For a time, the future of Tom Holland as the live-action Spider-Man hung in the balance. In the closing moments of Spider-Man: No Way Home, our heroic wall-crawler made the ultimate sacrifice, enabling Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell that made everyone forget Peter Parker. We eagerly awaited news about Spider-Man 4 and debated whether the sequel would be a grounded, street-level tale or another expansive chapter in the Marvel Multiverse storyline.

What Did Amy Pascal Say About Spider-Man 4?

Amy Pascal has been a key figure in the cinematic Spider-Man saga since its inception. She was at the helm of Sony Pictures when Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire launched the franchise. After leaving the studio, she formed her own production company and retained the rights to Spidey.Speaking with Deadline about the tennis drama "Challengers," which she produced with Spider-Man co-star Zendaya, Pascal shed light on the direction of Spider-Man 4. She admitted, "We have to deal with the fact that he decided he was going to give up being Peter Parker and focus on being Spider-Man because being Peter Parker was too hard. That's what the movie is about."From the start, Pascal has recognized the importance of character in Spider-Man movies. In an interview for a book about the history of the Spider-Man film franchise, she told me that audiences won't connect as deeply with Spider-Man and the dangers he faces if they don't care about Peter Parker first. This is why when Spider-Man fans discuss their favorite actors in the role, they often distinguish between those who were good as Peter and those who were good as Spider-Man, and if possible, which actor managed to excel in both.So when she confirms that Spider-Man 4 will continue to grapple with Peter Parker's difficult decision at the end of No Way Home, it gives hope that Tom Holland and director Destin Daniel Cretton are on the right path. Because the alternative could have been a chaotic mess.What I Hope This Means for Spider-Man 4Tom Holland's Spider-Man remains an integral part of the MCU and will undoubtedly play a significant role in the two announced upcoming Marvel movies, "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars." There's a possibility that Spider-Man might even lead a team of Avengers with Iron Man and Captain America out of the picture.So, can we simply make the next Spider-Man movie about Spider-Man? It doesn't seem like a lot to ask. However, the previous Spider-Man movies in the MCU have leaned too heavily on the MCU. From Iron Man's influence on "Spider-Man: Homecoming" to Nick Fury's interference in Peter's European vacation in "Spider-Man: Far From Home," the third Spidey MCU movie overloaded on the Multiverse concept but allowed Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield to appear with Holland, which was a nice touch.But the worst scenario would have been if Spider-Man 4 was used by Marvel Studios as a setup film for the next two Avengers movies instead of building out Spider-Man's world. Something similar happened with "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which spent most of its time establishing Kang. And we know how that turned out.I think Spider-Man fans share my concerns. We want a proper Spider-Man movie, not an interdimensional preview of the next MCU movies. We want a film that is relevant to this character and his issues. You left him with a crippling problem and a broken identity. Not spending enough time addressing and repairing that would be a disservice. That's why I'm encouraged by Amy Pascal's words that Spider-Man 4 will address Spidey's emotional state in a post-Peter world.Based on what we know, Spider-Man 4 is set to begin filming in 2025 with a July 26, 2026 release. For now, there are three confirmed Marvel movies on the studio's slate, including "Captain America: Brave New World," "Thunderbolts," and the highly anticipated "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." Hopefully, we'll soon learn the villain of Spider-Man 4 and get confirmation on whether he'll team up with Daredevil (Charlie Cox). Such a team-up would feel natural and maintain a street-level, personal story. Peter discussing his identity issues with Matt is very much in line with the comics. I can't wait to learn more.