Whispers in the industry hint at a quest to find a replacement director for Tom Holland's Spider-Man 4, in lieu of Jon Watts from the prior trilogy, and one name being floated has ties to the Fast and Furious franchise.
Following the conclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which wrapped up the MCU origin tale of the web-slinger, Marvel Studios and Sony faced the task of charting a new path for Holland's hero, with a twist that erased Peter Parker from everyone's memory. However, backstage tensions have emerged, reportedly stemming from conflicting visions between Marvel Studios and Sony for Spider-Man 4. Marvel Studios purportedly favored a grounded, street-level narrative, while Sony leaned towards a multiverse narrative involving Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.
Spider-Man 4 is supposedly on the lookout for a fresh director to take over from Watts, the director behind the Homecoming trilogy. According to Jeff Sneider of The InSneider, director Justin Lin is potentially in the running to steer Spider-Man 4, among several others under consideration. The filming for Spider-Man 4 is rumored to kick off in September or October 2024. This schedule clash is said to have contributed to the recent delay in HBO's Euphoria season 3. Zendaya, known for her role as MJ, is set to reprise her character in Spider-Man 4 when filming commences in the autumn.
Lin, having directed five Fast and Furious films and initially slated for the tenth installment before stepping away due to alleged disputes with lead actor Vin Diesel, boasts a rich directorial background. He also helmed Star Trek Beyond, the third movie in the rebooted franchise series, following J.J. Abrams' return solely as a producer to focus on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Lin was recently assigned the directorial role for the live-action One Punch Man movie, showcasing his experience in adapting popular content for major franchises.
However, official confirmation on any Spider-Man 4 details is still pending from Marvel Studios and Sony. While Sneider's track record includes accurate early reports, such as Kaitlyn Dever's potential casting in The Last of Us season 2, fans are advised to await official statements before drawing conclusions.
Yet, anticipation is high for the unfolding of Spider-Man 4. The aftermath of No Way Home saw Peter Parker isolated in a humble dwelling, New York perceiving Spider-Man as a threat, and everyone oblivious to Peter's existence, including MJ and Ned. Selecting the right director to continue from where No Way Home left off while crafting a fresh narrative for Spider-Man 4 is pivotal. With three successful films under their belt, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige have demonstrated proficiency in steering the hero's cinematic escapades.
Spider-Man 4 is currently in the development phase at Marvel Studios.
Source: The InSneider