Yes, Andrew Garfield still wants to play Spider Man: "I love that character"

The Oscar nominee still has a soft spot for Spidey.

Closing Ceremony - 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival
Closing Ceremony - 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival | JB Lacroix/GettyImages

Andrew Garfield is currently promoting the upcoming romance We Live In Time. Much has been made of the central performances by him and Florence Pugh, or, for those chronically online, the odd yellow horse who appeared in the film's promo shots.

Garfield has been forthright about the process of playing such an emotionally devastated character, but press junkets often like to work in broader questions about franchises and superheroes. Andrew Garfield played Spider-Man in a pair of 2010s releases, and he was asked by Esquire whether he could consider returning to the character in the future.

Andrew Garfield would return for a 'great concept'

Andrew Garfield
'The Amazing Spider-Man' Germany Premiere | Anita Bugge/GettyImages

The answer? A resounding yes. "For sure, I would 100 percent come back if it was the right thing, if it’s additive to the culture," Garfield explained. "If there’s a great concept or something... that hasn’t been done before that’s unique."

The actor boiled his maintained enthusiasm for the role down to a very simple conceit: it makes the fans happy. The critical reception to his Amazing Spider-Man may not have been great, but he was, for many, the standout when he made a cameo in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home. This was not lost on the actor:

"I love that character, and it brings joy. If part of what I bring is joy, then I’m joyful in return."

Garfield's No Way Home cameo was praised by fans

Garfield has been candid about the studio notes and the production complications that he felt held back the quality of his two solo Spider-Man outings. That said, he was very grateful to be asked back for the aforementioned No Way Home. He went as far as to describe his experience on the set as very "healing."

"It was just a really beautiful thing to share together," the Oscar nominted actor noted. "And to find a brotherhood with Tobey as well, and with Tom , and the fact that we do share a very unique experience."

Spider-Man has more iterations and spinoffs in the works than ever these days, so if Garfield were to ever get another chance, it would be now. We Live In Time, meanwhile, releases in UK theaters on the 1st of January, 2025.