With Tobey Maguire having reprised his role as the iconic web-slinger in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Sam Raimi having revealed that he is open to adding a fourth film to his own trilogy (via IndieWire), fans have taken to Reddit to discuss what they would like to see happen if this ever came into fruition.
Since the MCU has begun exploring the concept of the multiverse, many are hoping that there will be an opportunity to see Maguire interact with even more characters from the franchise (such as She-Hulk or the future Fantastic Four). Even if Raimi decided that this wasn't for him, there were still a lot of open-ended questions and storylines that were left in Spider-Man 3 that can be explored. There are just so many possibilities he could go down, it's not surprising that the users on Reddit are clamoring with excitement.
Updated on May 16th, 2022 by Kayleigh Banks: With Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in Multiverse of Madness receiving wide praise from the critics for its exciting storyline and horror-esque elements, fans now, more than ever, are clamouring for Raimi to get a fourth Spider-Man movie. Redditors, in particular, are rather excited to see what Raimi could have up his sleeve now that they've seen him make Wanda, Stephen Strange, and Wong even more iconic as than they were before. If it ever gets green-lit, maybe the audience will see some of these ideas explored in more depth.
Answers About Peter’s Personal Life
Peter is certainly in a different place in his life during Spider-Man: No Way Home than he was at the end of Spider-Man 3, but not much was revealed about what happened during that time frame.
“People just want to know what happened to him after all those years,” Redditor Ubermensch2745 writes, as the only thing fans really learned was that Peter and MJ managed to make things work in their romantic relationship. Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 released in 2007, meaning there are 15 years worth of details that audiences want to learn more about.
The Return Of Mr. Ditkovitch
Reddit user TheLoyalTR8R claims that “it would be criminal not to bring back Mr. Ditkovitch” as he and Peter never truly got to resolve their issues on screen. The relationship between the landlord and Peter was always a bit strained, especially during Spider-Man 3, as Peter was constantly behind on his rent.
It would be interesting to see if the dynamic between these two ever improved or potentially got worse, and to maybe even see if Peter and Ditkovitch’s daughter Ursula are still on good terms after their brief friendship.
Professor Peter Parker
As much as fans may want him to, Peter Parker can’t remain Spider-Man forever and some have an idea of what he could do with his time instead. Reddit user calebisanowl sees Peter becoming “a college professor…to focus on his daughter” after retiring from being the friendly neighborhood hero.
Seeing Peter take his nerdy personality and apply it to a career he would enjoy (while taking care of his family without focusing on wearing the suit) would make for an excellent end for this character, as he certainly deserves to have his happy ending.
Hobgoblin Against The Parkers
Many fans online are intrigued at the possibility of seeing Mayday Parker, Peter and MJ’s first-born daughter who takes on the Spider-Girl name, since a considerable amount of time has gone by and it was confirmed that Peter and MJ' relationship worked out in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
With her addition, Redditor user DGenerationMC thinks Hobgoblin would be the perfect villain in order to display themes of “a new generation handling what is passed down onto them and the past haunting the older generation.” Peter may struggle to face a villain that reminds him of his past, while Mayday rises to the Spidey mantle to help, making for an exciting family dynamic to watch.
The Lizard Should Be Introduced
Peter met Dr. Curtis Connors, portrayed by Dylan Baker, during his time at college and even sought out his help while attempting to identify what the symbiote was in Spider-Man 3.
Dr. Connors does eventually become the villain Lizard, but this transition was never seen with Baker in the role, despite this direction being hinted at “by him keeping a part of the Venom symbiote which he could use to create the serum” that eventually transforms him into a lizard (as Reddit user guywithushanka pointed out). Audiences would love to see Baker's own version of the Lizard, so the continuation of his story is a must for Spider-Man 4.
The Parker Family And The Defenders
Instead of a movie centered around just Peter Parker, Reddit user Apprehensive-Neat-68 believes "a 'Spider-Family' movie where Peter starts his own universe's version of "The Defenders" with his children that follow in his footsteps, would be the best route to go.
Peter has always been a great help to The Defenders in the comics, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see this behavior mirrored in his kids. By doing this route, Raimi has the capability to introduce more characters, including those that aren't directly in Spider-Man's inner circle, like Doctor Strange or Luke Cage, to further expand the universe he started with Spider-Man nearly 20 years ago.
Carnage Should Appear
Although there are still mixed feelings surrounding Woody Harrelson's portrayal in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, this doesn't mean that fans don't want to see the red symbiote again. For Redditor mreddy, they want the comic villain to appear again in Raimi's version, stating that "the sample of the Symbiote" Connors kept could be experimented on and eventually mutate into Carnage.
If Raimi had decided to go down this route then this would have been a great way to introduce Carnage into his universe. Although they would have to have Kurt Connors transform into the villainous Lizard first, Carnage could certainly make a cameo appearance near the end of the movie, escaping through a vent after Connors' experiments are seized by the police or his lab is vandalized by criminals. Given the praise that Raimi has also received for his direction in the horror-esque Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, it would definitely be interesting to see how he would portray Cletus Cassidy's story and if he would take a darker approach.
