Tom Holland has set a deadline for his time as Spider-Man, making Spider-Man 4 in the MCU even more important. Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was released in 2021, became the MCU’s highest-grossing non-Avengers film and the third-highest-grossing movie overall. Suffice it to say, its success cemented Holland’s legacy as the titular webslinger while also paying homage to his predecessors, whose appearance played an equal role in its success. It also put him on the same level as Tobey Maguire by starring in a Spider-Man trilogy.
Holland’s success in Spider-Man: No Way Home means he will now surpass that achievement by starring in at least four films. While details about Spider-Man 4 are scarce, Holland is still expected to reprise his role. However, Holland recently specified in an interview with Esquire Middle East a deadline for his tenure in the role, stating that playing Spider-Man at age 30 and beyond comes with a significant caveat.
If Tom Holland sticks to his Spider-Man deadline, Spider-Man 4 could be one of his final MCU films
On June 1st, Tom Holland, who is currently 27 years old, will turn 28. This implies that in order for Holland to meet his deadline, Spider-Man 4 must be released within the next two years. This is still a tight deadline, but it is still attainable. It also implies that, should Holland’s feelings remain unchanged after two years, the film will have to fulfill additional requirements in order for him to consider his obligations fulfilled. Should he do so, Spider-Man 4 might be among Tom Holland’s last films in the character.
If rumors of a soft reboot in the MCU are to be believed, this could be the ideal opportunity for Holland to, in his words, “pass the baton.” A post-Avengers: Secret Wars MCU is already shaping up to look very different, with the introduction of the MCU’s version of the X-Men set to take center stage. In such a scenario, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker could potentially join his veteran Avengers colleagues such as Thor and Bruce Banner in making way for a new slew of MCU stars. There are numerous candidates to take his place.
How Spider-Man 4 Could Set Up A New MCU Spider-Man
Spider-Man variants are among the most varied and fleshed-out in Marvel’s repertoire, as demonstrated by Sony’s acclaimed animated Spider-Verse series. If Avengers: Secret Wars follows in the footsteps of its Marvel Comics predecessor, it will almost certainly include a slew of MCU variants, including Spider-Man’s MCU Phase 7 replacement. Despite this, there’s a good reason Holland named Miles Morales.
Morales is a key figure in Marvel’s 2015 “Secret Wars” series. As the Spider-Man of his universe is thrust into God Emperor Doom’s Battleworld, he teams up with Peter Parker before his pocket burger persuades Molecule Man to lend his incredible power to the heroes. With this in mind, the door is wide open for Marvel to finally adapt Miles Morales in live-action for Avengers: Secret Wars and have him carry the torch from here on out.
Similarly, Holland’s suggestion that Spider-Woman take up the mantle is not out of the realm of possibility. Spider-Woman is not a variant, so she could appear before Avengers: Secret Wars. Spider-Gwen, meanwhile, is another option that Marvel could pursue given her popularity in the Spider-Verse series. Ultimately, Morales is the most likely character to pick up the slack after Avengers: Secret Wars.
Why Tom Holland Doesn’t Really Need To Stop Playing Spider-Man At 30
Finally, turning 30 is not a true barrier to playing Spider-Man. While portraying an older Peter Parker is not uncommon, Holland can also play a younger character in his early to mid-twenties, as his predecessors did in Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Maguire and Garfield would even prove that older Peter Parkers can still have an impact in Spider-Man: No Way Home, reprising their roles in their mid-40s and mid-30s, respectively. An older Peter Parker is also a well-established figure in Marvel Comics.
In any case, Holland’s ambition to hand over the reins is realistic and appealing, particularly if he continues to serve as his predecessor’s mentor. As things stand, Holland will lead the cast of Spider-Man 4, with possible cameos from Daredevil and other supporting cast members. It remains to be seen, though, if Holland modifies his suggested deadline following this release.