Mattson Tomlin, a co-writer on Matt Reeves’ acclaimed The Batman movies, has confirmed he’s still pursuing his ambitious vision for a “Spider-Man 4” film. His concept features Tobey Maguire reprising his iconic role, but with a twist: Spider-Man would be navigating the complexities of being a husband and father.
Earlier this year, Tomlin publicly shared his desire to write a new Spider-Man installment. He envisioned Peter Parker balancing his superhero duties with married life to Mary Jane Watson, played by Kirsten Dunst, continuing the narrative from Sam Raimi’s beloved trilogy.
With his script for The Batman 2 now submitted, Tomlin recently provided an update to a curious fan about his dream Spider-Man project.
The possibility of Tobey Maguire returning for Spider-Man 4 is certainly intriguing.
In his words, “Slow and steady wins the race.” He acknowledged that any progress on such a film would be a lengthy process, involving numerous stakeholders, complex studio politics, and many factors beyond his control. However, he optimistically added, “I haven’t gotten a ‘no’ yet!”
Could such a film actually happen? Spider-Man is one of the biggest characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and current Spider-Man Tom Holland has found huge success playing the character in recent films. Holland is actively filming “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” slated for release next year.
However, Maguire’s Peter Parker has already made a triumphant return to the MCU, captivating audiences with his cameo in 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which grossed nearly $2 billion globally. This precedent, combined with recent challenges faced by Sony’s standalone Spider-Man Universe films, might encourage the studio to explore nostalgic and fresh directions.
There’s also a compelling argument for two different Spider-Man films with two different actors to coexist. The DC Universe, for instance, features Robert Pattinson as Batman in Matt Reeves’ separate crime saga, while DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn seeks another actor for his “The Brave and the Bold” Batman film. For Spider-Man, the multiverse concept could even allow for intriguing crossovers between different iterations, a possibility less likely with the distinct Batman projects.
Regardless of the intricate “Hollywood politics,” it’s clear that it will be some time before any concrete news emerges regarding Tomlin’s proposal. He further emphasized the slow pace of the industry, stating, “If that ever happens, it’s definitely not going to be this year! Hollywood is sloooooooooooow!”
In the meantime, Tomlin remains busy with other high-profile projects, including a John Wick Caine spinoff, adaptations of Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR comic series, and of course, “The Batman 2.”