Venom or Sinister Six coming in 2018, not The Amazing Spider-man 4

Sony announced THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 would be followed by two sequels in 2016 and 2018 but now seems to be changing that tune in light of the spin-off films they have announced more recently. Specifically, both THE SINISTER SIX and VENOM are getting their own films with Drew Goddard already signed to write and direct the villain team-up picture. It now looks like this change may, in fact, alter what we expected to be the future of the franchise after the third film in the series.

Speaking with Den of Geek producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach stated that while Marc Webb will return for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3, slated for release on May 27, 2016, the director’s statement that he will not return for the fourth film has changed the studio’s plan.

“Before we know what we do with Spider-Man 4, we’re going to do Sinister Six, Venom and Spider-Man 3. There is going to be a lot of crossover in those movies. So we’re just not at Spider-Man 4, because we still have a whole other Spider-Man movie and two other movies. So we don’t know yet what [Spider-Man 4] is going to be”

Tolmach further clarified that the May 4, 2018 date will be for a “Spider-man” movie but not necessarily an AMAZING SPIDER-MAN movie. Does this mean that we will be getting another reboot four years from now? Or is he simply teasing that THE SINISTER SIX or VENOM will be hitting that year?

Either way it goes, if Sony is planning to release the spin-offs before THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 4, the eventual production for that film will be past a viable age for Andrew Garfield, meaning either a new Spider-man will need to be cast or another character will need to take over the costume from Peter Parker. There is a precedent for that in the comics, but will fans want to see it on the big screen?

In the meantime, we can all try to enjoy THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 which hits screens on May 2nd.