Morlun Should Be Introduced
Given that antagonists, such as Electro, Doc Ock, and Green Goblin (or some version of him), are so popular with the fans, it's not surprising that several directors choose them as their main villains. The familiarity of these characters would not only help to draw in more audience members but it also provides excellent fan service too (since they'll likely enjoy it more if they are aware of how dangerous the villains are).
However, in order to avoid being predictable and formulaic, this Reddit user hopes that Raimi would introduce Morlun to the world, stating that they think he'd be perfect "with how brutal the Raimi films are with the fights." While fans are always given great suggestions, Morlun is certainly a unique choice since he is relatively unknown to non-comic book fans. Given that Morlun is known to hunt Spider-Man down for his powers, it would be rather interesting to see how Maguire's Spider-Man would handle the change.
Appearance Of Mayday/Spider-Girl
With it having been over 15 years since Raimi's trilogy ended, there is a strong possibility that some fans have lost interest in the franchise. That is why some Redditors, like this Reddit user, hope that Raimi's Spider-Man 4 would have "use[d] Mayday Parker, [so she could] then [crossover] with the planned Silk & Madamme Web movie."
On the off chance that there are some people who don't want to see more of Maguire's Spider-Man, this is a great way to revitalize and intrigue new fans. Similar to No Way Home, Peter could become May's mentor and the audience will be able to see their father-daughter dynamic in more depth. Raimi could also use this film to not only bring closure to Maguire's arc but also set up a franchise for May too in case anyone wanted to pick it up in the future.
MJ And Peter Working On A Healthy And Happy Relationship
After all the obstacles they have faced and overcome, there are some people, like this Reddit user, who would like to see how Mary Jane and Peter managed to make their relationship work again. They state "I want to see them as a couple, struggling but solidly together and completely in love/married. Like in the comic books and the '90s animated series."
It's not surprising that some people got bored with the predictable and formulaic nature of Peter and Mary Jane's romance since their biggest problem was miscommunication. Whether it was because they were in different relationships, keeping secrets from each other, or having internal conflicts, the two were never on the same page and they never sat down and talked about their issues. To finally see the pair agree to work on their problems and actually come back together would be great.
Revealing That Aunt May Knows Everything
With Aunt May playing such a pivotal role in Peter's life, Redditor calebisanowl thinks there should be a moment with her "finally admitting that she’s known Peter was Spider-Man all this time" before she inevitably passes away.
This type of reveal would only reinforce her love for her family and could even serve as a heartfelt way to say goodbye to the beloved character. May's confession could push Peter to be completely honest with his family, which could develop into a transformational talk with his daughter Mayday that drives her to become Spider-Girl.
Kraven The Hunter As The Villain
Redditor BAGStudios believes that Maguire “would be most suited” for an encounter with Kraven the Hunter, with elements from the Kraven’s Last Hunt comic book run helping to fuel the plot (as this version of Maguire is seen to be the most mature Spider-Man audiences would ever see on screen).
He could act alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson since he was cast as Kraven in a spin-off movie for Sony last year (which is about to take on this darker story). This duo would be something that hasn’t been seen on film before and something that would, no doubt, captivate audiences.
The Superheroes In Raimi’s Universe
Some fans have been waiting for a payoff from an easter egg in Spider-Man 2 when J. Jonah Jameson mentions that the name Doctor Strange had already been taken when brainstorming a name for Otto Ocatvius’ Doc Ock.
Redditor Apprehensive-Neat-68 would love to have Raimi “confirm what other superheroes are actually in his universe,” perhaps starting off with Doctor Strange after that name drop. Allowing Raimi to expand his universe by having Peter meet other heroes with their own powers opens the door to endless possibilities and could even let Maguire’s Peter realize what The Avengers are (not a band).
Felicia Hardy/Black Cat Should Finally Appear
With Peter's love interest in the Raimi trilogy, the Amazing Spider-Man movies, and the MCU franchise mainly MJ or Gwen Stacy, there are some Redditors who have begun to feel like this dynamic has become a little formulaic. That is why SuperMecha20 would "like Raimi to introduce Felicia Hardy/Black Cat into his films if they continue."
Other than making a brief appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, no director has yet to explore this character in-depth (which is a deep shame). Not only has Felicia got one of the most interesting backstories in the Marvel comics but she has also been a part of many memorable storylines as well (thanks to her tenure as the fierce and intelligent Black Cat). Since many fans enjoyed seeing Maguire's Spider-Man in a team during Spider-Man: No Way Home, Raimi may want to use her character in some way or another.
Introducing Mysterio And The Sinister Six
Sam Raimi had an original plan that could have spanned over the course of a second trilogy of Spider-Man movies. Redditor JamesDude123 hopes that anything new with Maguire keeps to Raimi’s “original concept of Mysterio and the Sinister Six.” Bruce Campbell, who made small cameos in the original trilogy, was supposed to take on the role of Mysterio in Spider-Man 4.
Raimi expressed his fascination with the Sinister Six in various interviews and there were many casting rumors for Vulture after Spider-Man 3, hinting that this was the direction Raimi wanted to take. Seeing his interpretation of this villainous team would bring audiences joy, especially as there still hasn’t been an on-screen adaptation of this group.