Tom Holland Gives A 'Complicated Answer' About 'Spider-Man 4'

By Andrew Sanford | Film | April 22, 2024 |

By Andrew Sanford | Film | April 22, 2024 |

Tom Holland had big tights to fill when he became the MCU’s Spider-Man. The character had already headlined five successful films. Even entries in the franchise that were not well-liked made stupid amounts of money. Most people (arguably) knew who Spider-Man was before they knew he was a Marvel character. That was before the MCU became the juggernaut we know today. Finding the right actor to swing him into this film universe was paramount, and Feige and his friends succeeded.

Holland’s first appearance as Spider-Man (in Captain America: Civil War) was very well-received, despite being somewhat of a last-minute addition to the film. The solo films that followed were massive hits. The third, Spider-Man: No Way Home, made over a billion dollars in theaters while a pandemic raged into a new wave. People love Holland’s Spider-Man but don’t know when they’ll see him next. He’s not sure either.

The actor recently discussed the possibility of a new film with Deadline. On the plus side, he seems open to donning the webbed suit for as long as possible. “The simple answer is that I’ll always want to do Spider-Man films,” Tom told the outlet. “I owe my life and career to Spider-Man. So the simple answer is yes. I’ll always want to do more.” Then, he gave a more “complicated answer.”

In addition to making mega-bucks at the box office, Spider-Man: No Way Home set a high bar. The film is essentially the eighth film in a franchise. It ties together three separate (but related) film series in a satisfying way. That’s a lot to live up to, and Holland seems aware of that.

“We have the best in the business working toward whatever the story might be. But until we’ve cracked it, we have a legacy to protect,” Holland told Deadline. “The third movie was so special in so many ways that we need to make sure we do the right thing.” This kind of self-awareness is good to hear at a time when studios will release movies to please an algorithm. That could still be the case with a fourth Holland-led Spider-Man, but he seems positioned to avoid that.

Holland revealed that he is already a part of the creative development for the film. “This is the first time in this process that I’ve been part of the creative so early. It’s just a process where I’m watching and learning. It’s just a really fun stage for me. Like I said, everyone wants it to happen. But we want to make sure we’re not overdoing the same things.”

A fourth Holland Spidey film could still be a ways off. We’d be more likely to see him appear in an Avengers film first. Still, taking your time to get something right is not bad. If the results are good, then the process will be worth it. That seems to be what Tom Holland wants.