Despite years of fan speculation, director Sam Raimi has made it clear he will not return to direct a fourth Spider-Man film. Raimi, who helmed the Tobey Maguire–led trilogy from 2002 to 2007, said he doesn’t believe it would be right to revisit his version of the character now that audiences are fully invested in the current incarnation led by Tom Holland.
Speaking to Screen Rant, Raimi reflected on his time with the franchise, noting that while Spider-Man originated with Stan Lee, it has always been shaped by countless writers and artists. Raimi said he was fortunate to carry that torch for a brief moment before passing it along.
After completing Spider-Man 3, Raimi developed a treatment for a fourth film. However, Sony ultimately chose to reboot the franchise with The Amazing Spider-Man, directed by Mark Webb, effectively closing the door on Raimi’s continuation.
While Raimi praised the producers and creatives behind the ongoing franchise, he emphasized that the character has moved in a new creative direction. With audiences now deeply immersed in Holland’s storyline, especially following Spider-Man: No Way Home, Raimi said returning to resurrect his own version wouldn’t feel appropriate.
“I had to pass the torch happily,” he said, adding that he remains honored to have been part of the character’s cinematic legacy.
Raimi is currently focused on his upcoming survival-horror thriller Send Help, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. The film follows a woman and her difficult boss, who become stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, as their relationship grows increasingly dark.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Raimi praised McAdams for embracing a far more unhinged role than audiences are used to seeing from her, while co-writer Mark Swift revealed the story was partially inspired by his own experiences working under demanding bosses.
For Raimi, the future may lie in horror and psychological thrillers—but as far as Spider-Man 4 goes, that chapter is firmly closed.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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