Small spoilers for “Spider-Man: No Way Home” ahead
The camera zips through the streets and avenues of New York City. Billboards lightly illuminate the reflecting skyscrapers and provide a haze of brightness for the citizens on the sidewalk. Voices and conversation murmur, “Did Spider-Man quit? Where is Spider-Man? Is Spider-Man a friend or a foe?” Daily Bugle newspapers drop slowly enough for the camera to capture the faint images of villains on the loose, a call for Spider-Man to be arrested, and Oscorp being shut down due to the death of Harry Osborn in prison. The camera makes a sharp turn and runs upward along the side of the Empire State Building. Through the mirroring windows, a giant anti-Spider-Man emblem appears. As the camera reaches the top, it slows down and shows the top level of the Empire State Building with the skyline of New York City in the background.
Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man appears. As he takes a deep breath, he soaks in the experience of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The whole city turned against him for being the Spider-Man that “stopped pulling his punches.” As he looks below from the place he called his sanctuary of peace in “No Way Home,” his iconic theme begins to play before he dives into the chaos of the city he got pulled from during Doctor Strange’s spell. He exhales, “Ah, home sweet home.”
The theme plays boldly, as the title appears in front of his iconic Spider-Man logo:
“The Amazing Spider-Man 3.”
This was once a whisper of a dream in the voices screaming for more of Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man — as well as blistering criticism for “The Amazing Spider-Man” franchise. Now, it seems like it is more likely than not that this will become a reality. The once dreaded end to a disappointing series of movies using the Spider-Man name transformed into a long-awaited sequel with the whole world’s support. Garfield did all but steal the show in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and reignited a spark of love for his story and where it could go from here. #MakeTASM3 now trends on social media platforms daily, and many are wondering what exactly “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” could look like.
Well, that certainly will depend on what’s next for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. The two film franchises will most definitely look to not mirror each other’s villains and storyline. Even more importantly, they must not stray too far from each other, given the rumors of Marvel and Sony wanting Maguire, Garfield and Holland to share the screen again as soon as possible. Tom Hardy’s Venom appeared in the post-credits scene of “No Way Home”; with the symbiote’s appearance in the MCU, it seems clear that this is the direction they’re taking Holland’s Spider-Man. He will likely face Venom in the next installment of his franchise, thus taking the iconic villain off the radar for the next Garfield film.
However, a number of rumors suggest that Sony is building a universe in which they will retcon Venom’s presence in Garfield’s Spider-Man universe. While this seems unlikely, truly anything is on the table.
Many references and hints to the infamous Sinister Six appeared in “The Amazing Spider-Man” movies. In “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” a number of indicators implied that many of Spider-Man’s most recognizable villains, such as The Lizard, Doc Ock, Electro, Rhino, Vulture and Green Goblin, could be teaming up in the future. Sony clearly shied away from the Sinister Six in “No Way Home,” where there were only five villains, but that could mean that they’re saving Spider-Man’s most deadly foes for something else: “The Amazing Spider-Man 3,” perhaps.
Kraven the Hunter also became a topic of conversation in the live-action Spider-Man realm in the past few years. Holland is quoted as explaining that if the multiverse idea couldn’t work out for “No Way Home,” it would’ve featured a Kraven the Hunter storyline. Also, Aaron Taylor Johnson was rumored to be cast in the role for a future Sony movie. This could be where “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” goes, given the clear interest in the character by both Marvel and Sony. And what a perfect foe for Garfield’s Spider-Man he would be.
It’s unclear what exactly “No Way Home” implies for the universes of Garfield and Maguire. Does the curing of the villains mean that they never die in their original timelines? Could Electro still be alive? Recent reports of Sony’s interest in a spin-off movie for Jamie Foxx’s Electro indicate that he may be a part of “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” as well. However, he may not even be a foe anymore. Garfield’s Spider-Man and Foxx’s Electro shared a bit of a heartwarming talk at the end of “No Way Home.” This could mean that Garfield may call on him for help in the future of his universe. Garfield tells Holland’s Spider-Man that he “stopped pulling his punches” and “became vengeful” in “No Way Home,” which can set up a hell of a story. Imagine: Foxx’s Electro can pull him from the brink of destruction the same way Garfield’s Spider-Man did for Electro in “No Way Home.”
Hopefully it’s just a great story. No matter the villain or the plot, the potential film needs writers and directors that can do Garfield’s Spider-Man justice. There are tons of dimensions to “The Amazing Spider-Man” franchise that fans always loved far before the surge of appreciation for these films. However, none of them included the messy storytelling. The mystery of Peter Parker’s dad and his original plan with the spider blood, Norman Osborn’s location and what he’s hiding from, as well as the pure exuberance and excitement that Garfield provides to the character, are all left without conclusion. Continue the support for “The Amazing Spider-Man 3” because it’s working, and it’s worth it.
