Tobey Maguire"s Next Rumored Spider-Man Return Was Subtly Set Up 20 Years Ago

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Summary

Sony could still set up for Spider-Man 4 or a broader MCU return for Tobey Maguire.
A subtle Easter egg in Spider-Man 2 suggests that Doctor Strange exists in Raimi's Spider-Man universe, hinting at multiverse possibilities.
Maguire and Garfield are open to returning as Spider-Man, showing interest in future projects like Spider-Man 4.

A subtle Easter egg in Spider-Man 2 could be Sony's ideal setup for a possible Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire. Sony is still trying to figure out what to do with its live-action Spider-Man universe. While the Venom films have been successful, Morbius and Madame Web saw disastrous reviews, setting up a complicated playing field for Kraven the Hunter. After the success of the MCU's Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sony has a goldmine with Maguire and Andrew Garfield, as audiences proved they're still interested in stories involving their portrayals of Peter Parker.
However, figuring out what story to tell with them is difficult, and Sony has sabotaged itself somewhat by not putting Maguire or Garfield in its new Spider-Man-less universe. Sony needs a Spider-Man, and while Maguire or Garfield may not be long-term solutions, bringing them back one more time could give Sony the boost it needs. Fortunately, Sam Raimi left a hilarious Easter egg in Spider-Man 2 that could hint at what a possible Maguire return could look like.
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Related What’s Going On With Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4? Although it was canceled in 2010, rumors and reports persist in 2024 that Tobey Maguire"s Spider-Man 4 may finally happen with director Sam Raimi.
A J. Jonah Jameson Joke Confirms Doctor Strange Exists In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Universe

In Spider-Man 2, J. Jonah Jameson and his assistant, Hoffman, discuss possible nicknames for Otto Octavius after he gets his four metallic limbs. After initially rejecting "Doctor Octopus" and "Science Squid," Hoffman suggests "Doctor Strange." Jameson likes the name but says it's taken, indicating that Doctor Strange exists in Raimi's Spider-Man universe. Jameson goes back to "Doctor Octopus," claiming it as his idea, as the notorious head of the Daily Bugle would do.
This joke was initially meant as a fun Easter egg for fans, referencing Doctor Strange but not inferring that the Sorcerer Supreme will appear. There's also no guarantee that this is Stephen Strange after he trains in the mystic arts. He may just be an excellent doctor who gained notoriety in New York. While it appears that this joke was meant to be a harmless, throwaway line, it could have larger implications thanks to the growth of the MCU's multiverse.
Tobey Maguire Can Use Doctor Strange To Access The Sony Multiverse Close Maguire's Peter now knows that the multiverse exists, and other Spider-Men fight to protect their own universes. There could be problems in his world that are too difficult to take on by himself, so he could look for Garfield or Holland to help him. He also knows about Doctor Strange and the spells he could conjure that open up the multiverse, which he may be willing to resort to should the need arise.
Doctor Strange could solve Sony's needs, as his existence in the Raimi universe could lead to Maguire hopping over to Garfield's universe or its villain universe. Eventually, the Sony Spider-Man Universe will need a Spider-Man, even though Madame Web suggested that there is a Peter Parker who hasn't become Spider-Man yet. However, after the tease in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, where Venom sees Holland's Spider-Man on TV, Sony ideally needs to deliver on an eventual fight between Venom and whatever Spider-Man the studio chooses.
Maguire and Andrew Garfield Have Shown Interest In Playing Spider-Man Again Close Maguire and Garfield have expressed interest in returning as Spider-Man after their experience with No Way Home. In an interview with Marvel, Maguire said he was "immediately open" to returning, but was nervous regarding what the story would look like and what the experience would be. However, it went so well that it would be a no-brainer for him if he were asked to return once more.

"I love these films and I love all of the different series. If these guys called me and said, “Would you show up tonight to hang out and goof around?” or “Would you show up to do this movie or read a scene or do a Spider-Man thing?”, it would be a “yes!” Because why wouldn’t I want to do that?"

Garfield had a similar reaction, saying that there is endless potential for Spider-Man. In the novel Spider-Man: No Way Home – The Art of the Movie, Garfield also mentioned, "there's a story happening in a universe somewhere," adding that whether it's filmed or not, Spider-Man is always doing something within his universe. While there is certainly the risk of diluting the great stories that came before in the name of another box office hit, Maguire and Garfield's willingness to return in another project certainly suggest they could return in the near future, via Spider-Man 4 or otherwise.

Spider-Man 2 PG-13 Where to Watch *Availability in US
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Director Sam Raimi Release Date June 30, 2004 Cast Donna Murphy , Alfred Molina , Tobey Maguire , James Franco , Rosemary Harris , Kirsten Dunst Runtime 127 minutes Upcoming MCU Movies
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