Andrew Garfield Says Returning to Spider-Man Role for ‘No Way Home' Was "Healing"

Andrew Garfield is open to returning to the role of Spider-Man under a few conditions.

In an Esquire cover story published Wednesday, the We Live in Time star reflected on his surprise appearance in the 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home alongside original Spider-Man Tobey Maguire and current Spider-Man Tom Holland where he reprised his role as Peter Parker.

After TheAmazing Spider-Man 3 was shelved by Sony following seemingly lackluster results for the second film starring Garfield and Emma Stone, the actor's role in the franchise was "left dangling." But when asked to return as the superhero in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which explores the multiverse, Garfield was in and found the experience "really healing" especially given the scrutiny he faced following his casting as Spider-Man for his tenure.

As for whether he would return as Peter Parker, Garfield explained, "For sure, I would 100 percent 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 that's unique and odd and exciting and that you can sink your teeth into."

The Oscar nominee praised the web-slinging superhero as one he has a deep love for: "I love that character, and it brings joy. If part of what I bring is joy, then I'm joyful in return."

Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed almost $2 billion after it was released in December 2021. Despite it being unknown whether there would be a fourth installment, in June 2023 Holland told The Hollywood Reporter that he and the producers had recently undergone a series of meetings on a potential fourth film. "The first few meetings were about, ‘Why would we do this again?' And I think we found the reason why," Holland said.

THR also exclusively reported that Destin Daniel Cretton is in talks to sign on to direct Spider-Man 4, which Holland will return for. Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers will pen the script while Marvel head Kevin Feige and former Sony head Amy Pascal will produce.

Garfield's comments come amid the upcoming release of his new film with Florence Pugh, We Live in Time.The role marks the actor's return to the big screen in a leading role in two years.

"I think I'm excited to work again in a different way. I feel looser, I feel less precious. I feel more joyful. I feel more aware. I feel established enough as a person in the world, as an actor within myself and within the world," Garfield told THR. "I know myself well enough now to feel more enjoyment… I'm still a headcase - when I'm on a set, I'm like a dog with a bone and get taken over by some weird spirit that is never satisfied - but that's never going to change, and I don't want it to, but within that, I can feel a lot more pleasure and a lot more enjoyment, play and freedom."