Andrew Garfield was not “fired” in a dramatic public scandal. Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man series underperformed relative to studio expectations after two films, planned sequels and spin-offs were canceled, and a rights arrangement with Marvel Studios led to a new Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe played by Tom Holland.
- Garfield starred in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
- A third film did not move forward
- Tom Holland became MCU Spider-Man starting with Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Garfield later returned in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
What Happened to the Amazing Spider-Man Franchise
After the second film’s reception and box-office results, Sony restructured its Spider-Man plans. Negotiations between Sony and Marvel eventually produced a deal that brought Spider-Man into the MCU with a younger Peter Parker. That is the practical reason the role “moved” to Tom Holland — studio strategy and rights, not a personal blacklisting of Garfield.
Garfield’s Later Return
Garfield returned to the role in a multiverse capacity in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), appearing alongside Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland. The cameo was widely praised and reminded audiences of his take on the character without changing the fact that Holland remains the primary MCU Spider-Man.
Is There Bad Blood?
Public comments from Garfield over the years have been professional and, at times, reflective. He has spoken about the experience of playing the character and about the unexpected joy of returning for No Way Home. There is no widely reported ongoing feud with the studio or with Holland.
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Updated September 9, 2026
