One aspect that helped Spider-Man pop off in the 60s was his everyday struggles, which helped fans relate to the character, and it soon became the defining aspect of the character. Moreover, this core theme was beautifully translated into the big screen, thanks to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, which didn’t drop the ball while showcasing a hero’s struggle with responsibilities.
However, in the Tom Holland-led trilogy, the personal struggles of the character were sidelined after the first film, as being part of the MCU, the character had bigger problems to worry about. But it appears that the MCU is planning to go back to the character’s roots with the upcoming installment.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Might Finally Get the Taste of Being the Traditional Webhead
Apart from taking the likes of Green Goblin and Dr. Octopus heads on and saving Mary Jane in the third act, the Sam Raimi trilogy is notable for putting heavy emphasis on Peter’s personal struggles. From facing financial challenges to struggling to balance his personal life with his superhero life, it’s reasonable to see why this iteration of the webhead felt more personal to fans.
However, in the MCU, this aspect of the character was sidelined for bigger stakes, which did work in its favor initially, as it helped Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man set itself apart from its predecessors.
But after No Way Home finally teased the possibility of a more grounded Spidey story in the future, fans are hoping to see Peter becoming the struggling young adult once again. And per new rumors, which stressed that his biggest enemy in the fourth film will be the character’s past, fans are now speculating that it’ll have to deal with the trauma Peter sustained in NWH.
Fans seeing Peter traumatized: pic.twitter.com/RhDdvuR6eQ
— Mysterious_Eve🇮🇹 (@Lorenzo74209291) June 9, 2024
Peter is miserable and relatable we are so fucking back pic.twitter.com/LakmSgrfu1
— apaec (@thespidernoodle) June 9, 2024
they’re still complaining saying “that sounds like iron man 3”🙄
— luc (@luccrosstco) June 10, 2024
Yea we’ll see…Hopefully it’s written well
— Sic Parvis Magna (@YC_0015) June 9, 2024
We finally gonna get theeee spider-man who always talking to himself and narrarating
— Farhan 🇬🇧/🇵🇰•#FreePalestine🇵🇸 (@farhan__mehmood) June 9, 2024
Hopefully whoever becomes the next director can convey all of this in such a way that SM4 feels different compared to Watts’ trilogy
— 🥁🎹 (@ElzGoth) June 9, 2024
With Parker becoming a nobody and earning his own “With great power comes great responsibility” moment following Aunt May’s death, we might be finally in for a more intimate Spider-Man story.
Filming the Iconic Spider-Man Scene Was Miserable Recalled Kirsten Dunst
While the Sam Raimi films got the character’s personal struggles right, which for many cemented Tobey Maguire‘s version as the definitive Spider-Man, the Raimi trilogy has its flaws. Arguably, against the acclaimed trilogy was its depiction of Mary Jane, unlike her comic counterpart, who has no issues holding her own, MJ in the Maguire-led film was boiled down to a damsel in distress.
Speaking of the Raimi films, Kirsten Dunst, who has found major success outside of the superhero flicks, recalled that making the famous upside-down kiss was miserable as Maguire was suffocating.
Appearing on The Jonathan Ross show, she said (via The Independent):
I remember Sam Raimi giving me a book of famous kisses to be inspired, but also he really wanted to make it special, even though it was kind of miserable actually doing it. It was pouring with rain, freezing, Tobey couldn’t breathe so it was almost like I was resuscitating him (sic),
Despite its shortcomings, it’s easy to see why the Raimi trilogy is revered among fans, as despite its fair share of inaccuracies from the source material, it got the most important aspect of Peter’s right.
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films are available to stream on Disney Plus.
