After months of rumors and speculation, Marvel finally confirmed what many fans have been hoping for — Tobey Maguire is returning as Spider-Man. While details remain limited, Maguire himself has expressed openness to reprising his iconic role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man from the original 2002-2007 trilogy. His web-slinging return coinciding with announcements like a third Venom movie in 2024 provide plenty for fans to unpack.
Maguire’s Iconic Impact
Debuting in 2002’s Spider-Man, Maguire’s portrayal defined the big screen version of the character for a whole generation of moviegoers. Across three films, his emotional, nuanced take on Peter Parker earned critical and commercial success:
- Spider-Man (2002) – $821 million worldwide box office
- Spider-Man 2 (2004) – $784 million worldwide
- Spider-Man 3 (2007) – $891 million worldwide
The trilogy earned over $2.5 billion total globally. Adjusted for inflation, only Sony‘s recent Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland have outpaced the popularity of Maguire‘s original outings.
Beyond just impressive box office stats, Maguire’s Spider-Man captured fans’ imagination and heralded the modern era of comic book movie dominance. His memorable upside-down kiss with Mary Jane in the rain defined one of the most iconic romance moments in the genre. Now with the Marvel Cinematic Universe diving headfirst into the depths of the multiverse, Maguire has an opportunity to don the mask once more.
Potential MCU Appearances
Where we see Maguire reappear remains a mystery. Rumors indicated Strange’s recklessness cracking open the multiverse in No Way Home would bring back former Spider-Men like Maguire and Andrew Garfield. While Garfield debuted as part of 2021’s sinister six battle royale, Maguire remains conspicuously absent.
Industry insider Jeff Sneider claimed last year that Maguire had already shot material for the MCU. If those scenes end up scrapped, there are still plenty of upcoming projects primed for Peter Parker variant cameos:
- Secret Wars – Based on the iconic 1980s Marvel crossover featuring countless alternate universe variants, Maguire‘s Spider-Man would be right at home here.
- Fantastic Four – With Krasinski appearing as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange 2, a Spider-Man team-up seems plausible.
- Avengers 5 – It‘s rumored to adapt the Secret Wars arc, again making it a prime spot for Maguire‘s big return.
- Doctor Strange 3 – With Nightmare rumored as the villain, twisting reality enough to feature Maguire fits well.
Wherever Maguire reappears, seeing him interact on-screen with other icons like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine or his frenemy Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool would make fans lose their minds. Part of what makes the multiverse storytelling so thrilling is seeing such established actors share unbelievable scenes together.
Analyzing the Emotional Loss
Rumors from 2021 indicated Maguire’s return would see him replace Tom Holland in a moving scene where Aunt May dies in Peter Parker’s arms. However, the moment never made the final film.
In the cut sequence leaked via concept art, Green Goblin mortally wounds May, sending Peter into a rage where he unleashes savage brutality on Norman and the other villains. Test audiences reportedly found this Raimi-esque horror tone too dark for the MCU’s typical lighter fare.
Scrapping this moment likely aimed to keep the story’s tone consistent and avoid forcing Holland’s Peter to suffer the traumatic loss of another father figure after Tony Stark. However, the art shows incredible emotion in Maguire’s face as he cradles a dying Aunt May that could’ve created an incredibly heavy, dramatic moment.
Shifting who Peter loses in this way does refocus the climax onto battles with Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus which feel earned after their villainous machinations. Having May survive also allows for a more touching, fitting farewell talk with Happy Hogan about responsibility.
Still, seeing Maguire’s anguished reaction to her loss suggests Raimi’s signature heart-wrenching style on display at its peak emotional impact. While the lighter ending better fits the MCU’s fan-pleasing brand, part of me wonders how devastating and unexpected that darker sequence could’ve felt.
Venom 3 Targets 2024 Launch
Separately from the Maguire news, Sony also confirmed Venom 3 is moving forward with a 2024 release. After 2018’s Venom starring Tom Hardy scored over $850 million globally, the sequel Let There Be Carnage repeated that success just last year:
- Venom (2018) – $856 million worldwide
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – $506 million worldwide
That’s over $1.3 billion in ticket sales so far for Sony’s Spider-Man-less Spidey universe. With Hardy‘s antihero Eddie Brock firmly established as a box office draw, the third Venom film aims to continue expanding their Marvel characters.
Venom‘s Box Office Domination
Across just two films so far, Venom has demonstrated surprising market penetration considering it lacks Disney‘s family-friendly Marvel pedigree:
| Movie | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|
| Venom | $856 million |
| Let There Be Carnage | $506 million |
Those impressive returns beat out movies from other cinematic universes like The Batman ($770 million) and DC’s Aquaman ($335 million). For comparison, see how Venom stacks up against other recent comic book titles:
| Superhero Franchise | Total Box Office | Average per Film |
|---|---|---|
| The Dark Knight trilogy | $2.46 billion | $820 million |
| Raimi / Webb‘s Spider-Man | $3.77 billion | $753 million |
| MCU Spider-Man | $2.9 billion | $725 million |
| Venom | $1.36 billion | $680 million |
As those numbers show, over its first two films, Venom outpaces the averages for critical favorites like Nolan’s The Dark Knight series and Raimi’s classics. With a third installment targeting 2024, the franchise could continue ascending the box office charts.
Venom 3 and Spider-Man Team-Up Potential
While plot details remain unconfirmed for the third Venom, rumors point to Spider-Man and Venom finally battling on the big screen. After their relationship starts as antagonist and protagonist, Peter Parker and Eddie Brock often become complex allies against greater threats in the comics. Seeing Holland’s Spidey confront Hardy’s Venom on screen could give fans the clash they crave.
If the studios align development, Venom 3 and the newly greenlit Spider-Man 4 could launch aligned box office domination in 2024. The dates match up with Variety reporting Sony hopes to shoot another Holland-led Spidey adventure in 2023.
Building connected hype between the films with trailers and marketing could supercharge financial returns. Fans would froth at the mouth seeing Maguire back alongside Holland, Garfield, and Hardy too.
Research shows cinematic universes that successfully interlink releases see great benefit. For example, the MCU’s Captain America: Civil War earning over $400 million more than its predecessor thanks to debuting Spider-Man. If done well, Venom 3 and Spider-Man 4 could replicate that success.
The Multiverse Future
Tobey Maguire reprising his most iconic role for the Marvel Cinematic Universe symbolizes the depths of storytelling possibilities phase 5 unlocks. Casual fans remember his emotional performance across Sam Raimi’s seminal Spider-Man trilogy. Seeing Maguire lend his talents in the MCU adds gravitas to the multiverse aged just begun.
Contrast his return against the uncertainty around upcoming DC projects like The Flash, Shazam 2, or Aquaman 2. Following James Gunn‘s controversial hiring to lead new DC content, enthusiasm feels muted around current films left directionless. That DC can‘t align releases to build interconnected hype makes Maguire appearing in another Spider-Man film so exciting.
Comments from Amy Pascal suggest Tom Holland likely concludes his Spider-Man arc in the MCU after No Way Home. But the Venom 3 announcement confirms at minimum Sony’s commitment to expanding Peter Parker’s world without him. Whether Pascal walks back her statements or recasting happens down the line, Maguire and Venom give Spidey fans plenty about which to speculate as the multiverse expands.
By featuring legacy characters like Maguire rooted in nostalgia alongside fresh faces like Hardy’s Venom, both Marvel and Sony seem poised to satiate fan demand for spider-content. If they structure releases to interlink and provide epic team-up moments, box office records may soon be shattered.