Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man 3: The Key to Reviving Sony’s Superhero Universe!

by

Summary

  • The potential for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 was cut short by the disappointing The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
  • The movie would have centered on Peter Parker mourning Gwen Stacy’s death and featured Norman Osborn as a head in a box.
  • Despite the failure of the Spider-Man Universe, Garfield fans hope for a return as Spidey to revive the series.

Among the numerous superhero films that may never materialize, some stand out as particularly disappointing. One such film is the supposed third installment of “The Amazing Spider-Man” series, which would have featured Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker. Despite being replaced by Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the cancellation of “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” was a letdown for many fans who felt it had been prematurely scrapped, much like a TVA variant from an alternate timeline.

After the triumph of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films and the letdown of 2007’s Spider-Man 3, Sony chose to restart the series. Tobey Maguire no longer played the role, and although Andrew Garfield was initially set to star in a franchise of at least four movies (with numerous spin-offs in mind), things began to unravel following the financial and critical flop of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014. However, this marked just the beginning of the saga.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Writer Talks The Amazing Spider-Man 2

In the universe of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” it all changed in 2015 when Sony reached an agreement with Marvel Studios to integrate the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Later, Andrew Garfield openly discussed his dismissal as Spider-Man, sharing with Variety in 2016 that he learned about it.

I discovered it was extremely challenging. I enlisted to bring this tale to life, and to embody a remarkable character I’ve been attached to since early childhood, only for it to be undermined, which is truly disheartening.

Despite The Amazing Spider-Man 3 never materializing, Andrew Garfield was still given the opportunity to reprise his portrayal of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Both Garfield and Maguire donned their Spidey suits once more, sparking discussions about potential returns for Spider-Man 4 or even standalone projects. As recently as January 2025, Garfield voiced his interest in reprising the role of Spider-Man again.

Since “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” failed to move beyond the initial planning, some fans may wonder what hope there is for a revival. However, Alex Kurtzman, writer of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, has discussed with Screen Rant the prospect of revisiting the concept and how far along the project had advanced.

You know, we never wrote it. We never wrote it. I did 2 and that was it for me.

It’s not exactly a yes, but it’s not a no either that he would come back. As for The Amazing Spider-Man 3, the plan was to release it in June 2016, and another mainline movie was scheduled for May 2018 with Kurtzman at the helm. Chris Cooper was set to reprise his role as Norman Osborn (in a rather peculiar way). The primary focus of these films would have been Peter dealing with the aftermath of Gwen Stacy’s (Emma Stone) death. Since her character was dropped from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Shailene Woodley’s Mary Jane Watson was expected to play a significant role in future installments.

A larger Spider-Man universe was under development. Besides the often discussed film on the Sinister Six by Drew Goddard, messages leaked from the 2014 Sony hack suggested that Andrew Garfield would reprise his role as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 4, transforming into Carnage. This wasn’t an outlandish concept, with Sony also considering Sam Raimi to direct another trilogy culminating in a movie pitting Spider-Man against The Amazing Spider-Man. Several spin-offs were planned. Alongside the two-part Sinister Six production, there was a potential Venom and Carnage collaboration, as well as a standalone film for Felicia Hardy/Black Cat, who was played by Felicity Jones in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Fast forward to 2025, it appears that Sony hasn’t heeded lessons from its past missteps. Though not formally scrapped, the extensive Sony Spider-Man Universe seems to have reached a lackluster conclusion with “Kraven the Hunter”. This leaves the upcoming Spider-Man productions looking rather thin. “Beyond the Spider-Verse” also grapples with its own challenges. Besides “Spider-Man 4” fitting between “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”, it seems that all other projects such as “Nightwatch”, “Jackpot”, an untitled Hypno-Hustler film, and a TV series centered on Cindy Moon/Silk have vanished without a trace.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3 Needs to Happen

It’s possible that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might soon lack a Spider-Man, as Tom Holland has hinted at retiring from acting upon becoming a father. This could signal the end of his tenure as the web-slinging hero. While this opening may seem ideal for introducing Miles Morales into live-action, there’s a hitch: Miles doesn’t currently exist within the MCU. Donald Glover previously portrayed Miles’ uncle, Aaron Davis/Prowler, in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” but until Miles is properly established, “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” could serve as a temporary replacement for future Spider-Man movies.

Critics believe that Destin Daniel Cretton’s proposed Spider-Man 4 might require a more significant plot twist than simply reprising Garfield and Maguire, as it seems they may return for another round. There are persistent whispers suggesting that Maguire could play a major role in the upcoming Marvel event Secret Wars. However, the specifics about the past Spider-Man appearing extensively in future Marvel productions beyond cameos remain uncertain. Even though the main Spider-Man films have had lackluster storylines, they’ve consistently performed well financially. As for Garfield’s term as Spidey, his tale appears incomplete.

One criticism leveled at “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is that it seemed more like a setup for future stories rather than a standalone film. With appearances by characters such as Felicia Hardy, Alistair Smythe (played by B.J. Novak), the teaser for the Sinister Six after the credits, and Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino, it’s easy to understand this perspective. The lack of concrete details about “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” might actually be advantageous, as it allows Kurtzman to revise any initial plans into something that can avoid the pitfalls experienced by the SSU and other comic book movies.

It’s likely that Andrew Garfield’s return as Spider-Man in No Way Home has at least helped repair some past issues between him and Sony, although it may not necessarily mean a sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man 3. Garfield has been vocal about his enthusiasm for Drew Goddard’s vision of the Sinister Six, hinting that he would like to see the concept revisited in the future. There were many rumors suggesting that Garfield was the Spider-Man from the Sony Universe of Marvel Characters (SSUMC). Additionally, there was much anticipation for a crossover with characters such as Jared Leto’s Morbius and Michael Keaton’s Vulture in a Sinister Six storyline.

It appears Sony might be hesitant to produce another Spider-Man Universe film. Yet, if The Amazing Spider-Man 3 were to make a comeback, it could reignite faith that Sony understands how to manage its collection of Spider-Man stories and potentially rekindle the concept of a cohesive extended universe. For now, Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man costume remains idle in a closet, seemingly destined for a possible appearance in the MCU’s Spider-Man 4.

Read More

2025-01-28 00:04