Original ‘Spider-Man’ Film Trilogy Star Kirsten Dunst Sees No Reason To Make A Fourth Entry: “Let’s Maybe Leave Things When They Were Good”

Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) watches as her new hero (Tobey Maguire) swings off into the sunset in Spider-Man (2002), Sony
Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) watches as her new hero (Tobey Maguire) swings off into the sunset in Spider-Man (2002), Sony

In no doubt knocking the wind out of a greedy Hollywood executives’ sails, original Spider-Man trilogy actress Kirsten Dunst has admitted that while demand for it is growing, she personally sees absolutely zero reason to produce a fourth entry in the series.

Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) makes her live-action debut in Spider-Man (2002), Sony
Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) makes her live-action debut in Spider-Man (2002), Sony

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The first actress to ever portray Mary-Jane Watson in a live-action production offered her opinion on a potential return to the role of the wall-crawler’s iconic redheaded love interest during a recent interview given to IndieWire‘s Kate Erbland in promotion of her appearance in director Alex Garland’s new film, Civil War.

Amidst a discussion of her career future, Dunst was asked by Erbland, “Another possibility that keeps getting floated is you returning to Spider-Man in some way, and I’ve read a lot of your recent interviews when the topic is mentioned, and I have to ask: Do you want to do another Spider-Man movie, because I honestly can’t tell?”, to which the actress laughed, “You’re so funny. I can’t tell either!”

Adding, “Depends. It would depend,” the actress then questioned, “I don’t know. Honestly, do we need it?”

Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) learns the truth behind Peter Parker's (Tobey Maguire) double life in Spider-Man (2002), Sony
Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) learns the truth behind Peter Parker’s (Tobey Maguire) double life in Spider-Man (2002), Sony

Met with confusion by Erbland, who inquired in return, “What do we need? Do we need anything?”, Dunst clarified, “I don’t think we need [Spider-Man 4].”

“I don’t know,” she further opined to her host. “It was so long ago. I just don’t know how they would, what the story would be. I don’t know. It seems like … I don’t know!”

Drawing her thoughts on the matter to a close, Dunst ultimately asserted, “It would really depend on the script, and also, I don’t know, you’re really putting yourself out there in a way that … let’s maybe leave things when they were good. You know what I mean?”

Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) thanks the wall-crawler (Tobey Maguire) for saving her life in Spider-Man (2002), Sony
Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) thanks the wall-crawler (Tobey Maguire) for saving her life in Spider-Man (2002), Sony

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As noted by Erbland, this is not the first time Dunst has shown what could be considered ‘indifference’ towards the prospect of reprising her role as Mary-Jane.

Asked during a March 2024 interview with Marie Claire whether she would ever do not just another Spider-Man film, but another superhero movie at all, the actress directly admitted, “Yes, because you get paid a lot of money, and I have two children, and I support my mother.”

Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst) reunites with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in Spider-Man 3 (2007), Sony
Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst) reunites with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in Spider-Man 3 (2007), Sony

Luckily for Dunst, at current, it does not look like any serious moves have been made regarding a potential Spider-Man 4.

Speaking to the recent rumors of its development to CBR’s Kevin Polowy during the recent WonderCon 2024, series director Sam Raimi affirmed, “Well, I haven’t heard about that yet. I did read that, but I’m not actually working on it yet.”

“I mean, Marvel and Columbia are so successful with current Spider-Man [movies], and the track there, and I don’t know that they’re going to go back to me, and say, ‘Well, folks, we can also tell that story!’,” he continued. “I’m not sure, but I love all the new Spider-Man movies. I loved Spider-Man: No Way Home. It was really, super powerful seeing Tobey [Maguire] again in it.”

“I haven’t talked to Tobey about it, but maybe Marvel has, or Columbia Pictures,” he concluded. “But, I just worked with Marvel on a movie called Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. So, I’m on great terms with them. I’m sure I would hear about it if it was in the works. I think so. I don’t know.”

Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) makes his way to the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Marvel Entertainment

Notably, the rumor mill surrounding a potential Spider-Man 4 was first truly ignited on March 1st, courtesy of actor Thomas Haden Church, who played Sandman in both Spider-Man 3 and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Reflecting on his potential future as the web-head’s alternating-nemesis-slash-ally during a March 2024 interview with Comicbook.com‘s Jamie Jarek, Church declared, “You know, I think Sam is gonna do another Spider-Man with Tobey [Maguire], and that’s the one that … They had an option for me to do Spiderman 4 when there was going to be a Spiderman 4. They had an option on me to come back. So if it happens, that would be fantastic. I’m getting a little old.”

Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) bids farewell to Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in Spider-Man 3 (2007), Sony
Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) bids farewell to Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in Spider-Man 3 (2007), Sony

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