Spider-Man 4: Potential release date, cast, plot for Tom Holland's next MCU movie

Despite Tom Holland's concerns that he might be getting too old for the role, Kevin Feige has confirmed that the actor will return to play Spider-Man in a new Marvel film. It’s unclear who else, if anyone, from previous Spider-Man films will return.

At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home Holland’s Peter Parker had caused the multiverse to implode and to save it from total collapse he made Doctor Strange erase the universe’s memory of Peter Parker.

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The film ended with Parker unable to connect with his girlfriend MJ or best friend Ned. The story picking up and seeing how he copes without them might be interesting but given the easy chemistry that Holland shares with both Zendaya and Jacob Batalon the film might try to work them into it.

Holland has expressed an interest in introducing Miles Morales into the MCU as a successor to Parker, and given Morales’ uncle Aaron Davis was shown in Homecoming played by Donald Glover, it’s entirely possible that Morales could take over as the friendly neighbourhood superhero.

Spider-Man 4 release date

The next Spider-Man film does not yet have a release date. Rumours suggest it could land in cinemas as soon as 2024, but that remains unconfirmed for now.

Spider-Man 4 plot

Feige has announced that the story of a fourth Spider-Man film is already set and that writers are putting pen to paper, so it could mean that the film will come sooner rather than later.

One of the criticisms of the previous MCU Spidey films is that he’s always been dependant on a mentor figure be it Iron Man, Nick Fury or Doctor Strange. Now the universe has no idea who Peter Parker is, he could break out into his own, and the inclusion of J. Jonah Jameson played by J.K. Simmons means that public perception of Spider-Man could be shaky at best.

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How much, or how little, the plot will factor into the multiverse saga is yet to be seen as Holland hasn’t confirmed any involvement in a Marvel film since No Way Home, but given that film introduced the concept of the multiverse it would be only natural for him to appear.

Speaking to the Critics Choice Association in early December 2023, Holland shed some more light on his future as New York's resident web head, essentially saying that he'd love to return to Spidey's tights - if they can find the right story to tell.

“All I can say is that we have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like for a fourth rendition of my character," said Holland, who is currently taking a break from acting.

“Whether or not we can find a way to do justice to the character is another thing. I feel very protective over Spider-Man... I feel very, very lucky that we were able to work on a franchise that got better with each movie, that got more successful with each movie, which I think is really rare, and I want to protect his legacy,

He added: "So, I won’t make another one for the sake of making another one. It will have to be worth the while of the character... But that said, if we can figure that out, I would be a fool not to put the suit back on again because I owe everything to Spider-Man.

“I love the character and the people I get to work with. So, I would love to tell another story, but I’ll only tell it if we can find the right one.”

Who is making Spider-Man 4?

It’s unclear is Jon Watts will return to director another Spider-Man film. Watts was previously attached to director Marvel’s Fantastic Four before stepping down to take a break from superhero films. It might be that Feige and co will look for a new director to take on this new trilogy of films. Watts was the first director to complete a trilogy of films in the MCU, with Peyton Reed becoming the second with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Whoever does get the directing and writing gig will have to grapple with Parker choosing a life away from those he loves and hopefully going more towards the friendly neighbourhood side of things that always made the comics and early Sam Raimi films so enjoyable.

Spider-Man 4 is currently in development at Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.

Watch a trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home