With news that Spider-Man 4 will be released in cinemas on July 31, 2026, fans of the superhero series are convinced that Peter Parker’s love life needs a refresh. The latest instalment of the franchise will follow on from Spider-Man: No Way Home, which saw Tom Holland’s character losing everything after dabbling with the fabric of time and space. After coming face to face with his alter egos from different dimensions – Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire – and losing his beloved Aunt May, he had to sacrifice his identity to save the world.
This setting up a fresh start for the character and altering the timeline of the MCU has given fans food for thought on whether it’s time for Spider-Man to have a new love interest introduced. The discussion gained traction on social media after a fan tweeted, “Give him a boyfriend.” The post quickly amassed over 200,000 likes with many fans arguing that with the multiverse open, there is an opportunity for Peter Parker to explore his sexuality, leading to speculation about a potential queer storyline.
Fans are keen for Spider-Man to have a new love interest (Image: Getty)
It’s not the first time the idea has been floated. Former Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield previously suggested the possibility of a same-sex romance for Peter Parker in a 2013 interview, questioning why the character couldn’t be attracted to men. Some fans have referenced Garfield’s comments in their arguments, while others have suggested introducing a gender-swapped version of Gwen Stacy, called “Glen Stacy”.
Although there is no official confirmation of this development, rumours have circulated that Peter Parker may have a new love interest in Spider-Man 4. Some fans speculate it could be Web-Weaver, a gay Spider-Man variant from Marvel Comics. However, industry insider MyTimeToShineHello has stated that Zendaya’s MJ is still part of the storyline, suggesting that Peter’s romantic arc may not be over.
Details about Spider-Man 4 remain scarce, but following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker will face the challenge of his closest friends no longer remembering him. In a recent interview, producer Amy Pascal revealed that the film will explore Peter’s decision to abandon his personal life and fully embrace his role as Spider-Man, stating, “We have to deal with the fact that he decided he was going to give up being Peter Parker… because being Peter Parker was too hard. So that’s what the movie is about.”
Despite the introduction of multiversal elements, character crossovers, and alternate Spider-Man variants in recent films, Spider-Man 4 is expected to remain within the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Sacred Timeline, commonly referred to as “Earth-616.”
