“Spider-Man: No Way Home” was a film that set the bar high for excitement and expectations among fans. With the promise of bringing back iconic villains from previous Spider-Man franchises and the tantalizing prospect of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles as Spidey, it seemed that anything was possible in this cinematic web-slinging adventure. However, amidst all the anticipation and surprises that “No Way Home” delivered, there were also canceled plans that included the return of Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy and other legacy franchise players.
A Missed Opportunity for Gwen Stacy
Fans of the Spider-Man franchise were in for a treat with “No Way Home,” where Tom Holland’s Spider-Man shared the screen with villains from previous Spidey movies. While the film was packed with nostalgia and thrilling moments, there wasn’t much talk about the supporting characters from Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s universes making appearances. The notion of Gwen Stacy, portrayed by Emma Stone, making a return to the big screen in “No Way Home” left many fans wondering what might have been.
Recent revelations from the book “MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios” have confirmed that earlier drafts of “No Way Home” included plans to incorporate Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy, Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson, and Sally Field’s Aunt May into the story. However, as the film’s development progressed, the scriptwriters, Erik Sommer and Chris McKenna, decided to trim down the storyline, ultimately leading to the exclusion of these beloved female characters. In the end, the primary female characters with significant screen time in the movie were Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May and Zendaya’s MJ.
The decision to omit these characters from the film was driven by concerns of an already “overstuffed” narrative. The constantly evolving script meant that even the actors couldn’t read a finalized version of the story, making their involvement in the project a leap of faith in the vision of Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, producer Amy Pascal, and director Jon Watts.
Kirsten Dunst’s Multiverse Request
While Emma Stone and Sally Field have remained relatively silent about their involvement in the Spider-Man films, Kirsten Dunst expressed her willingness to be part of the Marvel Multiverse. In an interview following the release of “No Way Home,” she playfully stated, “You know I’d join that multiverse! I feel like I’m the only one that hasn’t joined it. I’m like, ‘Please put me in. Put me in the lineup.’ I need to pay for my house and kids.”
The Right Choice for “No Way Home”
While the return of Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, and Aunt May would have undoubtedly thrilled fans, it’s evident that Marvel Studios made the right choice by focusing the film’s narrative on the Spider-Men themselves and their adversaries. “No Way Home” had an immense amount to juggle already, from multiverse shenanigans to resolving character arcs, and introducing more legacy characters might have detracted from the core story.
In hindsight, even without Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy, the character’s legacy and connection to Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker were strongly felt. Her absence added emotional weight to one of the film’s most memorable scenes, where Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man saved Zendaya’s MJ. Furthermore, there’s still hope for Emma Stone to return in the future, especially given the popularity of the Spider-Verse animated films. Fans remain eager to see a live-action Spider-Gwen, and in the ever-expanding Marvel Multiverse, nothing is ever truly ruled out.
In conclusion, while “Spider-Man: No Way Home” may have sparked excitement and curiosity about the return of beloved characters, the film’s creators opted for a tightly focused narrative that allowed the Spider-Men to shine. The missed opportunity for Gwen Stacy’s return reminds us that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s always room for surprises, even if they don’t make it into the final cut.
