Spider-Man 4 could be a multiverse movie after all (and why that's worrying)

What a rollercoaster of a ride it has been for Spider-Man fans. First, it was reported that Sony and Marvel couldn't agree on which direction to take Spider-Man 4. The former wanted to capitalize on the success of No Way Home and Across the Spider-Verse to tell another multiversal story filled with shocking cameos and appearances. On the contrary, the latter wanted to go for a personal and "street-level" story featuring Peter Parker and classic comic-book characters.

Since then, multiple rumors have surfaced online - each seemingly taking turns to back up one of these two narratives. Fans didn't know exactly what to expect as different reports have suggested that both visions for the movie would become a reality. However, the scale recently started to tip in favor of one side. New evidence seemed to suggest that Spider-Man 4 would be a grounded story with multiple street-level villains. But just when everything seemed set in stone, a new curve ball took us back to square one.

Spider-Man 4 is likely to be a multiversal story

According to reliable insider Daniel Richtman, Spider-Man 4 is slated to be released in July 2026. That means it would come out between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. But why is that important? Well, he also claimed that every MCU movie to be set within this time period would take place in Battleworld; an amalgamation of all the different Marvel universes ruled by Doctor Doom. With that in mind, Daniel Richtman stated that Spider-Man 4 will likely be another multiversal movie.

We've seen a fair share of great multiversal Spider-Man stories over the years, and this one could very well join the list. Besides, it would also be the perfect opportunity for Miles Morales to make his debut in the MCU and introduce Tom Holland's Peter Parker to the symbiote suit. After all, it was in Battleworld where Spidey first wore the black suit on comic book pages. However, it's hard to deny it's a little disappointing to know we won't get to see Spidey at his best, which is when he's left to his own resources to save New York City.

Why Spider-Man 4 shouldn't feature the multiverse

If Spider-Man 4 truly is a multiversal story, then it would be highly unlikely for Sony not to take the opportunity to feature the return of Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire - both of which are rumored to return for Avengers: Secret Wars anyway. Sure, the arachnid reunion will definitely put a smile on our faces, but perhaps we could've waited for it a little longer. After all, the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home suggested that the character would be going back to basics.

It's been a while since audiences watched a truly personal Spider-Man story on the big screen - one disconnected from other big-name heroes. Interestingly enough, the wall-crawler is well-known for working alone most of the time on comic book pages. Sure, he has been a part of the Avengers, and he's teamed up with other variants of himself across the multiverse. But that's not to say that's what happens most of the time.

Think about the most popular Spider-Man comic book storylines. The Night That Gwen Stacy Died, Kraven's Last Hunt, Spider-Man: Back in Black, and multiple issues in The Amazing Spider-Man have all been about Peter and how he tries to handle (and mostly fails) to take on villains on his own. Eventually, he gets back up and saves the day once again.

Spider-Man 4 should attempt to capture that magic, and not rely on multiversal cameos to keep audiences engaged. Otherwise, Sony could risk making the movie a little too crowded again. And if history has taught us anything, is that franchises come to an abrupt end when too many characters fight for viewers' attention. We certainly don't want that fate for Tom Holland's Peter Parker.

What do you think about Spider-Man 4 potentially being a multiversal movie? Let us know on our social media pages! And stick around Whatever A Spider Can for everything Spider-Man related.