Good news for Spider-Man fans! Tom Holland’s Spider-Man isn’t hanging up his web-shooters just yet. After the wild success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland is set to return for a fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This time, though, there’s a new director in the mix: Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton is in early talks to take the reins of the beloved franchise.
If you remember (Spoiler Alert), No Way Home ended with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casting a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of Peter Parker being Spider-Man, including his closest friends, MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon). It was an emotional and intense finale that capped off the three-movie arc directed by Jon Watts, who also helmed Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home (2019).
Cretton is no stranger to the Marvel Universe. He brought us Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, and his resume also includes indie gems like Short Term 12 (2013), The Glass Castle (2017), and Just Mercy (2019). Cretton was slated to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before stepping away from the project in November 2023. Despite that, he’s stayed in Marvel’s orbit, working on the upcoming Wonder Man miniseries and developing a Shang-Chi sequel. However, word on the street is that Spider-Man 4 is now his top priority.
As of now, specific details about Spider-Man 4 remain under wraps, but Holland is likely locked in for another swing through the MCU. It’s an interesting twist since he’d previously expressed doubts about sticking with the role into his 30s, as mentioned during the No Way Home press tour. Fans can breathe easy knowing he’s not quite ready to retire his Spidey suit just yet.
The relationship between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, who co-own the character, has been rocky at times. Back in 2019, negotiations broke down, putting Spider-Man’s future in the MCU in jeopardy. Fortunately, they quickly patched things up, leading to the fan-favorite No Way Home, which brought together previous Spidey stars Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield for an unforgettable crossover event.
Neither Marvel nor Sony has commented on the latest news. The Hollywood Reporter was first to break the story of Cretton’s involvement.
Now, here’s where things get intriguing: with Destin Daniel Cretton potentially directing Spider-Man 4, could we see a surprise cameo from Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel? Larson has been a Cretton regular, starring in three of his films—Short Term 12, The Glass Castle, and Just Mercy. Considering Captain Marvel’s growing importance in the MCU, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to imagine her crossing paths with Peter Parker.
But let’s take it a step further. Since Cretton also introduced Shang-Chi into the MCU, could we also see Simu Liu’s Shaun make an appearance? Shang-Chi’s unique power set and background would make for an exciting team-up with Spider-Man. While this is all just speculation (or maybe a bit of wishful thinking), it’s fun to imagine the possibilities of these characters interacting in the next chapter of Spidey’s story.
What do you think about Destin Daniel Cretton directing the fourth installment of the Tom Holland ‘Spider-Man’ saga? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to follow @NoConCulture on socials for more!
