Sony has refused to deny speculation that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield will both return to the role of Spider-Man for the next movie in the series.

Maguire played the heroic web-slinger in three movies between 2002 and 2007, while Garfield took on the role for two films released in 2012 and 2014.

Tom Holland is the incumbent in the Spidey suit and has played Peter Parker in two standalone movies and three other films in the MCU since 2016.

According to a report on Fandomwire earlier this week, Maguire and Garfield have agreed deals to play their respective versions of Spider-Man in the next Holland film, due out at the end of 2021.

The publication says that the "multi-verse" plot would see the alternative versions of Spider-Man come together with Holland's Spider-Man in an attempt to defeat a whole host of villains, including Jamie Foxx's Electro - previously seen battling Garfield's Spider-Man.

A spokesperson for Sony refused an outright denial of the story, instead telling ET Canada: "Those rumoured castings are not confirmed."

The new movie, which is also expected to see Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange take over as Parker's mentor, begins filming in New York this month.