We May Never Get to See a Truly Ripped Peter Parker in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 for a Very Valid Reason
The portrayal of Peter Parker by Tom Holland as Spider-Man has been liked by many for being very close to the actual character from Marvel Comics. However, fans who wish to see a more muscular version of Spider-Man in upcoming films may be let down. The reason lies not in the actor but in the character itself and the set of skills related to any Spider-Man.
Although it is possible that Parker could become more muscular through bodybuilding exercises, it is rather unlikely. In the case of Spider-Man, who relies on factors such as speed and mobility in addition to muscle power, gaining extra muscle mass may not be ideal.
Why Don’t We See a Jacked Spider-Man?
Just like any other Spider-People, Peter Parker has super-strength, speed, and agility because of the spider bite. This transformation gives him the proportionate strength of a spider and enables him to do great things without requiring hardcore training. In the comics and movies, Spider-Man does things like lifting cars, swinging and jumping across tall buildings, and fighting supervillains. This inherent strength is why Parker does not have to bulk up like a bodybuilder in order to do the things he does.
The slim figure of Spider-Man also enables him to run fast, avoid blows and bullets due to his agility, and make several flips in the air, which would be almost impossible for a heavily built person.
Artists and makers don’t deviate much when it comes to depicting Spider-Man’s appearance, be it in comics, animations, or live-action movies. Moreover, Parker is mostly shown to use his intelligence rather than brute force in order to beat his enemies.
However, we have seen him perform feats that defy any physical boundaries, like stopping a train, lifting vehicles easily, holding the ferry from falling apart for some time, breaking locks with fingers easily, and so on.
Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spider-Man is a perfect representation of this particular aspect of the character. Holland himself is a fitness enthusiast who is able to look lean and muscular, which is required for the film’s action.
His Spider-Man is an awkward teenage high school student with the added pressure of fighting crime. Even in comics, Spider-Man is shown mostly as a nerdy teenager, and a big physique won’t justify that portrayal.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 Will Not Have a Jolly Tone
After three successful films showing a cheerful teenager, there are talks regarding the dark direction that Peter Parker’s character could take in Spider-Man 4. According to renowned insider Alex Perez, the upcoming movie will explore deeper into the consequences of the events that happened in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In the movie, Parker’s identity as Spider-Man is revealed to the world, and Doctor Strange’s memory-wiping spell makes everyone forget the existence of Peter Parker.
According to Perez’s analysis, Spider-Man 4 will be based on the plot that Parker is slowly being overtaken by the Spider-Man character. According to Looper, Perez said,
The idea now moving forward is to give him a sense of independence. In his mind, Peter Parker is no more… but Spider-Man lives on.. And as the title of Spider-Man continues to consume Peter’s life little by little, Peter Parker will take a back seat and continue to fade from existence slowly.
Perez compared Parker’s fate in Spider-Man 4 to much like Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in The Batman. Similar to his Batman character, Parker’s Spider-Man role will be more visible, whereas his everyday persona will fade into the background.
Although these insights are not fully confirmed, they align with the ending of No Way Home, where Parker struggles with the loss of his identity. Using this emotion, Spider-Man 4 has the potential to explore the impact of having a life in a secret identity and the conflicts between heroism and self-satisfaction.
