Earlier today, we reported the unexpected news that Martin Sheen and Sally Field are in talks to join Marc Webb’s Spider-Man reboot. And now we’ve got an update, but first a little background:
Early on, in Spider-Man’s development some bloggers bemoaned Webb’s involvement, assuming the (500) Days of Summer director would take on the same lame love triangle that we saw in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3. Grumbling over this assumed love triangle heightened when rumors arose the reboot was seeking two female leads. Then, Emma Stone, the vivacious redhead of Easy A, was cast as the reputably blond Gwen Stacy. Many on the blogosphere were baffled by the choice, while I, having read the film’s early-rumored source material, The Ultimate Spider-Man series, was thrilled! In that run, Stacy is a sassy take-no-prisoners bad ass, who plays a great foil to the goodie-two-shoes Parker. If this is the Stacy that Webb is looking to bring to the screen, Stone is a great fit. However, with Parker and Stacy cast, many assumed the other female role would be Parker’s best-known love interest, Mary Jane Watson. The question became: who would play Mary Jane?
No one as it turns out.
The Wrap has unveiled that Mary Jane Watson will not appear in the new Spider-Man movie. Apparently, a love triangle was discussed in the film’s early development, but Mary Jane never made it into James Vanderbilt’s script. And once Stone signed on to play Stacy, the filmmakers opted to “trust their instincts and stick with one love interest,” leaving Mary Jane in the proverbial dust.
Personally, MJ Watson has always annoyed me, what with her flirting and worrying cycling about like a manic-depressive pinwheel. So, I won’t miss here. Beyond that, I am an infrequent comic reader truth be told, but I really enjoyed the Ultimate series, and got a special kick out of the gutsy Gwen Stacy therein. I am also a big fan of Webb’s unconventional rom-com, and think he’s gathered an exciting ensemble cast. Just when I was getting bored of comic book flicks, Webb pulls me back in.
How do you feel about Spider-Man without Mary Jane?