The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is on the verge of achieving the impossible: producing a fourth instalment in a single Spider-Man series. Amidst various Spider-Man-centric projects in development, including a spin-off featuring Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Woman and a live-action movie focused on Miles Morales, the most exciting revelation is the confirmation of a fourth MCU Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland and Zendaya. While fans eagerly await this historic milestone, progress on the film has been hindered by the ongoing Writer’s Guild of America strike. Despite the challenges, Spider-Man seems poised to break free from its curse and secure a fourth movie, ushering in a new era for the beloved superhero.
The Struggles of Past Spider-Man Series:
Throughout the years, we have witnessed several iterations of Spider-Man on the big screen. However, none of the series has managed to reach the coveted fourth movie milestone. Even the original Spider-Man series led by Tobey Maguire and helmed by Sam Raimi had plans for a fourth, fifth, and sixth instalment. Extensive development took place for Spider-Man 4, with multiple script drafts and negotiations with actors John Malkovich and Anne Hathaway to portray villains. Unfortunately, the project eventually came to a halt, leaving fans yearning for more.
A Series Reboot and MCU Integration:
In 2012, Sony rebooted the franchise with Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger. However, this era only lasted for two movies before Sony collaborated with Marvel Studios for a fresh start, integrating Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This marked the beginning of the Tom Holland era, which has already seen the release of three successful films: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), along with memorable appearances in ensemble MCU movies.
Spider-Man Finds Stability:
With the Holland series set to continue and the animated Spider-Verse series already two movies deep, Spider-Man has finally achieved a sense of stability in its cinematic universe. Tom Holland is poised to become the first actor to portray the iconic superhero in a fourth movie, marking a significant milestone in Spider-Man’s cinematic journey. However, the timing of production hinges on the outcome of the ongoing WGA strike, which shows no signs of resolution in the near future.
Breaking the Curse:
While it appears that Spider-Man is destined to break free from the curse of being stuck at three movies, fans should exercise patience before marking their calendars. The resolution of the Writer’s Guild of America strike is crucial, as proper compensation and recognition for writers are vital for the industry. Until then, audiences can still enjoy the existing 14 Spider-Man movies available, showcasing the enduring popularity of the friendly neighbourhood superhero.
