The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Will Andrew Garfield Return for Another Movie?

For a considerable period, enthusiasts have been pondering the fate of Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and the likelihood of the actor’s return to his iconic wall-crawling role.

Following his portrayal in the two Amazing Spider-Man films in 2012 and 2014, Garfield’s interpretation of Marvel’s web-slinger vanished from the public eye, seemingly marking the conclusion of his Spider-Man tenure.

However, he astounded the world by appearing alongside Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland’s iterations of Spidey in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This development has prompted fans to speculate on the possibility of the actor reprising his role as the web-slinger.

Sony’s Failed Amazing Spider-Man 3

As 2014 approached, Sony Pictures had planned to release a third and fourth mainline film featuring Andrew Garfield as the lead in The Amazing Spider-Man franchise. The third installment was expected to be released in 2016, with franchise director Marc Webb returning to direct. This was part of Sony Pictures’ larger plan for the Spidey slate, which included spin-off movies featuring Aunt May and Sinister Six.

However, these plans were ultimately abandoned due to the controversial Sony hack of 2014. The Wall Street Journal reported that leaked emails between Sony Pictures producer Amy Pascal and various executives at Marvel Studios caused fan outcry, leading to the Spider-Man license being shared between Sony and Marvel.

Although previous conversations had taken place with Sony regarding Garfield’s Spidey appearing as part of the MCU’s Avengers, these discussions did not come to fruition. It was during a second round of talks that Sony reached an agreement to share the on-screen rights to Marvel’s web-slinging hero, leading to the creation of the Tom Holland Spider-Man trilogy within the MCU.

As a result, the hopes for The Amazing Spider-Man 3, in its initially conceived form, were dashed with Holland’s casting.

There exists a possibility for further development from Andrew Garfield

Following the cancellation of The Amazing Spider-Man 3 (TASM 3), it appeared improbable that Andrew Garfield would reprise his role as Peter Parker in any capacity, as the franchise had seemingly moved on. However, in late 2021, the speculation surrounding Garfield’s return was reignited when he made a Multiversal cameo in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: No Way Home. This appearance caused a stir among fans, who began to wonder if it was a hint at Garfield’s full-fledged return as the web-slinging hero.

Since Garfield’s last portrayal of Spider-Man, Sony Pictures has developed a new on-screen Spider-Man universe, known as the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSMU), which includes Venom, Venom 2, and Morbius. This interconnected web of Spidey films exists outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and currently lacks an in-universe Spider-Man. As a result, some have speculated that Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man universe and the SSMU are one and the same, and that the actor could appear in an Amazing Spider-Man 3 set in said universe.

Garfield has not quelled this rampant speculation. Following the release of No Way Home, the actor informed fans that the film had “changed [the] life” of his Peter Parker, leaving him “re-inspired” as a hero. He stated that his character was “going back knowing that he has brothers” and was “re-inspired to follow his destiny, his calling – the purpose of his life.” By catching MJ, he was able to make up for a terrible tragedy that he had tried to avoid in his world.

Although Sony Pictures has not officially announced renewed efforts for a third Amazing Spider-Man film, current MCU Spider-Man Tom Holland has expressed his “full support” for Garfield’s return if the studio decides to pursue TASM 3. Holland praised Garfield’s ability to reconcile with the character and the studio, and noted the spectacular fan reactions to the scene in which he saved Zendaya. Despite the lack of official confirmation, fans continue to dream aloud about the possibility of another film.

It has been announced that Andrew Garfield has become a member of the Avengers

It is highly probable that Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Spider-Man will make an appearance in either Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars. The upcoming Avengers 5 and 6 films are expected to delve into the Marvel Multiverse, featuring numerous legacy characters on-screen simultaneously.

In particular, reports suggest that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige intends to recreate the iconic portals scene from Avengers: Endgame, incorporating heroes from the brand’s extensive on-screen history. This could potentially include Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker.

Although not confirmed, a deleted scene from Spider-Man: No Way Home showed Garfield’s Spider-Man suggesting to Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland’s characters that they should “do this again,” hinting at the possibility of the trio reuniting in Avengers 5 or 6.

Recent reports suggest that Feige may have discussed Garfield’s involvement in Secret Wars prior to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, but Marvel Studios has yet to make any official announcements.