After Tobey Maguire reprised his iteration of everyone’s beloved web-crawling superhero in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, interest in a fourth installment to Sam Raimi’s three-movie saga gained considerable traction amongst Marvel enthusiasts.
While collective yearning for Spider-Man 4 had persisted even years before the MCU blockbuster, Maguire’s appearance within the multiversal context opened the door to endless (and feasible) possibilities.
Recent remarks reportedly made by Raimi haven’t tempered these expectations. In fact, his response to a fan asking about the plausibility surrounding a fourth film seemed to spell good news for many. Though it’s too soon to tell if these long-cherished dreams will materialize, the director’s affinity has sparked conversations about Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man.
Among these, one element of the web-slinging protagonist, which continues to confuse enjoyers of the trilogy, has been brought to the forefront. And it has something to do with the microscopic spikes growing out of his skin that audiences are introduced to before he climbs a wall in the first Spider-Man (2002).
One Element Of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Continues To Confuse Fans
Going into any fictional media, especially ones centered around fantasy elements, requires a level of suspension of disbelief that governs people’s viewing experiences. That said, notable scooper @MyTimeToShineH on X pointed out an attribute associated with Tobey Maguire‘s Spider-Man that raises confusion about its plausibility.
The element in question is Peter’s wall-climbing abilities prompted by the minute sharp-edged hairs that first appear on his fingertips in Spider-Man (2002).
The user, wondering about the logistics surrounding the concept, posted, “I still don’t get how they don’t break when he climbs.”
Meeting this quandary with equal light-heartedness, a few commenters speculated how these barbed hairs stick through the character’s shoes or the iconic red and blue costume. And while the go-to answer could be that: duh, he’s Spider-Man, there is a bit more to it than that, at least according to existing canon in the comics.
Strictly speaking of Spider-Man’s wall-crawling abilities in the comics, one explanation is attributed to electrostatic force.
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (via CBR) attaches credibility to the ability by affirming that Spider-Man can “enhance the flux of inter-atomic attractive forces on surfaces he touches, increasing the coefficient of friction between that surface and himself.”
As for Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man, it is believed that his spikey fingertips work under the principles of Van der Waals force, which creates electrostatic attraction between the minuscule hairs. Therefore, these jagged blade-like thingamajigs do not pierce the surfaces Maguire’s web-slinger climbs on; they rub together to generate static electricity.
As we cling to reality—even in fiction—we use these justifications to make sense of the world these above-human characters inhabit. Nevertheless, it all can just be chalked off to superhero movie magic.
Spider-Man 4 Rumors Gain Traction Amid Sam Raimi Comments
It’s no surprise discussions surrounding Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man have taken center stage on social media platforms, given the recent remarks made by Sam Raimi.
Spider-Man 4 is, of course, not something that strictly spurred out of No Way Home. In 2007, a fourth installment to Sam Raimi’s trilogy went into development. Later, due to the filmmaker’s withdrawal from the project, its cancellation was announced in 2010. There were reasons behind his walking out, the primary one reportedly being the pressure to meet the scheduled release date.
After Maguire’s appearance in the 2021 Tom Holland starrer, fans were convinced that the multiversal context could make anything happen, and thus, extensive campaigning for Spider-Man 4 (and TASM 3) began. Parties involved with the original trilogy voiced their openness to the possibility of a fourth movie, including Raimi.
Much recently, when a long-time fan (via X) asked him about Spider-Man 4 at the Monster-Mania Con, Raimi’s response, according to the enthusiast, was that it could be made “simply because he has the same desire as we do.” The one thing its fate depends on is “the right time.” Only then can it happen.
Previously, the 64-year-old director believed that “anything is possible” (via Moviepilot) on the subject of a fourth Maguire-led Spider-Man endeavor. Although there was a later interview where he showed uncertainty about helming the project, his recent attitude has birthed new hope in eager fans.
Following are a couple of tweets exemplifying this excitement:
I never in my life thought something like this would be a possibility. If this ever comes to fruition i’m going to lose my mind
— Craig (@CS11__) March 10, 2024
Sony needs to green light this instead of their spinoffs
— Truly Pete (72%)👽 🔜 Some Rave Eventually (@AStateofPete) March 10, 2024
As long as Sony doesn’t interfere to much I’m here for it https://t.co/uGHCTKplHA pic.twitter.com/HcaouCoMKD
— Jdawg-Cosplay (@JdawgCosplay) March 10, 2024
Spider-Man 4 is the silver bullet for Sony. If they ever greenlit the film it’s practically a free billion dollars for them. The appetite for the return to that universe has never been greater https://t.co/Nrx9xy5tqq
— Tom Smith (@Tom_Smith717) March 10, 2024
Here’s to hoping Raimi, who felt like he “compromised” on the divisive Spider-Man 3 (2007), could be offered the chance to redeem the original series with a fourth film. Nothing is set in stone, but spirits remain high as ever among Marvel enjoyers.
The Tobey Maguire-starring Spider-Man trilogy is available for streaming on Disney+.
