Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy recently returned to theaters across the U.S. as part of a Fathom Event, reigniting interest in Tobey Maguire Spider-Man Return and his iconic role. At the same time, Kirsten Dunst, who portrayed Mary Jane Watson in the original films, expressed openness to reprising her role, even suggesting a storyline centered around Peter Parker and Mary Jane raising a family could be explored in a potential fourth installment.
Dunst shared these thoughts while promoting her latest film, Roofman, during an appearance on The Supes Show. She described the idea of revisiting her character alongside Maguire’s Peter Parker as parents as intriguing, saying,
“That would be cool, right? I mean, I don’t know if the fans are into it. I feel like that is an interesting movie, right? Me and Tobey doing that again…with kids.”
Kirsten Dunst, Actress
The concept of aging beloved characters as they take on new life roles like parenthood has proven successful in the superhero genre. James Mangold’s Logan demonstrated how exploring a more vulnerable, older version of a hero can produce compelling storytelling. A Spider-Man film focused on Maguire’s Peter juggling his superhero duties with family responsibilities could offer a fresh perspective and set itself apart from typical comic book movies. Recent comic book storylines featuring Peter and Mary Jane as parents provide a rich source of inspiration for such a continuation.
A Fourth Spider-Man Film Could Draw on Modern Comic Book Storylines
The Ultimate Spider-Man series by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto reimagines Peter Parker as a fulfilled family man who gains his powers later in life, after settling down with Mary Jane and raising children. Fans have praised Hickman’s approach, especially in contrast to some recent Spider-Man comic arcs where the character’s personal growth felt stagnant. The stagnant development left Peter’s life outside his superhero identity feeling undeveloped, making this new version of the story especially appealing.
Creating a Spider-Man 4 that adopts elements from Hickman’s portrayal would provide a fresh and engaging narrative. It would show Maguire’s Peter Parker as a more mature figure navigating both heroism and fatherhood. Meanwhile, Kirsten Dunst has continued to take on notable roles since the Raimi trilogy, including in Alex Garland’s Civil War and her recent praised performance in Roofman. Considering the massive success of Spider-Man: No Way Home and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s growing focus on the multiverse, the return of Maguire and Dunst in more developed roles appears increasingly plausible.
Original Spider-Man Cast and Characters
The original Spider-Man trilogy, directed by Sam Raimi, featured Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, and James Franco as Harry Osborn. This ensemble helped establish a foundational era of superhero cinema that audiences continue to revisit and celebrate.
Returning to these characters with an adult, family-centered storyline would allow fans to see how their favorite heroes have evolved, reflecting themes of legacy, responsibility, and personal growth. With the multiverse concept already embraced in recent Marvel projects, this potential sequel could bridge the past and present of superhero storytelling in a meaningful way.
