Where original Spider-Man cast are now – from Hollywood recluse to ‘pretentious bully’ storm and Oscar breakthrough
IT'S slinging its way to the top of the Box Office charts - but what happened to the stars of previous Spider-man movies?
When Tobey Maguire made three films in the 2000s, they paved the way for the avalanche of superhero blockbusters taking over our cinemas each summer - with each heading up the end-of-year list for chart success.
Now, advance sales for Tom Holland's film Spider-Man: No Way Home are breaking records once more.
Many of the cast from the previous two series, led by Maguire and followed by Andrew Garfield in the red and blue suit, have returned for the new superhero movie - including a host of sinister baddies.
But how did they fare when they had to hang up their Marvel costumes first time round?
Here we look at where the main cast from the past are now.
Tobey Maguire
Swinging from skyscrapers in three Spider-Man movies turned Maguire into a global star - but he disappeared from view when his stint in lycra came to an end in 2007.
The 46-year-old actor chose to produce rather than appear in front of the camera and was described as a “recluse.”
Instead, he took up poker playing and in 2011 was sued over the winnings he allegedly gained in secret high stakes games.
Maguire, who divorced his jewellery designer wife Jennifer Meyer last year, did star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby in 2013.
He has stayed tight-lipped about his rumoured appearance in No Way Home.
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Kirsten Dunst
The rain soaked kiss the original Mary Jane Watson shared with an upside down Spider-Man in the first film remains the most iconic image of the blockbuster series.
She enjoyed a fling with her co-star Tobey Maguire, but is now married to actor Jesse Plemons, 33.
The couple spent lockdown in New Zealand while making the Netflix movie Power of the Dog, for which she has received a Golden Globe nomination.
James Franco
Until three years ago James Franco was one of the busiest actors in the business, starring in movies like Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Spring Breakers.
But since several women accused the 43-year-old star of inappropriate behaviour in the wake the #metoo movement his career has stalled.
His Freaks and Geeks co-star Busy Philipps alleged in her autobiography that Franco had assaulted her and described him as a "pretentious bully".
But the actor, who played Peter Parker’s best pal Harry Osborn in the original Spider-Man series, said allegations against him were not “accurate.”
Rhys Ifans
The Welsh actor, who returns as Lizard in No Way Home, is being tipped to take over as the new Dr Who and plays Rasputin in The King’s Man, which opens on Boxing Day.
After Richard Curtis rom com Notting Hill made him a household name, the 54-year-old has enjoyed a colourful life.
He was engaged to Sienna Miller, dated Anna Friel and was arrested in 2011 for allegedly shoving a security guard at a Comic-Con in the United States but the charges were dropped.
Despite revelling in his reputation for enjoying a pint or two, Ifans has denied being a “hell-raiser.”
Willem Dafoe
The Green Goblin is one of Marvel's most infamous baddies and Dafoe returns as the Jeckyl and Hyde character for No Way Home - having appeared in the first Spider-Man two decades ago.
One of America’s most respected actors, Dafoe has recently starred in The French Dispatch, The Lighthouse, Aquaman and the Oscar-nominated 2017 drama The Florida Project.
He managed to recover from his much derided hot candle wax sex scene with Madonna in 1993’s Body of Evidence.
The 66-year-old married 46-year-old Italian actress Giada Colagrande in 2005 after asking her 'Do you want to get married tomorrow?' while enjoying a very romantic lunch.
Alfred Molina
Brit actor Alfred Molina suffered heartache last year when his wife Jill Gascoine died after battling Alzheimer's disease.
Molina had been married to the 83-year-old Gentle Touch actress for 24 years.
This summer, though, the 68-year-old found joy again by marrying Frozen director Jennifer Lee, 50.
Molina, who started out as a busker before being accepted by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977, starred as the baddie Doc Ock in 2004’s Spider-Man 2.
He has returned in the role for No Way Home and is never short of work on television.
Octavia Spencer
One of the funniest scenes from the first Spider-Man movie is when a woman accepting entrants for a wrestling competition describes Peter Parker as “small fry.”
It was a bit part for Spencer at the time, but she has since gone on to secure Oscar glory by winning a Best Supporting Actress gong for The Help in 2011.
The 52-year-old American actress has also starred in Fruitvale Station, Hidden Figures and the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water.
She recently finished making the musical Spirited with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.
JK Simmons
No actor has appeared in as many Spider-Man films as JK Simmons - who played the Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson in all the Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland ones.
Simmons, 66, won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2015 for his brilliant performance as a cruel drum tutor in Whiplash.
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He is one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors and his upcoming projects include Police Commissioner Gordon in Batgirl.
He is married to Michelle Schumacher and both his children, Olivia Simmons, and son Joe Simmons have pursued acting.