Spider-Man 4 Needs to Give Marvel a Street-Level Hero Again

Spider-Man 4 Needs to Give Marvel a Street-Level Hero Again

As a long-time Marvel fan who grew up watching Peter Parker navigate the challenges of high school and crime-fighting, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia mixed with anticipation when it comes to the upcoming Spider-Man 4. After the emotional rollercoaster that was No Way Home, I was excited at the prospect of seeing Tom Holland’s Peter Parker dealing with real-world issues rather than multiverse-shattering crises.


The announcement was made on Monday afternoon that Destin Daniel Cretton will direct the upcoming installment in the shared Spider-Man film series from Marvel and Sony. Replacing Jon Watts, Tom Holland returns for his fourth solo Spider-Man film, with early production possibly starting in 2025. This means that, indeed, we can expect Spider-Man 4 soon. However, an important question remains: What type of Spider-Man movie will this be as Marvel prepares for its creation?

At the close of “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, a memorable event for Marvel enthusiasts unfolded. In essence, it hinted at future developments in the Marvel universe. As the movie ended, all individuals worldwide erased their memories about Peter Parker being Spider-Man. This included MJ and Ned who forgot about their thrilling escapades with Peter since he adopted his Spider-Man persona. Consequently, Peter found himself isolated without friends or family, grappling with both his daily life and heroic duties alone. For the first time in Tom Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker, a genuine Spider-Man narrative emerged, focusing on New York City instead of multiverse survival issues.

This “return-to-the-basics” Spider-Man story in the upcoming film isn’t just what Marvel hinted at in the final scene of No Way Home, but it’s a movie that fans have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time. If this is indeed the movie Marvel claimed we were getting, and it’s one that fans are truly looking forward to, why does it seem like we might not actually receive it?

Spider-Man 4 Needs to Give Marvel a Street-Level Hero Again

It has been suggested that the upcoming Spider-Man series will coincide with the Avengers films, specifically “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Given the impending multiverse chaos for the Avengers, it’s clear that Spider-Man plays a significant role in Marvel’s grand narrative. One might wonder when Peter Parker will focus on his neighborhood with the multiverse seemingly on the brink of collapse… once more.

Additionally, we need to consider the potential hiring of Cretton for future projects. His impressive direction skills, particularly in action sequences as demonstrated in ‘Shang-Chi’, make him an excellent choice for any Spider-Man project. Interestingly, Cretton has been advancing within Marvel Studios following his work on ‘Shang-Chi’ and the upcoming ‘Wonder Man’ series. He was previously linked to direct ‘Avengers: Kang Dynasty’, one of the franchise’s largest productions to date. However, due to the change in the ‘Kang’ plotline, the Russo Brothers were reinstated as directors for the next Avengers films.

Is it possible that the motives behind Marvel choosing Cretton for Kang Dynasty might resemble why he was selected for Spider-Man 4? At this point, it’s premature to speculate extensively, but it does lend credence to the idea that the upcoming Spider-Man may align more with the last couple of installments in the franchise. Let’s hope that’s not the case, but it certainly appears to be a plausible scenario.

Spider-Man 4 Needs to Give Marvel a Street-Level Hero Again

Couldn’t we possibly request a genuine Spider-Man film that showcases Peter Parker’s struggle to maintain both his personal and superhero lives? A storyline where he grapples with the burden of responsibility bestowed upon him would be captivating, considering he’s already saved the multiverse. I believe it’s time for a fresh narrative instead of repeating the same heroic feats.

Over time, Spider-Man has transformed into numerous forms, yet fundamentally, he remains a hero of the streets. He’s the character who embodies us all, someone who cares for those around him and isn’t afraid to confront bullies when no one else seems capable. This is the kind of narrative that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could benefit from right now, given the lack of such stories in it at present. The MCU predominantly features multiverse adventures and team-ups these days, and I’m unsure if we need many more of those.

Isn’t it intriguing to imagine Tom Holland juggling multiple tasks: making it to work on time, attempting to arrange a romantic encounter with an MJ who doesn’t recognize him, and preventing the Green Goblin from detonating a bomb in Manhattan? Essentially, I’m wondering if we could see Tom Holland finally get to fully embody the role of Spider-Man.

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2024-09-10 02:40