The last two movies to release within the MCU have been arguably the franchise's biggest solo films to date, largely due to their use of the Multiverse. Sam Raimi just delivered Dr Strange 2, which is already making waves in the theaters, while Jon Watts took Spider-Man: No Way Home to incredible highs behind Tom Holland, two other Spideys, and a handful of classic villains.
Raimi also has a notable connection to the Spider-Man franchise as he directed the original Tobey Maguire-led trilogy from 2002 to 2007, which housed three villains that wound up in No Way Home. Due to the performances from those three actors along with Maguire in their eagerly-anticipated returns, Raimi's trilogy got its own comeback in the spotlight alongside the MCU.
While Tom Holland is confirmed to continue playing the web-slinger in the upcoming Spider-Man 4, there are also fan cries vehemently asking for Raimi to return to the director's chair for another round of wall-crawling antics. Raimi recently addressed that idea during press for Doctor Strange 2, offering up some hilarious but honest responses to the idea of him taking over that series.
Sam Raimi on Tom Holland's Spider-Man 4
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director Sam Raimi discussed his feelings on the MCU's Spider-Man trilogy.
The director called No Way Home "a complete audience thrill ride" and shared how incredible it was to see the stars from his own movies return in the MCU. However, even though he still loves Spider-Man and Tom Holland's Spidey movies, Raimi admitted that he would need to reunite with Tobey Maguire before directing Holland's Spider-Man 4:
“I loved No Way Home. I thought it was a complete audience thrill ride. The crowd I was with were ooh-ing and ahh-ing, and it had a great heart to it. It was great seeing my old friends again. I love Spider-Man. And I love Tom Holland in the role. [But] if I made a Spider-Man movie, it would probably have to be with Tobey or he’d break my neck.”
Raimi also spoke with Screen Rant, where he confirmed that there are no plans in place for him to direct a fourth Spider-Man movie with Maguire. He reiterated how successful the MCU's movies have been and said that it's something he hasn't gone after at this time:
"I currently don't have any plans to make Spider-Man 4. And they're so successful with the new Spider-Man series that I don't know if that's gonna happen or not. I haven't pursued that."
No Team-Up for Raimi and Holland
Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire earned incredible fame for their work on the Spider-Man trilogy, which was completed before the MCU even began on the big screen. Now, with Holland in the role and finding his own massive success as the MCU's Spider-Man, it seems only natural that another person so involved with the character in cinema would share his thoughts on the matter.
Looking at how fans are asking for Raimi and Maguire to reunite for a fourth Spider-Man movie after No Way Home, Raimi's ties to his own leading actor can't be forgotten. Particularly with Raimi now having just wrapped up on his own MCU project in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he appears comfortable with whatever decision Sony makes with regard to him continuing with his own franchise that he built.
For the time being, Tom Holland's Spider-Man 4 is the only Spidey-centric movie confirmed to be in development for Sony, although there are no details known about its production schedule or release timeframe within the MCU. Whether Raimi gets to return to his own franchise is also a mystery, but the director is happy with the hero's current path either way.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters worldwide.
