Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man Return Must Be More Than Just Secret Wars

Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man could appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, but his potential return cannot simply be that. Maguire first appeared as the Web-Slinger in 2002's Spider-Man, which not only became a massive hit but also fully birthed the modern superhero movie craze. Maguire returned as Peter in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, but his wall-crawling days seemed to be over when Sony rebooted Spidey on film with 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man. However, that changed with the 2021 mega-hit Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The multiverse-based plot of No Way Home brought Maguire's Spider-Man together on-screen with Andrew Garfield's and Tom Holland's and sparked massive enthusiasm for further adventures with both Maguire and Garfield. Maguire has expressed openness for more Spider-Man, amid speculation that he might be set to return again in Marvel's upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars. While such an appearance by Maguire would be an exciting prospect, it also would be a limiting one. Here is why, if Tobey Maguire is to continue as Peter Parker, Spider-Man 4 is as necessary to his story as an appearance in Secret Wars.

Maguire's Peter Parker's Life Post-Spider-Man 3 Life Is Unexplored

While No Way Home revealed a fair amount about Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker being "rageful" and "bitter" after The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the life of Maguire's Peter after Spider-Man 3 was kept much more shrouded, per Tobey Maguire's own request. No Way Home focusing on Holland was ultimately the right call for the movie, which added an aura of mystery to Maguire's Peter #2 by only revealing that he and Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) had experienced a rough patch and had patched things up. This also left what is effectively a blank slate for what Peter #2's post-Spider-Man 3 life was like.

With No Way Home becoming one of the biggest box office hits in history (and the first $1 billion success of the COVID era, no less), the excitement for more of Maguire and Garfield's Spideys gives each an extremely unique comeback opportunity. The fact that Maguire's Spider-Man has so much unexplored also leaves any continuation with him with fewer built-in expectations than The Amazing Spider-Man 3 with Andrew Garfield would. In effect, the once abandoned Spider-Man 4 has potentially more life post-No Way Home than it did in the immediate aftermath of Spider-Man 3.

Secret Wars May Not Do Full Justice To Maguire's Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2

With the MCU opening Marvel's multiverse through Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the possibilities for pre-MCU stars to return to the Marvel fold are rapidly expanding. Multiverse of Madness already showed that with Patrick Stewart's return as Professor Charles Xavier, while Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine in Deadpool 3. Meanwhile, speculation is running high that Maguire and Garfield's Spider-Men may return for Avengers: Secret Wars, but the former might not get his full due by such an appearance.

While No Way Home re-invigorated Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man, Maguire's did not rebound in the same way because he did not need to (the rougher reception of Spider-Man 3 notwithstanding.) Because of that, Maguire lacking any kind of interim story before a potential Secret Wars appearance would shortchange him considerably, even leaving his appearance possibly feeling like a return for its own sake. The revival of Maguire's Spider-Man 4 can change that.

Maguire Spider-Man 4 Needs Happen (Even If He's In Secret Wars)

Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man: No Way Home

With Maguire's Spider-Man given a major comeback in No Way Home, Spider-Man 4 exemplifies the potential of multiversal storytelling with the version of the Wall Crawler who started it all on the big screen. Like Peter #1 and Peter #3, Peter #2 is a changed man by the ending of No Way Home, but even more so by being the oldest, most experienced Spider-Man of the three. Not only is his past between Spider-Man 3 and No Way Home ripe to be delved into, but so is his life after the latter film, due to Peter #2 being a highly seasoned Spider-Man.

A Spider-Man 4 with Maguire could have the genuine gimmick of being the Web-Slinger's answer to Logan, showing an older version of a beloved hero on one last adventure. As Hugh Jackman's Deadpool 3 return shows, "one last time" can still be technically true by excluding team-ups or ensembles from that promise. The same could ring true with Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man returning in Spider-Man 4, the film acting as one final solo chapter of his Spider-Man story but leaving the door open for him to swing into action for the larger battle of Avengers: Secret Wars.

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