The expanded Spider-Man universe Sony prepared outside Marvel Studios has always been worthy of in-depth study. The latest solo film about the superhero they handled on their own, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2: The Power of Electro’, pointed toward hundreds of possibilities for new movies and series set in that world. And for every element that made it into the final theatrical cut, ten others were left behind in the editing room.
In today’s case, we aren’t learning something unknown, but rather more details about something already well known. Mary Jane Watson, the web-slinger’s most popular love interest, was going to make an appearance in the film. Shailene Woodley, the actress from ‘Pretty Little Liars’, granted an interview in which she recalled how the process went and how devastating it was that nothing ultimately came of it.
It Didn’t Hit the Jackpot
The actress has had an opportunity to reflect on her entire career on SAG-AFTRA’s Conversations podcast. “We shot about three scenes together, Andrew Garfield and I. And then, like a year later, they told me: ‘Well, you’re not in the movie anymore’ “, the actress recalls with a hint of sorrow. The reasons were logical once explained to her: “We introduced a lot of new characters in this final installment, and we’re going to wait to see what happens between [Emma Stone] and Andrew [Garfield]”.
Woodley continues to think back on it, and shows a sliver of doubt about the real motives behind the change. “They said something like: ‘Let’s wait until he dies and then we’ll introduce Mary Jane’.” It made sense at the time, but in the end they didn’t shoot another film. So there was no reintroduction. That’s what I was told, but again, who knows what the truth is? It could have been a misstep and they thought: ‘We can’t do this’.”
A Complicated Relationship
The Andrew Garfield-led Spider-Man duology came to an abrupt end with the second film’s disappointing box office, which makes it logical that Mary Jane wouldn’t ultimately be introduced into the saga. That doesn’t erase how devastating it must have been for Woodley not to be part of what she insists is her favorite superhero. “Spider-Man is my favorite superhero; Mary Jane was my favorite character when I was little“, the actress confirms.
Who knows? Perhaps we might still see her, even if in another role, in a future Marvel Studios Spider-Man project.
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