In the year leading up to Spider-Man: No Way Home, the question was always whether Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire would appear alongside Tom Holland. In fact, that question did more for the threequel than its marketing department ever could. But almost immediately upon the film’s theatrical release, fans began asking a new question: Will Sony revive Tobey and Andrew’s respective Spider-Man franchises?
While Sony has yet to confirm a Tobey Maguire Spider-Man 4 or Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man 3, both former web-slingers have now expressed their own willingness to continue playing the Marvel hero. This is even something Marvel and Sony’s current Spider-Man, Tom Holland, has expressed his support for.
However, if Sony were to return to their worlds, what about their supporting casts? After all, Maguire’s Peter Parker confirmed Kirsten Dunst’s Mary-Jane is still in the picture. Would the newly Oscar-nominated Dunst want to return if cinema’s original Spidey has more story to tell?
Kirsten Dunst Hints at Mary Jane’s Spider-Man Return
In an interview with Deadline, Kirsten Dunst, who played Mary Jane Watson in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy, teased that “there’s still time” for her to return to the role.
When asked if she would’ve liked to have reprised her character of Mary Jane alongside Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the actress kept the option open for this to happen:
“There’s still time. I mean, listen, no one’s asked me about anything, but I do think that, I mean, this Multi Universe keeps going on and on so I feel like that could happen. I know nothing, by the way.”
When asked in previous interviews if she would be open to returning to the role, Dunst actually called it a “no-brainer” and credited the original Spider-Man films for the positive impact that they had on her life and career.
Dunst first appeared as Peter Parker’s love interest and aspiring actress in 2002’s Spider-Man, directed by Sam Raimi. She then continued to play opposite Maguire’s Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3; however, the third film of Raimi’s trilogy left the couple on somewhat shaky terms.
In fact, their “complicated” relationship was something Maguire’s Parker alluded to in No Way Home while, at the same time, acknowledging that the two “made it work.”
Amid the web of rumors leading up to Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s release, there was speculation that Dunst would appear as Mary Jane. Dunst denied the rumors and was proven to be correct; however, given the odds of another Maguire comeback, she’s likely to get more Spider-Man questions now than she did before.
Mary Jane Parker in Spider-Man 4?
“This, like any story worth telling, is all about a girl. That girl. The girl next door. Mary Jane Watson.”
Unlike Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and in some ways, even Andrew Garfield’s, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man story was always driven by his pursuit of Kirsten Dunst’s Mary-Jane Watson.
If Maguire has a new future as the web-slinger in anything besides a cameo, Dunst’s Mary-Jane would need to be involved; and the fact that she’s so willing has to be great news for Sony and/or Marvel.
However, her interest – and studio plans for a Maguire film – may have been confirmed long before No Way Home. After all, Maguire’s Peter Parker’s words about Mary-Jane and their relationship were chosen for a reason; and while they “made it work,” the fact that it’s still “complicated” felt open-ended and as if there’s more story to tell.
Now, since both Dunst and Maguire’s former director Sam Raimi is at the helm of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there are rumors suggesting Maguire’s web-slinger may make an appearance. It’s also a rumor that makes sense given the sequel picks up after the events of No Way Home and involves parallel universes and variants.
If so, it’s also possible that Dunst could cameo as well, especially given her eagerness to return to the character and Multiverse of Madness‘ substantial reshoots.
Regardless, given the success of No Way Home and the fan appetite for more of Garfield and Maguire’s Spider-Men, whether audiences see more of the prior Spideys – and their casts – doesn’t seem to be a question of if, but when.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is still playing in theaters but will be available for purchase digitally on March 22, 2022. Its physical media release will come on April 12, 2022.