Spider-Man 4: Cast, Story, & Everything We Know

For those who are anticipating Tom Holland's role as an MCU hero, the latest Spider-Man 4 updates are encouraging. Spider-Man: No Way Home, which ended its theatrical run as the third highest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe film globally, was undoubtedly the biggest film of Phase 4. This sparked discussions about the future and the potential for another Spider-Man film in the MCU. Although some believed Holland's Spider-Man was over with No Way Home, the conclusion hinted at potential future plots. No Way Home was an amazing show, full of fun and providing the kind of happy fan service that only the best comic book films can provide.

Expectations for Marvel films skyrocketed in the post-Avengers: Endgame era, and No Way Home's enormous scope demonstrated the necessity of trying to surpass the Infinity Saga. It is astounding that it has been so successful, but now the focus is on what Sony and Marvel can do with this character in the MCU timeline. Here's what we know about Spider-Man 4 and how No Way Home might hint at Tom Holland's future in the Spider-Man film franchise.

The Most Recent News About Spider-Man 4

Sadie Sink will play an as-yet-unidentified role in Spider-Man 4, according to some casting news. The Stranger Things actress will accompany Tom Holland in Spider-Man's most recent adventure. While her role has not yet been confirmed, there have been recent rumors that she will be part of the MCU. Although it hasn't been verified, there have been rumors that Sadie Sink was being considered by Marvel Studios to play Jean Grey in their X-Men movie.

Given that Spider-Man 4 falls between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, it appears likely that the movie will forgo a street-level plot and instead concentrate on the larger multiverse. Sadie Sink might still portray Mary Jane Watson or another significant figure in the Spider-Man mythology. That may not be the case, though, as Zendaya has already portrayed MJ in the MCU. In any case, she is a great actor, so her casting is an exciting addition to Spider-Man 4.

The Verification of Spider-Man 4

Sony's Amy Pascal provided additional Spider-Man 4 updates, discussing additional Spider-Man content in an interview: "[This is not] the final Spider-Man film; it is not the last film we will produce with Marvel. We are preparing to work with Tom Holland and Marvel on the upcoming Spider-Man film. We're considering this to be three films, and we'll move on to the next three. There will be more MCU films in the future.

Spider-Man 4 will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who also directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who wrote the Spider-Man films, will also be returning for the fourth installment of the series. This analysis presents a positive outlook for the future of the upcoming film, considering Shang-Chi's reception and the success of the MCU's Spider-Man stories to date.

Production Status and Release Date of Spider-Man 4

The release date of Spider-Man 4 is July 31, 2026, and Tom Holland recently provided an update on when filming will begin. Tom Holland confirmed that the movie will be filmed in the summer of 2025 during an October 2024 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Given how crucial the movie is to both Sony and Marvel Studios, the July 31, 2026, post-production turnaround time seems incredibly short. As with Spider-Man: No Way Home, a holiday 2026 release window might be ideal if it appears that Spider-Man 4 will require more time.

Cast of Spider-Man 4

At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker was left alone to fulfill his duties as Spider-Man after everyone's memories of him were erased. As a result, it's unclear who will return for Spider-Man 4, which is Tom Holland's fourth solo film and his seventh overall in the MCU, alongside the title character. The only other confirmed casting aside from Holland is Sadie Sink from Stranger Things, who may play Jean Grey, though her role is still unknown.

Much of the casting depends on Sony's choice for the plot, so Zendaya's return as MJ and Jacob Batalon's as Ned are still up in the air. At least one other well-known MCU character from other properties has appeared in every Tom Holland Spider-Man movie, so it's possible that Spider-Man 4 will follow suit in some way.

Details of Spider-Man 4's plot

Regarding the film's plot, Spider-Man 4 has not received many updates. Spider-Man: No Way Home left hints at the end, though, and given its incredible critical and financial success, the MCU is probably going to build on any cliffhangers or teases left by the previous release. Producer Amy Pascal discussed the upcoming film's expectations on Deadline's Behind the Lens. She gave some background information on the plot of Spider-Man 4, saying:

Because being Peter Parker was too difficult, he made the decision to stop being Peter Parker and instead concentrate on becoming Spider-Man, which we must deal with. Thus, that is the subject matter of the film.

Numerous rumors have suggested both a scaled-down street-level plot and a massive-scale adventure, so it is still unclear exactly what the story will entail, even though it appears that Spider-Man will be the main focus of the movie rather than Peter Parker.

The MCU may have an opportunity to retell the plot that Sam Raimi tried to tell in Spider-Man 3, since Spider-Man 4 will take place in between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Given that it connects to the original Secret Wars comic, which also featured Spider-Man joining forces with a symbiote in his black suit plot, this could potentially make Spider-Man 4 the most likely future direction. It would also give the film a lot of opportunities to adapt parts of the comics.

However, given that Spider-Man is one of New York's protectors, Kingpin's MCU plotline in Daredevil: Born Again, in which he becomes mayor and targets vigilantes, may put him at odds with Spider-Man. Venom is not the only new possibility for the villain in Spider-Man 4. If Daredevil should have forgotten the hero's secret identity due to Doctor Strange's final memory spell, it would still make sense to capitalize on Matt Murdock's appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home by showing him and Spider-Man actively interacting as heroes.

Spider-Man and Daredevil's paths would cross again, and Peter might have a more grounded adventure in his hometown. He might also meet heroes now that he's an older and more self-sufficient hero, which could help the character get some fresh air and address grievances that he's been largely dependent on other heroes like Doctor Strange and Iron Man for the majority of his MCU story. However, the plot of the upcoming Spider-Man 4 will remain up for debate until specifics are confirmed.

Spider-Man 4's Place in the Sixth Phase of the MCU

Spider-Man 4, one of the last movies in the Multiverse Saga, will be released on July 31, 2026, placing it firmly in the middle of the MCU's Phase 6. The movie is actually the only one currently planned between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which makes it probably one of the most crucial projects to close the gap between the two movies.

Although that is still possible, Spider-Man 4's placement indicates that it will probably have a much larger story and have a lasting impact on the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Following the conclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, many people believed the fourth movie could be more grounded, sticking to New York City and a street-level plot. The fifth Avengers film would most likely lead directly into Spider-Man 4, which would then set the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars and the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga, since Spider-Man is most likely to make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday.