According to insider Daniel RPK, Marvel and Sony have been negotiating for months because they can’t agree on the storyline for Spider-Man 4. Marvel’s vision is to create a grounded movie that follows the aftermath of No Way Home, focusing on Peter Parker as he rebuilds his life after his girlfriend and all his friends forget who he was. This would be a back-to-basics approach, stripping away advanced technology and the presence of other heroes as mentors—unlike Iron Man and Doctor Strange in previous films. The only superhero joining Peter would be Matt Murdock, connecting the events of Spider-Man 4 with Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. Best idea ever!
Sony, however, has a different vision. They want to repeat the multiverse success of No Way Home by creating another crossover featuring Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, setting up a big finale for the multiverse saga in Secret Wars. And, according to Daniel RPK, Sony has won this creative battle. Spider-Man 4 is set to be a multiverse story, slated for release in 2026, and will be entirely set in Battleworld—a fusion of all universes in the Marvel multiverse created by Doctor Doom in the comics. Although the script hasn’t been written yet, there’s speculation that it could involve Morlun, one of Spider-Man’s deadliest villains, who hunts down Spider-Men across the multiverse. This setup could see Andrew, Tobey, and Tom teaming up against this threat, with one of them potentially making an epic sacrifice to save the others. No, no, no, no, no!
Sony might also include a faithful adaptation of the origin of the symbiote. Originally, Spider-Man merged with the symbiote on Battleworld in the comics, although the symbiote didn’t alter his personality initially. The movie could blend modern elements while staying true to the 1980s comics, showing Peter wearing the black suit and gradually becoming more aggressive. They might even bring in Tom Hardy’s Venom, who could appear in Battleworld due to the merging of universes, finally delivering on the promise teased at the end of Venom 2. There’s even talk of crossovers with Beyond the Spider-Verse or introducing Knull as a villain.
This may sound far-fetched, but Knull is a significant Marvel villain who hasn’t been adapted into live-action yet. Don’t forget, Sony is releasing Venom 3 in October, and the first trailer hints at Venom mentioning that his world has found him, potentially nodding to Knull, the creator, and God of the symbiotes. Knull could appear in a post-credits scene of Venom 3, threatening to conquer Earth with his army. Using his connection to the hive mind, Venom could reach out to all Spider-Men across the multiverse for help, leading the trio to team up in Battleworld to stop Knull. While Knull isn’t connected to the multiverse or Secret Wars in the comics, with Sony involved, anything is possible. You are so right.
You might be wondering why this is a big deal. These plots might seem interesting, full of potential, and packed with fan service, likely leading to huge box office success. They aim to deliver what fans want, and both Marvel and Sony stand to profit significantly, just like with No Way Home. Imagine the marketing possibilities with Andrew and Tobey featured on the posters—it’s hard to imagine the hype. However, there are four major problems with this idea.
Problem 1: Overusing Nostalgia
The first problem is that Sony is recycling nostalgia. No Way Home succeeded because it was a once-in-a-lifetime event that brought together three generations of Spider-Man fans in a theater. Similar magic happened with Deadpool & Wolverine, but overusing nostalgia with multiverse cameos in every movie would be a mistake. It’s like if the next Deadpool movie heavily relied on Wolverine and characters from the Fox universe showing up again—it would feel repetitive and unoriginal. If Spider-Man 4 becomes another multiverse crossover, it risks losing the special, epic feeling that No Way Home had, making it seem like Marvel and Sony are running out of ideas. Audiences might not be as thrilled as they were the first time around.
While fans would love to see the three Spider-Men team up again, the excitement would dwindle if multiverse crossovers dominate too many consecutive projects. If No Way Home had ended with Andrew and Tobey staying in the 616 universe or the villains remaining undefeated, another crossover would have felt natural. But given the conclusive ending of No Way Home, fans are more interested in seeing where each Spider-Man goes individually. Many would prefer The Amazing Spider-Man 3 over another multiverse-focused story.
