Andrew Garfield isn’t shutting the door on playing Spider-Man again — but he’s making it clear that any return would require more than just fan demand or box office potential. Speaking at the Middle East Film & Comic Con, the Oscar-nominated actor spoke about what it would take for him to return to the role.
"It would have to be very weird," Garfield said. "I would like to do something very strange. Something very unique, and offbeat and surprising, kind of like the creative freedom they have with the animated 'Spider-Verse' movies."
The actor, who first played Peter Parker in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel, was unexpectedly brought back into the spotlight with Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. That multiverse crossover became a global box office juggernaut, grossing $1.9 billion and reigniting fan enthusiasm for Garfield’s version of the web-slinger.
Garfield has been open about his complicated history with the franchise, telling Esquire he felt "left dangling" after The Amazing Spider-Man 2 underperformed and Sony scrapped plans for a third film — paving the way for Tom Holland’s reboot in the MCU.
Though rumors persist about his return in Spider-Man 4, Garfield denied them in GQ UK, saying, "I’m gonna disappoint you. Yeah, no," while admitting, "I know no one’s gonna trust anything I say from now on."
Ultimately, Garfield says his return depends on whether the project feels meaningful and creatively fulfilling.
"For sure, I would 100% come back if it was the right thing, if it’s additive to the culture, if there’s a great concept or something that hasn’t been done before," he told Esquire. "I love that character, and it brings joy. If part of what I bring is joy, then I’m joyful in return."
