Warning! SPOILERS for Spider-Man: No Way Home
Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man returns in Spider-Man 4. However, 2007's Spider-Man 3 was where Maguire's Peter Parker last appeared, leaving a gap in his story before his return in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Although it was never officially confirmed by Marvel Studios or Sony, rumors spread for quite some time that Tobey Maguire would return in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The film's story became tied to the multiverse due to the fallout of Mysterio revealing Tom Holland's Spider-Man's secret identity. People from across the multiverse who knew Peter Parker is Spider-Man came to the MCU when Doctor Strange's forgetting spell went awry. This included Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man and Tobey Maguire's. They both played integral roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending. The former Spider-Men taught Holland's Peter some valuable lessons and helped cure their previous villains before they were all sent back to their original universes.
The return of Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man fulfilled a longtime wish of many viewers. Spider-Man 3 is largely viewed as a step down from Maguire's other Spider-Man movies, so Spider-Man: No Way Home gave him another chance to potentially end his tenure as the wall-crawler on a high note. But the ing role also meant revealing what happened to Maguire's Peter Parker after Spider-Man 3.
How Maguire's Spider-Man Story Ended In Spider-Man 3
Prior to Maguire's Spider-Man: No Way Home return, his Peter Parker's story ended with Spider-Man 3. The entire movie revolves around Peter's struggles after the Venom symbiote attaches itself to him, which brings out his darker side. This happens as he's trying to take out Sandman for presumably being Uncle Ben's killer and dealing with Harry Osborn ruining his life and relationship with Mary Jane Watson. Spider-Man 3 builds to a finale where Eddie Brock becomes Venom's new host, teams up with Sandman, and kidnaps MJ, which forces Peter to ask Harry to help him fight the villains and save her. This ultimately leads to Peter Parker killing Venom, as well as Eddie Brock after he jumped into the symbiote before the pumpkin bomb exploded.
Venom's death in Spider-Man 3 came after the symbiote killed Harry Osborn, who sacrificed his life to save Peter. This meant Peter's longtime best friend died in his arms after Harry realized the wrongdoings of his and his father's pasts. Harry's death was proceeded by Peter forgiving Flint Marko for his role in Uncle Ben's murder. He allowed Sandman to go free and potentially get a second chance at a life with his family. Spider-Man 3 ends Maguire's Peter Parker story after attending Harry's funeral. He sees Mary Jane there, which leads him to go to the club she is singing at and ask her for another dance. It is during the beginning of this dance that Spider-Man 3's credits begin to play and Peter's story in the trilogy concludes.
What Happened To Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker After Spider-Man 3
Thanks to Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man: No Way Home appearance, there is some information known about what happened to Peter Parker after Spider-Man 3. Picking up where the movie left off, one of the aspects of Peter's life that is mentioned is his relationship with Mary Jane. He its that it is tough for them to make the relationship work, but they have managed to find a way to make it work. But, there are no signs of them being married by the time Maguire returned in Spider-Man: No Way Home. If Peter and MJ aren't married, Peter hasn't fulfilled that part of his Spider-Man 3 story yet.
Of course, it is clear that Maguire's Peter Parker continued to be Spider-Man after Spider-Man 3. Despite being in his 40s and still having back problems, Peter hasn't hung up the red and blue suit. The fact that he is wearing it underneath his regular clothes at the time Doctor Strange's spell brings him to the MCU highlights just how ready for action he is. With at least a decade of unseen superhero adventures, this would likely mean encountering other Spider-Man villains. It is possible this includes Sandman dying during a future confrontation based on the villain's MCU return. Otherwise, Spider-Man: No Way Home doesn't tease any new threats who could've occupied some of Spider-Man's time. No matter who he faced, it seems that Maguire's Peter Parker managed to avoid going down Andrew Garfield's darker path and remained a more hopeful version of Spider-Man.
Sam Raimi's Unrealized Plans For Maguire's Spider-Man Explained
Part of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker's story could've been fleshed out in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4. The sequel entered development due to Spider-Man 3's massive box office performance. Although Raimi didn't wind up making the sequel, some details about the story and cast are known. John Malkovich's Vulture would've been Spider-Man 4's main villain after Raimi wanted to use Adrian Toomes in Spider-Man 3. There were also plans for Anne Hathaway to play Felicia Hardy a.k.a. Black Cat. Raimi also was set to turn Bruce Campbell into Mysterio in the opening, connecting his various cameos from across the trilogy. There were also various rumors about Shocker, Rhino, and Lizard potentially being involved. However, specific story details for what Spider-Man 4 would've put Peter Parker through are unknown.
Considering Spider-Man 3's ending, it stands to reason Spider-Man 4 would've focused on how Peter and MJ attempt to make their relationship work. The couple reconciling after the difficult events of the film would be a necessary story point for the sequel unless Raimi wanted to push Peter back to Gwen Stacy. It is likely that Peter's attempt to make a relationship with MJ work would once again be tested through Spider-Man 4's various villains, but they surely would've found their way back together. Since Spider-Man: No Way Home confirms Peter and MJ make their relationship work, that is one way Tobey Maguire's return theoretically connects to what could've happened in Spider-Man 4. Based on how this Peter interacts with the multiverse villains, it doesn't sound like Maguire's Peter Parker has interacted with Lizard, encountered a version of Mysterio, or fought a different Rhino. Spider-Man: No Way Home could've confirmed Maguire's Spider-Man fought Vulture or Shocker if Holland's Peter mentioned his fights with them.
Ultimately, the secrecy surrounding exactly what Sam Raimi was planning for Spider-Man 4 means it is difficult to know how well or poorly Spider-Man: No Way Home builds off those ideas. There is always the chance now that Sony will give audiences a chance to see more of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker, though. Whether that came in the form of a Spider-Man 3 sequel starring Maguire or his return in another multiverse film, perhaps Raimi's rough story ideas will eventually be explored in some fashion.
