Andrew Garfield holds a unique distinction as the sole contemporary actor to breathe life into Spider-Man on the silver screen, yet his tenure did not span an entire trilogy of films. This anomaly has sparked countless inquiries over the years regarding whether the British-American actor might ever revisit his web-slinging alter ego—and now, he offers some illuminating insights. "I adored embodying Spider-Man," he revealed during a recent appearance at the Middle East Film & Comic Con in Abu Dhabi. "I would jump at the chance to revisit the character in some form, but it would need to be incredibly unconventional. I crave something distinctive, eccentric, and unexpected."
Garfield cited "the imaginative liberty afforded by the animated Spider-Verse films" as an exemplar of the boundary-pushing creativity he seeks, hinting at his openness if Marvel and Sony were to knock on his door once more.
In 2012, when Garfield was cast in The Amazing Spider-Man, he was on the ascent, having delivered a memorable supporting turn as billionaire investor Eduardo Saverin in David Fincher's The Social Network and earning accolades for his role in the Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation Never Let Me Go, both released in 2010. Yet, he hadn't yet led a film, nor starred in a multibillion-dollar franchise that Tobey Maguire had come to symbolize.
Under the direction of Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, catapulted Garfield and his co-star and then-lover Emma Stone into stardom. The films mirrored the financial success of Sam Raimi's original trilogy. However, production delays, cast departures, and a fresh Marvel deal prompted Sony to scrap the third Spider-Man film, which Garfield was contracted to star in.
Thus, Garfield bid adieu, and three years hence, audiences were introduced to a fresh, friendly neighborhood hero: Tom Holland.
Garfield has made a surprising return to the role, appearing alongside Maguire and Holland in the 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, he insists he isn't planning to reprise his role in Holland's fourth film, now titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Perhaps the actor's contemplation of a Spider-Man return stems from the years that have allowed him to appreciate his time in the suit more deeply than he could during the films' production. "Regarding the Spider-Man saga, I had this allergic reaction, thinking, 'I know I'm not ready for this,'" he shared in a 2024 episode of The A24 Podcast, conversing with Harris Dickinson. "I know I'm not ready for this intensity of scrutiny," he admitted, fearing the loss of "what truly matters—one's authentic self."
