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Credit: Marvel Studios / Sony PicturesThe Spider-Man films are about to lose several major actors as Sony ushers in a new era.
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
Collectively, the Spider-Man films boast an extensive ensemble cast spanning multiple eras. The original trilogy, directed by Sam Raimi, sees Tobey Maguire don the spandex, starring opposite actors such as Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Willem Dafoe (Norman Osborn/Green Goblin), Alfred Molina (Dr. Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus), Topher Grace (Eddie Brock Jr./Venom), and J. K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson).
The Amazing Spider-Man Duology
After Spider-Man 3 (2007) unintentionally ended the Raimi/Maguire trilogy, the franchise was rebooted. Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) arrived in theaters five years later, and his sequel landed in 2014. The series stars Andrew Garfield in the lead role, along with Emma Stone (Gwen Stacey), Rhys Ifans (Dr. Curt Connors/Lizard), Sally Field (May Parker), Jamie Foxx (Max Dillon/Electro), and Dane DeHaan (Harry Osborn/Green Goblin).
The MCU Spider-Man
But when it comes to Spider-Man, Sony Pictures weaves a tangled web. In 2015, the studio reached a licensing deal with Marvel for the use of the character in an MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) film, and Spider-Man was rebooted again, with Tom Holland as Peter Parker, marking the character’s first time in a shared cinematic universe on the big screen.
Holland made his debut in Captain America: Civil War (2016) the following year, appearing alongside MCU regulars like Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), and Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow).
He would return in other crossover films like Avengers: Infinity War (2019) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), while leading his own solo films, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
The latter integrated the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield versions of the character via the Multiverse, as well as J. K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson and several villains from across the Raimi and Webb films.
Holland’s supporting cast has also included Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes/Vulture), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Zendaya (MJ/Michelle), Jacob Batalon (Ned), Marisa Tomei (May Parker), and Jake Gyllenhaal (Quentin Beck / Mysterio).
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
However, even when you put crossovers, Multiverses, and returning actors aside, things were still pretty confusing for the wider Spider-Man franchise.
While Marvel continued to build out Spider-Man within the MCU, Sony Pictures, which owns the film rights to the character, began developing its own shared universe featuring supporting characters from the wider Spidey franchise.
The original plans involved using The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to launch several villain-focused spinoffs, however, due to the film’s critical and financial shortcomings, that never transpired. Further down the line, Sony released Venom (2018), a standalone film starring Tom Hardy in the title role and set within its own continuity.
In 2019, Sony and Marvel Studios renegotiated their 2015 deal to share the Spider-Man character between the MCU and its standalone Marvel-based films.
Hardy reprised his role in Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), which was followed by Morbius (2022), a separate standalone film that stars Jared Leto (Dr. Michael Morbius). While there were no obvious connections between the two films, both feature mid-credits scenes that seemingly link the newly established Sony Spider-Man Universe to the MCU.
Those films were followed by Madame Web (2024), which stars Dakota Johnson as the lead, and Kraven the Hunter (2024), which sees Aaron Taylor-Johnson play the titular Spider-Man villain. That same year, Venom: The Last Dance (2024) closed out the Venom trilogy.
While the Venom films were financial hits, grossing a combined $1.84 billion globally, Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter received negative reviews and were box-office flops. But what also frustrated audiences was the fact that the films weren’t even interconnected — and the two mid-credits scenes went nowhere. Not only that, but Spider-Man didn’t even make an appearance in any of the SSU films.
It also remains unclear as to which version of Spider-Man even exists within the SSU.
While Sony’s animated films, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Across the Spider-Verse (2023) and Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027), also form part of the wider SSU while tying into the MCU, they largely follow their own self-contained continuity.
Related: ‘Spider-Man’ Film Series Officially Being Rebooted, Tom Holland Unlikely To Reprise Role
A Spider-Man Film Series Reboot on the Horizon
Recently, Sony chairman and CEO Tom Rothman confirmed that the SSU is hitting reset, which means that none of the actors across the six live-action films are expected to return.
On The Town podcast (via The Hollywood Reporter), Rothman was asked, “Where are we in the Spider-Man franchise? Not the animated Spider-Verse. Is the larger Spider-Verse dead?”, to which he replied that the franchise is getting a “fresh reboot” with “new people”.
It remains to be seen what the rebooted SSU will look like, however, it has also been confirmed separately that a fourth Venom film is in development as a fully animated feature, with directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein — the team behind Final Destination: Bloodlines — attached. Whether Tom Hardy will reprise his role as Venom is unclear.
Sony’s next Spider-Man-related project, Spider-Noir (2026), is set for release later this year. Starring Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly/The Spider, who previously voiced a version of the character in Into the Spider-Verse, the superhero noir television series is said to take place in an alternate universe within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
As for Holland, his next appearance will be in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is set for theatrical release on July 31 this year. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, it marks the actor’s fourth solo outing and his seventh overall appearance as the character within the MCU.
The film reunites Holland with Zendaya (MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), with Sadie Sink in an undisclosed role and Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo reprising their roles as Frank Castle/The Punisher and Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk, respectively.
Do you think Sony should reset the SSU or give up altogether? Who do you think should replace the likes of Tom Hardy as Venom? Should Spider-Man appear this time, and if so, who should play him? Tom Holland or a new actor altogether? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments below!