Angourie Rice Reveals Why She Isn't Returning For 'Spider-Man 4'

Peter Parker is stepping into a whole new world, and that means leaving some familiar faces behind in the halls of Midtown High. Actress Angourie Rice is speaking out after fans noticed her absence from the lineup for *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, confirming that a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was never actually pitched to her. Rice spent three films playing high school news anchor Betty Brant, serving up campus updates alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. But as the franchise pivots into a fresh chapter, the star is offering her take on where her character ended up—and why her departure makes total narrative sense.

During a recent conversation on *Collider Ladies Night* with host Perri Nemiroff, Rice was asked straight-up if reprising her role was ever on the table for the fourth installment. The actress admitted that bringing Betty back simply wasn't part of the vision for the new story arc. Rice explained that moving on from Peter's teenage years is a natural step for the series, pointing out that everyone forgot who Peter was at the end of the previous movie. She noted that watching the central hero transition out of high school marks the beginning of "a new era" for the franchise.

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Even though she won't be gracing the big screen for the next adventure, Rice has her own headcanon about what the ambitious high school reporter is up to today. When asked where she envisions Betty now, the star shared that she likes to picture her comic book counterpart working a stylish, meaningful media job and practicing solid journalism somewhere out in the real world. While moviegoers might miss the morning news crew from Midtown High, the shift away from Peter's high school circle makes Rice's exit a clean narrative break. As Spider-Man carves out his fresh path as a solo hero, his former classmates are officially moving on to their own adult lives.