Zendaya is reportedly reprising her role as MJ in Spider-Man 4, and the MCU should do with her what Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy never got to do.
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore.
Spider-Man’s story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue to expand with a fourth movie, simply referred to for now as Spider-Man 4, and Zendaya’s return as MJ makes it possible for the MCU to do with her what Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy could never. The events of Spider-Man: No Way Home were a massive shake-up for Peter Parker (Tom Holland), as in order to close the multiverse’s gates, he made Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) cast a spell that would make everyone forget Peter Parker – and as a result, Peter was left completely alone at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The most heartbreaking losses Peter went through as a result of the spell were his best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), and it’s to be seen if Peter will be able to reconnect with them. Luckily, this will be answered in Spider-Man 4 as Zendaya is reportedly in talks to return as MJ, though this hasn’t been confirmed by Sony or Marvel. However, if MJ returns in Spider-Man 4, the MCU should do with her what The Amazing Spider-Man could never do with its version of Gwen Stacy.
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Gwen Stacy couldn’t reach her full potential.
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Had Gwen not had a tragic ending in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and had a third movie happened, the character could have reached her full potential and become Spider-Gwen.
Following Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, which came to an end in 2007 with Spider-Man 3 and wasn’t well-received by critics, plans for a fourth movie in Raimi’s Spider-Man universe were canceled, but the web-slinger got a new chance on the big screen in 2012. Directed by Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man starred Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, and once more, it explored his origin story. However, unlike Raimi’s trilogy, Peter’s love interest wasn’t Mary Jane, but Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone.
The success of The Amazing Spider-Man led to a sequel, simply titled The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which continued Peter and Gwen’s romance while also introducing new villains that put not only Peter’s life at risk but also Gwen’s. Unfortunately, Gwen was taken by the Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) to the top of a tower, from which she fell. Spider-Man did his best to save her and used his web, but he caught her inches from the ground and Gwen hit her head on the ground, causing whiplash. Although there was no The Amazing Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: No Way Home revealed Peter continues to be haunted by Gwen’s death.
Had Gwen not had a tragic ending in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and had a third movie happened, the character could have reached her full potential (or gotten closer to it) and become Spider-Gwen. In the comics, an alternate version of Gwen Stacy became Spider-Gwen after being bitten by a radioactive spider, but Stone’s Gwen never got to become a superhero.
The MCU’s Spider-Man 4 Should Feature Zendaya’s MJ As Spider-Woman
MJ can make up for The Amazing Spider-Man’s Gwen Stacy mistakes.
In the comics, an alternate version of Mary Jane became Spider-Woman.
The love interest of the MCU’s Spider-Man is Michelle Jones-Watson, simply known as MJ. Zendaya’s MCU character pays homage to Mary Jane Watson but isn’t an adaptation of the character. This gives the MCU more creative freedom with the character, and as such, her return in Spider-Man 4 could see her take a big step into becoming a superhero and turn into Spider-Woman. In the comics, an alternate version of Mary Jane became Spider-Woman, and like many other characters from Marvel Comics, Spider-Woman is a mantle that different characters have taken.
MJ wouldn’t be the only love interest of an MCU hero to become a superhero.
MJ’s role in the MCU has gradually increased in each one of her appearances, so it would feel like a natural step in her character evolution to suit up next to Peter Parker. MJ wouldn’t be the only love interest of an MCU hero to become a superhero, as Pepper Potts, Hope van Dyne, Peggy Carter, and Jane Foster all did at one point in their respective MCU journeys.
How Zendaya’s MJ Could Become Spider-Woman In The MCU’s Spider-Man 4
There are a couple of ways MJ can become Spider-Woman.
One option, which would be fitting with the MCU’s multiverse theme, would be introducing an MJ variant (also played by Zendaya) who, in her universe, became Spider-Woman.
Thanks to how much the MCU has evolved and expanded, there are a couple of ways in which Zendaya’s MJ can become Spider-Woman in Spider-Man 4. The most obvious one would be having the main timeline’s MJ become a superhero in an “accident” similar to the one that turned Peter into Spider-Man, which would be interesting to watch as the MCU didn’t go into Peter’s origin story. Having the main version of MJ become Spider-Woman would be a huge surprise to Peter, and would give him a chance to reconnect with her.
Another option, which would be fitting with the MCU’s multiverse theme, would be introducing an MJ variant (also played by Zendaya) who, in her universe, became Spider-Woman instead of Peter becoming Spider-Man. This would also bring an interesting dynamic with Holland’s Spider-Man, who would have a chance to reconnect with MJ, though not the one he knows and loves. There are many storylines and paths that Spider-Man 4 can explore, and MJ becoming Spider-Woman shouldn’t be ruled out.