Problem 2: Undermining No Way Home‘s Ending
The second problem is that a multiverse story could undermine the ending of No Way Home. The film’s final moments were perfect because Peter learns the true meaning of responsibility. Initially, he tries to manipulate reality for personal gain, showing immaturity. However, by the end, he sacrifices his personal happiness and relationships to save his universe, making everyone forget who he is. He stops using Stark technology and doesn’t reconnect with MJ because he realizes the potential harm. It’s a poignant, bittersweet ending that captures Spider-Man’s essence—someone striving to do the right thing, even when it comes at a personal cost.
Peter’s future should involve new supporting characters, such as Black Cat, Harry Osborn, or Gwen Stacy, introduced as fresh faces in the 616 universe. MJ could reappear to complicate Peter’s life, maintaining the classic love drama of Spider-Man stories. Ideally, Peter would continue to grapple with balancing his dual identities, perhaps even focusing more on being Spider-Man than on his civilian life. This dynamic could make his relationship with Black Cat work, as she’s attracted to Spider-Man, not Peter Parker.
However, a multiverse story would overshadow these possibilities. A new universe setting like Battleworld diminishes the importance of Peter’s secret identity and personal struggles. It’s unlikely that Spider-Man 4 would introduce new characters in such a fantastical environment, focusing instead on familiar faces from previous films to keep things straightforward. This undermines the grounded, character-driven stories fans expect from Spider-Man, especially in New York—a setting we haven’t truly seen since 2017. Seven years ago!
Problem 3: Diluting Other Marvel Projects
The third issue is the risk of overshadowing other Marvel projects related to Spider-Man. Beyond the Spider-Verse is already in production, with a planned release in late 2025 or 2026. It’s meant to conclude a major multiverse storyline, and there’s a possibility of cameos from Andrew and Tobey. But if it releases the same year as a multiverse-focused Spider-Man 4, Sony risks competing against itself, telling similar stories in a short time frame. This is just ridiculous!
Complicating matters further, Amy Pascal has mentioned a desire to develop a solo Spider-Woman movie as a spin-off of Spider-Verse, which could also involve multiverse elements. Even if Miles Morales doesn’t appear, this would mean three multiverse-related Spider-Man stories within a few years. And it doesn’t stop there. With Andrew and Tobey likely to appear again in Secret Wars, there’s a risk of overexposure. If they appear in Spider-Man 4, it would be the third time they reunite in six years. Instead of special, event-driven appearances, they could end up as regular characters in the MCU, despite not belonging to the 616 universe.
Problem 4: Turning Holland’s Spider-Man into a Supporting Character
Finally, there’s a significant risk that this approach would turn Tom Holland’s Spider-Man into a supporting character in his own movies. In Homecoming, Iron Man played a major role. Far From Home featured Nick Fury. In No Way Home, Doctor Strange, Andrew, and Tobey took the spotlight. And now, in Spider-Man 4, other Spider-Men might once again overshadow Holland’s character. It feels like Sony doesn’t trust Holland’s Spider-Man to carry a movie on his own. Although it’s logical for Spider-Man to interact with other characters within a shared universe, constantly relying on nostalgia and cameos risks diminishing his standalone appeal. If Sony doesn’t provide Holland’s Spider-Man with new villains and fresh supporting characters, his iteration may struggle to define a generation. Fans might lose interest if Spider-Man 5 is announced without Andrew and Tobey’s involvement. I missed the part where that’s my problem.
Potential Solution
A more balanced approach would be to keep Spider-Man 4 grounded, saving the multiverse setup for a post-credits scene. If Sony is eager for another Spider-Men reunion, they could tease it after the main film, showing Holland’s Spider-Man swinging through New York, only for the 616 universe to dissolve, leaving him in a merged city with Andrew and Tobey as they prepare for Secret Wars. This approach would allow Spider-Man 4 to maintain its grounded storyline while also teasing the multiverse event. Good idea.
Unfortunately, Sony’s track record with multiverse stories doesn’t inspire confidence, and there’s a real concern they might fall into common pitfalls.
