It’s getting rather difficult to separate fact from fiction regarding the recent influx in Spider-Man news. Talk of the Spider-Verse opening in Spider-Man: No Way Home has returned the spotlight to Tobey Maguire's web-slinger, but the first live-action Spider-Man may be setting up for a comeback of his own.

Spider-Man from 2002 has earned its cult following within the last two decades, thanks to Sam Raimi’s tongue-in-cheek approach to the character. The film's cast included Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, J.K. Simmons, and more - with an unforgettable Hero theme song by Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott. Raimi’s vision continued for two sequels, despite them failing to nail the superhero landing that the first achieved. But there was a fourth film in the works before it was cancelled by Sony in 2010, and we may get to see that feature after all.

Related: Andrew Garfield's Stunt Double Spotted On Spider-Man: No Way Home Set In Deleted Instagram Posts

It has been speculated that Sony is currently in talks with Raimi and Maguire to reinstate their union for a fourth Spider-Man film with the original cast. While neither star has confirmed any involvement, it has been suggested that the fourth Raimi Spider-Man will follow on from the events that the Spider-Verse unlocks in No Way Home. Raimi is also at the helm of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - which is meant to unlock exactly what it says on the tin - therefore, it would be a fitting transition for him to continue orchestrating this web of the Multiverse.

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Raimi previously had Spider-Man 4’s plot roughly mapped out, despite the director never settling on a finalized version of the script. Spider-Man 2 and 3 included Dylan Baker’s Lizard, and the fourth installment was meant to narrate how Dr. Curt Connors became the reptilian villain. During pre-production, John Malkovich was attached to play the Vulture - the villain who was later portrayed by Michael Keaton in Spider-Man: Homecoming - and Anne Hathaway was to play Black Cat - who instead turned feline for DC as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Marvel is once again giving fans the poker face, and it was previously thought that the company encouraged Tom Holland to debunk any rumors that Maguire and Andrew Garfield would be returning.

Source: Movieweb

Next: Spider-Man: No Way Home Wraps Filming, New Set Photo Revealed