in the franchise.
4 Things Stopping Raimi From a Maguire Sequel
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Director Sam Raimi was asked about what it would take for him to direct a sequel to Spider-Man 3 now that Tobey Maguire has returned to the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Raimi revealed the four major “questions that would have to be answered” for him to tackle a fourth installment, the same four which held him back from returning over a decade ago:
“If there was a great story there, I think it’d be … my love for the characters hasn’t diminished one iota. It would be the same things that would stop me now that stopped me then: ‘Does Tobey want to do it? Is there an emotional arc for him? Is there a great conflict for this character? And is there a worthy villain that fits into the theme of the piece?’ There’s a lot of questions that would have to be answered. If those could be answered, then I’d love to.”
The filmmaker was then asked what he missed most from the Spider-Man 4 movie that was never made. The director had two answers: “the really great cameo [they] had designed for Bruce Campbell,” and “Kraven the Hunter:”
“I miss the really great cameo we had designed for Bruce Campbell. [Msyterio] was one of the possibilities. We had other things in mind, too, but that was one of them. And I missed Kraven the Hunter. We were going to work that character into the next Spider-Man; I always wanted to see Kraven fight Spider-Man on the big screen. I thought that would be really unique. He’s the ultimate hunter, and Spider-Man is like the most agile trickster of the skies. And I wanted to see Peter continue forward as a human being.”
The Spider-Man 4 That Could Have Been
It’s interesting that Raimi never mentioned the widely known plans for Vulture in the sequel. The villain was potentially going to be played by John Malkovich, and animatronics for action sequences between him and the hero have even been uncovered.
Maybe this potential lack of enthusiasm towards the antagonist is partly why the movie never came to light. Though, if he had his way with Kraven the Hunter instead, many fans would have undoubtedly been thrilled.
After all, the iconic foe has long been at the very top of many’s lists as to who people want Spider-Man to face off against next. Sadly, it seems that Sony has its hands on him instead, with Aaron-Taylor Johnson set to play the villain in a solo film next year.
Could fans see Raimi direct another Maguire Spidey story? Well, given the character’s return in No Way Home, and how the director was brought aboard a Doctor Strange feature, it’s safe to say that anything is possible at this point.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters on May 6.
