‘Anything is possible’: Director Sam Raimi shares thoughts on ‘Spider-Man 4’ with Tobey Maguire
Spider-Man trilogy director Sam Raimi recently shared his thoughts about reuniting with actor Tobey Maguire for a potential fourth Spider-Man film.
In an interview with Fandango, Raimi, who just helmed Benedict Cumberbatch’s upcoming Marvel solo film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, said that anything is possible in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including a fourth Spider-Man film in the original trilogy.
“I've come to realize after making Doctor Strange that anything is possible, really anything in the Marvel universe, any team-ups,” Raimi said. “I love Tobey. I love Kirsten Dunst. I think all things are possible.”
Raimi’s reaction on the possibility of working with Maguire came on the heels of the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where both versions of Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s web-slinger fought alongside Holland’s Peter Parker after Doctor Strange’s spell paved the way for Marvel’s Multiverse storyline.
“I don't really have a story or a plan. I don't know if Marvel would be interested in that right now. I don't know what their thoughts are about that. I haven't really pursued that. But it sounds beautiful. Even if it wasn't a Spider-Man movie, I'd love to work with Tobey again, in a different role,” he added.
In terms of his upcoming movie, Raimi remained mum on the rumored appearance of Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier, saying he “couldn’t promise” that the actor is in the picture.
“That's all that Marvel will let me say,” he said.
Raimi also shared that fans can expect “a journey into the multiverse” with the upcoming film, saying that they will “see different iterations of Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, and even Lizzie Olsen's character of Wanda Maximoff.”
“So, the actors have to play that. It's a great challenge for them and great fun to direct them playing these altered versions of themselves,” Raimi said.
As for surprises and cameos, Raimi shared that although Holland’s third Spider-Man film “broke open (the idea that) characters from the multiverse could visit our universe,” Cumberbatch’s next film will see characters from that universe “go out into the multiverse and experience other universes.”
“So, it's going to be a continuation, but that, I think, is one of the biggest appeals. Finding other realities, and how they rhyme with our own, or how they are completely the opposite, or variations thereof. I think therein lies the interest of this picture,” he added.
Meanwhile, Raimi also admitted in the interview that he’s “not that familiar” with the Marvel Cinematic Universe prior to directing Cumberbatch’s upcoming film.
“I had seen Iron Man, the first Avengers, Black Panther and Doctor Strange, and little clips of the other movies. They've made 28 movies. I've only really seen four or five, so I'll say not that familiar,” he said.
Raimi added, “That's part one. By the way, I loved what I saw, but not that familiar. But part two is I was a giant fan of the Marvel comic books of the ’70s and ’80s and into the ’90s. So, I was super familiar with the characters, and their stories, and their interactions. That's what the Marvel movies are based on. So, that's my answer.”
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres in theaters on May 6, 2022.