Sam Raimi is undone Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 could have pulled off the same storytelling trick as the MCU Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. One of the most popular pre-MCU Marvel film franchises is Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, which laid the foundation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside early 2000s hits such as Blade movies and Fox X-Men franchise. But while Spider-Man 2 raised the bar later Spider-Mansuccess, Spider-Man 3 failed to make the same impression, and director Sam Raimi decided not to. Spider-Man 4which was then replaced by The Amazing Spider-Man.
Sam Raimi's plans for Spider-Man 4 were almost ready for production before the film's cancellation. Raimi Spider-Man 4 storyboards show how Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man would have fought some low-level foes like Bruce Campbell's Mysterio before facing Spider-Man 4main villain - John Malkovich's Vulture. According to writer James Vanderbilt, Spider-Man 4The script was complete, but the project soon halted development anyway, and Sam Raimi agreed with Sony to let the Spider-Man franchise as a trilogy. Interestingly, however, Spider-Man 4 was not the only sequel originally conceived as a sequel to Raimi's film Spider-Man 3.
Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4 and 5 were originally planned to be filmed at the same time
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Sequels Almost Filmed Back to Back
In 2008, Deadline reported that Sony was planning to film Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 back to back because "doing this is very economical" and the studio reportedly considered this the best way to ensure the cast could reprise their roles in both sequels. The 2008 Deadline article also reported that Spider-Man 4 hired the writers for a Poison spinoff, which was also canceled after plans for Spider-Man 4 it fell. At that time, none of the members of the Spider-Man 4The main cast has officially been attached to the project, and Spider-Man 4The main antagonist of was still unknown.
It made sense for Sony to accelerate Spider-Man 5 next to Spider-Man 4as it would have guaranteed a consistent continuation of Peter Parker's story
With US$895 million worldwide, Spider-Man 3 Sam Raimi's highest-grossing film Spider-Man trilogy – US$74 million above Spider-Man$821 million and $100 million above Spider-Man 2it's US$795 million. Spider-Man 3 received much lower reviews, but general interest in a sequel was still high for a few years afterward Spider-Man 3launch. From a business perspective, it made sense for Sony to accelerate Spider-Man 5 next to Spider-Man 4as it would have guaranteed a consistent continuation of Peter Parker's story. If Spider-Man 4 presented the first chapter of a new story and failed, it would have left a worse impression than Spider-Man 3The poorly received plot.
Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame had a similar filming plan
The MCU's Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are a unique two-part event
Sony's first plans for Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 resemble Marvel Studios' filming schedule for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Not only did Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame tell two parts of a single overarching story, but both films were also filmed back-to-back specifically to ensure continuity between the two installments. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: EndgameMarvel's dozens of characters required most of Marvel Studios' biggest stars to be available at the same time. Marvel filmed the two Phase 3 crossover films not simultaneously, but consecutively, as certain characters' physical appearances changed drastically from one film to the next.
It should have been easier for Marvel Studios to budget and schedule Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame as a two-part event rather than two separate films. Marvel essentially filmed a massive $1 billion project split in two – both in terms of filming and release – in order to deliver a final chapter to the Infinity Saga that did justice to all of the major characters introduced in the twenty-plus episodes that preceded him. This decision was entirely justified, as the five-year time jump between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame is a key element in the conclusion of the Infinity Saga.
What Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4 and 5 Filming Plan Could Have Meant for the Story
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4 Could Have Ended on a Cliffhanger for Spider-Man 5
The division of the conclusion of the Infinity Saga into two films has a clear reason in history. Thanos needed to defeat the Avengers in Avengers: Infinity War to cement himself as the greatest enemy the heroes have ever faced. The defeat of the Avengers also motivated the survivors to do "whatever it takes" to bring everyone back and give some MCU icons a well-deserved farewell. If it weren't for Avengers: Infinity WarThe heartbreaking cliffhanger, the Avengers' victory in Avengers: EndgameThe final battle probably wouldn't have been so satisfying that theaters would roar like stadiums when the final Phase 3 crossover film was released.
As Avengers: Infinity WarSam Raimi Spider-Man 4 could have ended with a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that raised the stakes for Spider-Man 5. As Spider-Man 4 would have achieved a similar feat is a mystery, but it would have to be more dramatic than anything that happened in the Sam Raimi film Spider-Man trilogy. For example, Vulture kidnapping Mary Jane would not have caused the same reaction as Thanos taking away half of all life in the universe, as Mary Jane was kidnapped in all the previous films. Instead of, Spider-Man 4 could have killed Aunt May or left Peter Parker's life hanging by a thread.
Everything We Know About What Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4 & 5 Could Have Been
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4 and 5 Could Have Been Just as Crowded as Spider-Man 3
Sam Raimi Spider-Man 4 went through several drafts before settling on a Vulture-focused storyplayed by John Malkovich. Spider-Man would also have crossed paths with Felicia Hardy, also known as Black Cat, played by Anne Hathaway or Angelina Jolie. In some drafts, Felicia Hardy's alter ego would not be Black Cat, but the Vulture's villainous daughter, "the Vulture". Dylan Baker's Curt Connors would also have returned in a larger role, meaning he could finally transform into the Lizard. Other villains in Spider-Man 4 would have included Mysterio, the Shocker, and Stilt-Man, who would have been effortlessly defeated by Spider-Man in an opening montage.
A story divided into two parts Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 could have turned the Vulture into an all-encompassing villain like Thanos
Although there is a lot of information about Spider-Man 4 was made public, little is known about Sam Raimi's case Spider-Man 5. None of the main villains in Sam Raimi's story Spider-Man trilogy survived the events of their respective films, and Vulture's relentlessly evil personality (evidenced in storyboards of Spider-Man 4action scenes) would likely have led to a death similar to that of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Venom. However, a two-part story divided between Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 could have turned the Vulture into an all-encompassing villain like Thanos, and his death could have been reserved for Spider-Man 5or maybe even Spider-Man 6.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026