Marvel Studios plans canceled Spider-Man: No Way Home Other longtime franchise players included Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy.
While it was exciting to just see another Spider-Man movie with Tom Holland, the anticipation for his third film was on another level. Going into the film, fans knew that it would bring back five previous villains and that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield might even appear in their super suits.
While all of this turned out to be true, there was little talk about the supporting characters in the Maguire and Garfield universes. Was there ever a chance for Gwen or even Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane to appear?
Most of those who watched No way home it was difficult for him to imagine how anyone else from the time of Peter 2 or Peter 3 could even be included in the plot of the film.
Emma Stone Almost Starred in Spider-Man: No Way Home
MCU: Reign of Marvel Studioswritten by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzalez and Gavin Edwards, recently hit shelves with new information confirming that several famous names from previous Spider-Man films were part of early projects for No way home including Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy.
According to an excerpt from the book, screenwriters Eric Sommer and Chris McKenna created a film version under the direction of Tom Holland, in which “includes Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy, Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson and Sally Field’s Aunt May:”
“Sommers and McKenna wrote versions of the story at various times that included Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy, Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson, and Sally Field’s Aunt May, but ultimately cut all of these women when they decided the story had already been exaggerated; The only female characters with significant screen time will be Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May and Zendaya’s MJ. Because the script was constantly changing, none of the actors could read the locked script, and they joined the project based on their faith in (Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige), (producer Amy Pascal) and director Jon Watts.”
McKenna previously explained how the writers “We went down different paths with different characters that just weren’t right for each other.” although the names of specific characters were not mentioned:
“We went down different paths with different characters that just didn’t fit… we can’t go into detail because it might be a case of them finding a way to explore those ideas. So I wouldn’t want to spoil anything because I think we had a lot of fun.”
Although Stone and Field didn’t have much to say about Spider-Man films from the moment of their participation, in interviews after No way homeKirsten Dunst told how “(she) will join this Multiverse” ask Marvel “please include (it) in:”
“You know, I would join this multiverse! It feels like I’m the only one who didn’t join him. I was like, “Please insert me.” Include me in the lineup.” I need to pay for the house and children.”
Would bringing back Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, and Aunt May work?
Of the three potential returning stars, Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy would certainly receive the biggest reaction from viewers.
However, even without her, the character’s legacy was still felt. After all, the fan-favorite scene where Andrew Garfield saves Zendaya’s MJ is based on the audience’s connection to his late lover and the actress who portrayed her.
Perhaps Emma Stone could return in the future. Given the popularity Spider-Verse animated films, fans want to see a live-action Spider-Gwen hero.
In the end, Marvel Studios made the right choice by limiting the shenanigans of the Multiverse to the Spider-Men themselves and their villains.
As great as it would have been to get news from Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane or Sally Field’s Aunt May, it would have taken time away from other parts of the film that already had a lot to juggle without their input.
Spider-Man: No Way Home streaming now on Starz.