Spider-Man’s return must “contribute to culture”

Andrew Garfield told Esquire magazine in a new cover story that returning as Spider-Man after his beloved appearance in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home depends on the idea being “unique enough” and ” “contributing to culture.” The two-time Oscar nominee debuted as Peter Parker in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man, but his reign as the superhero was cut short when 2014’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 underperformed at the box office.

Garfield said he was “left hanging” when Spider-Man’s role ended so abruptly. It was the poor performance of his Spider-Man sequel that led to Sony agreeing with Disney to share the character so he could officially enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe, opening the door to Tom Holland’s iteration of the web Slingers opened. “No Way Home” grossed $1.9 billion worldwide by pitting Holland’s Spider-Man against Garfield’s version and the version played by Tobey Maguire, who appeared in three “Spider-Man” films directed by Sam Raimi played along.

“I thought Tobey wouldn’t want to do that. “To my chagrin, he’s going to do something every ten years, and I let him know that,” Garfield admitted of his No Way Home doubts. “When I heard he was kind of leaning forward, I thought it was either going to be the greatest thing or the worst thing in the world. I am so grateful because it was the most joyful thing ever. All the pressure was on Tom.”

Widely considered a rehabilitation for Garfield’s Spider-Man, “No Way Home” was such a huge success at the box office that comic book movie fans still ask Garfield when he will return as Spider-Man.

“Of course I would 100% come back if it was the right thing, if it contributed to the culture, if there was a great concept or something that had never been done before that was unique and strange and exciting and that you could get into “I can sink my teeth into it,” the actor told Esquire. “I love this character and he is a joy. If part of what I bring is joy, then I’m happy about that too.”

Garfield was always willing to return as Spider-Man if the circumstances were right, after all, he knows the comic book role will be “the top line of my obituary.” He will next star opposite Florence Pugh in the A24 romantic drama We Live in Time, in cinemas on October 11th.