Ahead of the MCU's Spider-Man 3, there's been plenty of speculation about what that blockbuster could involve. And one of the biggest rumors around right now is that Tobey Maguire's version of Peter Parker is primed to return, 13 years after we last saw him donning the red and blue costume. With Into The Spider-Verse being a big box office hit, Sony are potentially ready to give fans a live-action adventure on the big screen.
It's not been confirmed but that won't stop us from getting excited. So we'll now take a look back at Maguire's universe and list 10 unanswered questions we still have about it...
Did Peter and Mary Jane Get Back Together?
Most trilogies usually end on a definitive note. But Spider-Man 3 ends in dark circumstances, with Peter and Mary Jane Watson only reconciling after the funeral of Harry Osborn, their close friend who had been killed by Venom after switching allegiances from villain to hero. They'd become estranged earlier on in the blockbuster, with Mary Jane unable to put up with Peter while he's possessed by the symbiote.
The final scene of the movie suggests a fixing of their friendship but doesn't necessarily imply they got back together. There's no big kiss to rubberstamp things so it ended ambiguously. Which takes us onto our next point...
Did Peter Give Up Being Spider-Man?
If they did get back together, it's possible that Peter may have been forced to sacrifice his Spider-Man persona in order to ensure they're happy together.
Mary Jane wasn't happy about him being the webhead for a few reasons. Firstly, because it meant he was always running off from their plans. Secondly, because it meant he was always in danger - and her as well. And thirdly because just how can you hope to have a solid relationship with somebody the city depends on? Mary Jane made it clear she thought Peter had become too egotistical while suited up and it seems unlikely she'd have agreed to take him back unless there was a big and drastic change.
What Was The Fallout From Harry's Death?
Harry's death is certainly one of the saddest moments in the entire series. His and Peter's friendship looks to be over for good when Spider-Man burns his partner in crime with his own pumpkin bomb during a fiery showdown at the Osborn Mansion. But the New Goblin puts their rivalry aside to help save Mary Jane before tragically being killed by Venom in the process.
We wonder if the world then found out about Osborn being the New Goblin, and also about his father being the original Green Goblin from the Spider-Man 2002 movie. Furthermore, we're curious to discover what happened to Oscorp. A company that powerful and resourceful would be a problem in the wrong hands and, with no Osborns around, it's intriguing to think about who took it on...
What Happened To The Symbiote?
The symbiote lands on earth early on in Spider-Man 3 and latches itself onto Peter, whose rage and anger is beginning to spiral out of control at the time. This makes him the perfect host but, when he realizes how much he's changing, he attempts to get rid of it. Once this happens it latches itself onto Eddie Brock, who then becomes Venom.
It appears to be destroyed when Peter uses a pumpkin bomb to blow it to smithereens but we don't know for sure. All it needs is a tiny bit to escape in order to wreak havoc and, with more webhead movies in the works at the time, it's not unfathomable to claim it's still out there. Unless Maguire's Peter comes back, however, we won't know for sure.
What became of Sandman?
Sandman was revealed to be Uncle Ben's killer in Spider-Man 3. However, that aside, he seems a decent enough bloke. He and Peter go head to head on multiple occasions within that movie but, in the end, Flint Marko decides he doesn't want to be a villain anymore. After apologizing for his mistake years previously, Spider-Man lets him flee to safety.
Marko was on a mission to save his daughter Penny from a serious illness and it's up in the air as to whether he succeeded. Furthermore, staying on the straight and narrow would be pretty difficult when you consider the powers you've got at your disposal. It seemed as though Marko was going to return at a later date, yet we don't know what his fate is at the time of writing.
Did Aunt May Ever Find Out?
Aunt May appears to know Peter is Spider-Man. She gives him encouragement with some subtle comments in Spider-Man 2 and she seems aware of his identity when talking about the difficulties in her nephew's relationship with Mary Jane. However, the trilogy ended without fans getting the clarity they wanted.
We're inclined to go with yes... which is something that would have been entertaining to see play out. May in the MCU is aware of Peter's alter ego and accepting of it and we'd love to have seen how Rosemary Harris' version of the character would have reacted to the big reveal as well.
Did Gwen Stacy bounce back?
Gwen Stacy is on the receiving end of some pretty horrific treatment from Peter. The pair date during Spider-Man 3 but Peter merely uses her to make Mary Jane jealous. He gives a cringe-worthy but confident performance on the piano in a Jazz Club that he then dedicates to his ex, making Gwen run away from the scene, never to be seen again.
Gwen was modeling in this storyline and it's interesting to think about how she may have bounced back. Did she and Peter's friendship end for good? Or did she forgive him for his actions? Gwen didn't really deserve to be just a minor character in the blockbuster but, ultimately, there wasn't enough time to give her a better storyline.
Did Mysterio Exist?
Unfortunately, Spider-Man 4 never got made. Sam Raimi couldn't put a solid enough script together. However, rumor goes that Bruce Campbell was going to play Mysterio. And that the groundwork had already been laid out.
There's a theory that Campbell's three different appearances in the Raimi trilogy weren't just little easter eggs, but instead laying the groundwork for the big reveal that he's actually playing Mysterio - master of illusions and lies. It's possible Mysterio already existed in Maguire's universe and was going to appear as the antagonist in a future movie. We obviously loved Jake Gyllenhaal's version of Quentin Beck in Spider-Man: Far From Home but Campbell could done the role justice, too.
Was Peter’s Big Secret Rumbled By Robbie?
In 2004's Spider-Man 2, Peter gives up playing Spider-Man for a little while. And Robbie, an employee at the Daily Bugle, gives him a knowing look when they walk about the webhead being needed again with Doctor Octopus on a mission to destroy New York City and anybody who opposes his villainous plan.
That same knowing look suggests Robbie knew Peter was Spider-Man but, unfortunately, the trilogy ended with no confirmation. Not enough people found out about his identity across all three movies and this is something Spider-Man 4 could have done differently. Robbie and Aunt May could both have deduced the truth, making things trickier for the webhead as a result.
Did The Bugle Change Their Views?
At the end of Spider-Man 3, Peter saves New York from its biggest threat yet. He, along with some help from Harry, stop both Venom and Sandman from murdering Mary Jane and destroying the city. It's a big victory and, maybe just maybe, the Daily Bugle changed their views.
Robbie was a fan of the webhead and J. Jonah Jameson himself is present for Spidey saving the day. It seems a stretch that JJ would alter his viewpoint on everybody's favorite hero but, given how he saw Peter triumph up close, it's not out of the question. This is just a minor unanswered question - but one we'd like clarity on regardless.