Batman co-writer Mattson Tomlin has made it clear he wants to write Spider-Man 4 — a direct continuation of the Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi era of films. On X (formerly Twitter), Tomlin responded to fan calls for a new entry and even attempted to get the attention of Raimi himself.
When one fan page declared, “Here’s your money to write the script,” Tomlin replied simply: “Trying!”
Later, when pressed by another account about contacting Raimi, he doubled down with the same response: “Trying!”
Tomlin’s Vision for Spider-Man 4
Tomlin elaborated on what kind of story interests him most: “Honestly right now my main interest in this respect would be to write a Spider-Man 4 where Tobey’s Spider-Man is juggling being a husband and a father. Spider-Man as a father is where I gravitate towards given the last 8 films.”
This approach would age Peter Parker into a more mature role, focusing less on teenage struggles and more on the balance between family responsibilities and the cost of heroism.
Maguire and Raimi’s Recent Marvel Returns
The interest in continuing the Raimi universe isn’t without precedent. Tobey Maguire reprised his role as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), which was met with huge fan support and box office success.
Meanwhile, Sam Raimi returned to Marvel with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), proving he’s still in the superhero business. Fans have speculated that his Marvel relationship could open the door to revisiting Spider-Man, though Raimi has publicly said he is not currently developing a fourth film.
What Spider-Man 4 Could Have Been
Sony originally planned Spider-Man 4 after Spider-Man 3 (2007), with Raimi, Maguire, and Kirsten Dunst set to return. Multiple scripts were commissioned, but Raimi ultimately left the project in 2010. The studio then chose to reboot with The Amazing Spider-Man instead.
Some of the ideas and rumors for Raimi’s canceled film included:
- Vulture as the villain — with John Malkovich linked to the role.
- Black Cat — with Anne Hathaway reportedly considered for the character.
- A darker story that would push Peter Parker to the edge of his morals.
Raimi later admitted he couldn’t get a script together in time to meet Sony’s release schedule and walked away.
Fan Campaigns and the Future
Since its cancellation, fans have consistently pushed for Spider-Man 4 under the banner of #MakeRaimiSpiderMan4. Both Raimi and Maguire have expressed openness to the idea if the right story came along.
Tomlin’s concept — a story of Spider-Man as a husband and father — fits the tone of a legacy sequel and could bring closure to Maguire’s version of Peter Parker. Whether Sony or Marvel would take that gamble alongside their Tom Holland-led films remains to be seen, but the demand is clearly there.
