The upcoming Spider-Man 4 will contain another major crossover – if a press release published by Sony Pictures Japan is to be believed…
Following the huge commercial success of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, a number of reports suggested that Sony and Marvel were at loggerheads regarding the creative direction of the title character. Marvel reportedly wanted Spidey’s story to continue with a street-level fourth instalment and all of the signs at the end of No Way Home pointed in that direction, from the unveiling of the classic costume to the paring back of the series’ supporting cast.
Sony, presumably overjoyed by the film’s almost $2bn worldwide theatrical gross, was said to be keen on reprising the film’s crossover success, bringing back multiple Spider-blokes and continuing to probe at the multiverse – something that has served the studio well with its animated Spider-Verse films.
As rumours about the project’s direction continue to swirl, a posting at Sony Pictures Japan has potentially revealed the next film’s direction. If accurate, it suggests that Sony has won the battle. In a widely reported story first discovered by Cosmic Circus, the press release (which you can find on Sony Pictures Japan’s website) teases the crossover of the Spider-Man series with Sony’s Venom movies, the third of which – The Last Dance – is currently playing in cinemas.
Here’s the translated listing: “Tom Holland, who plays Peter [Parker], has already given his stamp of approval to the story! ‘This will be a real movie that fans can respect!’ Is Tom Hardy, who plays Eddie in the ‘Venom’ series, ready to take part?”
Read more: Venom: The Last Dance review | An unusual trilogy closer
There’s another section that reads: “Although it is the last film in the series, he [Tom Hardy] said, ‘In fact, I should not say goodbye to Venom, but welcome to the final stage [The Last Dance]. Venom’s story is not over yet. He still has a lot to do,’ leaving the possibility of future depictions.”
A tease it may be, but it’s a pretty clear statement regarding the direction of the next Spider-Man film, should it prove to be credible. We’ll save judgement until we hear confirmation, but we can’t help but wonder if Sony is courting disaster by finally mixing up its maligned universe of Spider-Man villain films with Tom Holland’s outings. Venom: The Last Dance, although enjoyable enough is not in the same league as Marvel’s Spider-Man films, and considering the Venom films are better than most of Sony’s superhero offerings, the studio could be pursuing a risky strategy here. Audiences flocked to see Spider-Man: No Way Home because it contained characters they had an emotional bond with. Can we say the same about Sony’s universe of characters?
Destin Daniel Cretton is set to direct, Tom Holland will return as Peter Parker, and a whopping six month shoot is planned for Spider-Man 4. The finished film is currently scheduled for release in 2026.
We’ll bring you more on this as we get it.
