Sam Raimi Explains Why SPIDER-MAN 4 Never Got Made and Confirms Mysterio and Kraven Were the Villains

It’s great to see that Sam Raimi is playing in the Marvel Universe again with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. I loved the Spider-Man movies that he made, and he actually was working on getting a fourth film off the ground, which would have been cool. But, it never happened, the project ended up being scrapped and Sony Pictures decided to reboot it.

During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Raimi talked about his work on the fourth Spider-Man movie and why he never ended up making it. He also confirmed that Mysterio and Kraven the Hunter were going to be the villains.

When talking about the film, he explained that he just couldn’t get the script to the level of greatness that he wanted it to be. He explained:

“It was a very painful experience for me. I wanted to make a Spider-Man movie to redeem myself for that. [The aborted] ‘Spider-Man 4’ — that was really what that was about. I wanted to go out on a high note. I didn’t want to just make another one that pretty much worked. I had a really high standard in my mind. And I didn’t think I could get that script to the level that I was hoping for by that start date.”

The director also went on to talk about the villains and how he was looking to cast Bruce Campbell as Mysterio, and also include Kraven the Hunter. He said:

“I miss the really great cameo we had designed for Bruce Campbell. [Mysterio] was one of the possibilities. We had other things in mind, too, but that was one of them. And I missed Kraven the Hunter. We were going to work that character into the next Spider-Man; I always wanted to see Kraven fight Spider-Man on the big screen. I thought that would be really unique. He’s the ultimate hunter, and Spider-Man is like the most agile trickster of the skies. And I wanted to see Peter continue forward as a human being.”

I’ve always wanted to see that too! It’s a shame that Raimi never got to tell that story! Sony is now making a Kraven the Hunter movie, but this one won’t involve Spider-Man, so I don’t see the point. Raimi went on to say:

“My love for the characters hasn’t diminished one iota. It would be the same things that would stop me now that stopped me then: ‘Does Tobey want to do it? Is there an emotional arc for him? Is there a great conflict for this character? And is there a worthy villain that fits into the theme of the piece?’ There’s a lot of questions that would have to be answered. If those could be answered, then I’d love to.”

Sony should give Raimi the opportunity to finally tell his Kravan The Hunter story with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man! The door is totally open for that!