It’s been three years since “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and a fourth one is finally on the horizon
“Next summer we start shooting. Everything is good to go, we’re nearly there,” said Tom Holland, referring to the fourth Spider-Man installment during his latest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
It’s been three years since “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and everyone is undoubtedly in dire need of more Peter Parker. And while a fourth film is on the horizon, what fans were once expecting for the follow-up would now be different given the MCU’s change in course over the past few months—from the upcoming “Thunderbolts*” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” to Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom.
Where will a fourth Spider-Man film fit into the ever-growing MCU? Here’s what we think.
What to rule out
As it is, we can likely rule out the possibility of a Sinister Six appearance. As much as we want to see Peter Parker’s Rogues Gallery go after him no-holds-barred, we’ve already seen a version of it in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” It may have been five villains joining forces, one short of the desired number, any repeats of that would only feel repetitive.
We can also dismiss the likelihood of a Miles Morales inclusion. Though he was hinted at in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” with Donald Glover playing his uncle Aaron (who is secretly the villain Prowler), it’s not yet Peter Parker’s time. Despite already having three (about to be four) solo films under his belt, multiple team-up movie appearances, and almost 10 years of Holland’s portrayal—chronologically our Spider-Man has only come to his own as a hero. He still hasn’t reached the end of his character arc and it would be still too early for him to take somebody like Morales under his wing.
The likely scenario
“The idea is crazy, it’s a little different to anything we’ve done before, but I think the fans are really gonna respond to it,” shared Holland during another interview with Good Morning America.
Despite being well-integrated into the MCU, all Spider-Man titles have generally been their own films. The trilogy so far has been excluded from the rest of the universe barring appearances by Iron Man and Stephen Strange, without any mentions of the Infinity Stones or Kang The Conqueror.
Following the trend so far, we can likely expect yet another street-level narrative for our friendly neighborhood spider. But who will be his superhero companion, his link to the rest of the MCU? We’re guessing Matt Murdock (Daredevil).
Though the pair has only had a brief encounter with each other in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the two have a great friendship in the comics, which can be further explored in an upcoming film. This would be set after the much-awaited “Daredevil: Born Again” series and will likely pit the pairing against a Kingpin who rules over New York.
What would make this idea crazy in Holland’s words? Spider-Man in a detective-mystery film with Daredevil. Hallway one-shot brawls and using his position in the Daily Bugle to expose Kingpin rather than fighting him? Unheard of for the masked spider.
Tom Holland everywhere
Outside the MCU, Holland is also reported to lead the next Christopher Nolan film with Matt Damon.
Holland also said in his Good Morning America interview, “I’m incredibly excited and obviously honored but that’s all I can say because, to be honest, that’s all I know.” He added, “When the opportunity came in, it was the phone call of a lifetime, reminiscent of getting that call about Spider-Man 10 years ago.”
In the swirl of MCU-Nolan news surrounding Holland, he also formally launched Bero, his line of alcohol-free beers.