Is Destin Daniel Cretton coming back for Spider-Man 5?
If you've been following the Spider-Man film saga — and if you haven't, it's hard to miss — there's just been a proper update about who's steering the next instalment. Producer Amy Pascal has now weighed in with some unusually direct comments on director Destin Daniel Cretton's future in the franchise, and it won't leave fans endlessly speculating for once.
Speaking to Deadline, Pascal made it absolutely clear that, as far as she's concerned, Cretton is their pick for the director's chair for the upcoming Spider-Man. Everyone seems to want him back — even if, in true Marvel/Sony fashion, they haven't actually started a writers' room for the sequel yet, or announced anything set in stone. Here's how Pascal put it:
If we have our way, he certainly will be.
To give a bit of context, Cretton helmed Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which smashed domestic box office records with a $360 million opening weekend. Yes, that figure even managed to beat Avengers: Endgame for the biggest opening weekend in Hollywood history. So it's no great mystery why Pascal and company want the bloke back.
Everything with him comes from a place of authenticity, a place of emotion. When we met with him the first time, it was so clear that he had to be the director of this. The way to make a great movie is to work with a great director. That's just the truth.
Pascal's words leave precious little doubt about what she values in Cretton's approach. Not only did he deliver a box office monster, but she also points out how the tone of his films — "emotionally grounded" was her phrase — lines up with her ideals for Spider-Man as a character.
Why Cretton? And What's Next?
This isn't just executive-level back-patting. Cretton's history with Marvel is a bit of a love-in all round. He previously directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for the studio, and Pascal mentioned that Kevin Feige (the top Marvel boss) developed a "great working relationship" with him on that one. That probably helped grease the wheels for Cretton landing on Sony and Marvel's radar for Brand New Day. Pascal also fired off some praise for his earlier work on Short Term 12 and No Mercy — solid indie credentials before the superhero machine swallowed him up.
His vision for Brand New Day, Pascal added, included a focus on stunts that actually obey physics and a more grounded energy. Apparently, Cretton was insistent on the point:
I want to respect the laws of physics in this movie.
That sort of approach is fairly rare in the modern superhero landscape, so if you're someone who cares whether Spider-Man bounces around like an actual person, that's your man.
What About Holland?
It's worth pointing out that Tom Holland hasn't officially re-upped for another round in the spandex, but he's publicly said he's open to it. For now, the Spider-Man franchise continues to operate on a project-by-project basis, thanks to the unusual back-and-forth deal between Sony and Marvel Studios. Pascal said her partnership with Feige and Marvel co-president Lou D'Esposito remains "wonderful." Whether that means any smooth sailing for contracts is up in the air, but no one is shutting the door on Number Five just yet.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day opened with a massive $360M domestic weekend, topping Avengers: Endgame's previous record.