For a considerable time, fans pondered the fate of Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and whether he might reprise his iconic web-slinging character. Following his portrayal in the 2012 and 2014 installments of The Amazing Spider-Man, Garfield’s Spider-Man seemed to vanish from public view, potentially marking the end of his tenure as the beloved superhero.
However, he surprised audiences by making an unexpected appearance alongside Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland’s Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This unexpected cameo sparked speculation about whether Garfield might return to the role of Spider-Man in the future.
Sony’s Canceled The Amazing Spider-Man 3
Initially, Sony Pictures had plans for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and even a fourth film with Andrew Garfield returning as the titular character. However, these plans were scrapped following the 2014 Sony hack, which revealed discussions about including Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Eventually, Sony and Marvel reached an agreement to share the character, leading to Tom Holland’s casting as Spider-Man in the MCU.
The cancellation of The Amazing Spider-Man 3 signaled the end of Andrew Garfield’s tenure as Spider-Man in that particular franchise.
Andrew Garfield’s Cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Speculation about Andrew Garfield’s return as Spider-Man reignited when he made a surprise appearance in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: No Way Home. This multiversal cameo sparked discussions about the actor’s potential return in a full-fledged Spider-Man role.
Since Garfield’s last appearance as Spider-Man, Sony had been developing its own Spider-Man Universe (Sony Spider-Man Universe or SSMU), which includes films like “Venom” and “Morbius.” However, this universe had no known in-universe Spider-Man.
Speculation About The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and the SSMU
Some fans have speculated that Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man universe and the SSMU might be one and the same, suggesting the possibility of an Amazing Spider-Man 3 set in the SSMU. Garfield’s comments about being “re-inspired” as a hero after “No Way Home” further fueled these speculations.
Tom Holland, who portrays the current MCU Spider-Man, expressed his support for Garfield’s return in a potential The Amazing Spider-Man 3.
Andrew Garfield and the Avengers
Another potential avenue for Andrew Garfield’s return as Spider-Man could be in the next Avengers films, particularly Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. These films are expected to explore the Marvel Multiverse and feature a wide array of characters from different realities.
Rumors have suggested that legacy characters, including Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man, could appear in these films. A deleted scene from Spider-Man: No Way Home hinted at the possibility of Garfield’s Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man teaming up again.
Reports indicated that Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, may have discussed Garfield’s appearance in Secret Wars with the actor before the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, but nothing has been officially announced by Marvel Studios.
While there is no official confirmation of Andrew Garfield’s return as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 3 or other projects, fans continue to speculate and hope for his reappearance in the Spider-Verse or the MCU’s Avengers films.
Both of Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man films are currently available for streaming on Disney+.