Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man returned to the big screen after over a decade in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but his story should continue in Spider-Man 4 for a multitude of reasons. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy raised the bar for superhero movie adaptations in the 2000s, in many ways priming the film industry for the Marvel Cinematic Universe that remains a dominant force in pop culture. Cast members from the Spider-Man Trilogy along with audiences are interested in a Raimi-directed Spider-Man 4, and given both the information about Spider-Man’s post-Spider-Man 3 adventures in No Way Home and the plethora of potential comic-inspired storylines, a fourth Raimi Spider-Man film must be made.

Sam Raimi notably had begun production on a Spider-Man 4 by the time the project ended. The film was set to feature The Vulture (who would go on to have his live-action debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Black Cat (who appears as Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2). With this in mind, along with the significant passage of time since the events of Spider-Man 3, a hypothetical Spider-Man 4 ought not to revive its original story and villains. A more fitting direction for the film would be to explore the lives of an older and more experienced Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, inspired by Marvel’s MC2 comics.

No Way Home Renewed Interest In Maguire’s Spider-Man

No Way Home brought all three of Sony’s Spider-Man iterations together for the first time, but this was more than simple fanservice. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s respective Spider-Man iterations progressed as characters, worked in tandem with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and had their long-awaited second chances on film. Needless to say, No Way Home reminded viewers why the previous two Spider-Men were so beloved in the first place and it served as a love letter to all three franchises rather than pitting them against each other. In their own ways, Maguire and Garfield brought viewers up to speed on what their respective web-slingers were up to since their last movies.

While Andrew Garfield wanted to explore his Spider-Man’s continued characterization in detail, Tobey Maguire went in the opposite direction, revealing as little about his version of Spider-Man since the events of Spider-Man 3 as possible. Both approaches only further renewed viewer interest in seeing the two return in their own solo films. In Maguire’s case, Peter Parker notes that, despite the complications of his double life, he and Mary Jane Watson are still together. Considering that older and more experienced versions of Spider-Man exist in the comics and animated properties, Tobey Maguire’s exposition makes the idea of seeing him star in another Spider-Man solo movie even more exciting.

The Spider-Man Trilogy Cast Members Want To Return

Tobey Maguire is as enthusiastic about returning as audiences are, and he has brought this up unprompted in at least one interview. His Spider-Man trilogy co-star, Kirsten Dunst, expressed disappointment that there was not a place for her in No Way Home, but considering her importance to Raimi’s saga (and Maguire’s reference to her in No Way Home) she would finally reprise her role in a hypothetical Spider-Man 4. Willem Dafoe, who reminded viewers why he is among Marvel’s best live-action supervillains in No Way Home, similarly voiced interest in returning to the double role of Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin, as long as it is handled properly.

Sam Raimi Is Directing Marvel Movies Again

Sam Raimi’s direction is essential to another Tobey Maguire Spider-Man film, and luckily the legendary director returned to Marvel adaptations in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film proved that Sam Raimi is as well-suited to the superhero genre now as he was in the 2000s, and Raimi expressed happiness at seeing Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man return to the big screen in No Way Home. With both Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi both returning to Marvel filmmaking and with the Raimi trilogy’s cast members wishing to reprise their roles, it is easy to imagine Sam Raimi himself reviving his Spider-Man films with a Spider-Man 4.

Spider-Man 4 Would Adapt Spider-Man’s Best Comic Stories

Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker revealed that he and Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson are still together by the events of No Way Home, and with their relationship being an essential part of the original Raimi trilogy, Spider-Man 4 would be well-positioned to take it into new territory. As the oldest of the three Spider-Man iterations and arguably the most naturalistic, Maguire’s Spider-Man and Dunst’s Mary Jane can be depicted as parents of superpowered children in Spider-Man 4, adapting the stories of Tom DeFalco’s MC2 comics by introducing Mayday Parker, the future Spider-Girl.

Maguire’s Spider-Man and Dunst’s Mary Jane would remain the protagonists of Spider-Man 4, but Mayday would provide them with fascinating new conflicts and ensure the future of the Raimi series. Mayday is born with the same powers as Peter Parker and wishes to help people as a costumed crime-fighter like Spider-Man, but Peter and Mary Jane, understandably, wish to protect her and thus forbid her from following in the former’s footsteps. While the majority of the film’s action would center on Spider-Man, the introduction of Mayday assures viewers that New York will always have a protector while also setting up a potential Spider-Girl movie.

Spider-Man 4 Would Have The Green Goblin Rematch That No Way Home Skipped

Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man did not get to fight the Green Goblin again in No Way Home, but Willem Dafoe is willing to play the Goblin again if the character is done justice once more and the comics provide a worthwhile reason to bring Dafoe back. In the comics, Norman Osborn survives his impalement through a retcon and returns to menace Spider-Man again, manipulating other villains from behind the scenes initially before returning. Spider-Man 4 can utilize an established villain from canonical spinoff material (such as the Raimi Spider-Man video games) or introduce a new one (like Hobgoblin or Jackal) before revealing that the true mastermind is the Green Goblin.

Spider-Man 4 could bring back the Green Goblin and introduce Mayday by partially and loosely adapting the infamous Clone Saga storyline from the comics. This would not be the first time that a Spider-Man film adapted a controversial comic arc into a well-received film. No Way Home is based on One More Day, turning arguably the worst Spider-Man comic story into one of the most crowd-pleasing Spider-Man movies. Spider-Man 4 would please viewers and key cast members of the Raimi trilogy alike while continuing the exciting story of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and setting up a future for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man continuity.