Why Andrew Garfield Is Happy 'Spider-Man 3' Never Happened

Andrew Garfield is on the cusp of potentially having the greatest month of his career.

Not only is his exceptional work in Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge (in theaters November 4) already garnering Oscar talk, but he's poised to follow that up with a starring role in Martin Scorsese's Silence (in limited release December 23), a passion project the iconic director has been working on for years.

"To be honest, I would not have been able to work with Mel Gibson and Martin Scorsese if I had done Spider-Man 3," Garfield told Fandango during a recent conversation about his work in both Hacksaw Ridge and Silence. "I'm incredibly grateful that I get to now go and watch another man play Spider-Man who I think is a fantastic actor in Tom Holland."

Andrew Garfield in a scene from Silence

Garfield's time playing the web slinger came to an end after The Amazing Spider-Man 2. As development on a third film began, behind the scenes Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, distributor of the Spider-Man movies, shook hands on a historic deal that would allow Marvel Studios (maker of the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy movies) to have a major hand in crafting the future of big-screen Spider-Man, including bringing him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to fight alongside Captain America, Iron Man and the others.

The only problem: Garfield would be recast for someone much younger in order to launch a new series of movies set in high school. Considering Garfield had always championed a deal that allowed Spider-Man to be part of the MCU, we asked the actor straight up if he feels like he got the shaft in any way, or if he's happy because it means he doesn't have to go and make a ton more Spider-Man movies.

Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War

"You know what, it's sliding doors, right? There are so many possible outcomes; so many positives and potential downsides to that situation," he said. "If I am being totally honest, I am so excited Spider-Man is back in the hands of Marvel. I think that's a really awesome move. It was a move that I've been advocating since I was offered the Spider-Man gig five or six years ago. I'm also excited for Tom Holland. I think he's a very emotional, truthful, funny, physical actor, and I love the filmmaker -- it all really couldn't be in any better hands. I'm really stoked for it."

The old Spider-Man has officially given the new one his blessing. Now all that's left is for us to get a look at what Marvel is planning with Spider-Man: Homecoming, due out on July 7, 2017.

We'll have more with Garfield leading up to the November 4 release of Hacksaw Ridge.