A 2013 interview has unexpectedly resurfaced online and sparked renewed debate. Andrew Garfield, who starred in The Amazing Spider-Man films, publicly discussed the possibility of exploring Spider-Man’s sexuality on the big screen and even considered the idea of Peter Parker developing a romantic relationship with another man.
Garfield revealed that he had discussed with producer Matt Tolmach whether the classic Spider-Man comics character MJ could be reimagined as a man. He said, “What if MJ is a dude? Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? Why can’t he be gay? Why can’t he be into boys?”
When it came to casting a male version of MJ, Garfield even named Michael B. Jordan, who was beginning to attract wider attention at the time. Praising Jordan’s charisma and talent, Garfield jokingly added that the film could even portray “interracial bisexuality.”
Garfield later offered more context during the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. He explained that naming Michael B. Jordan as a potential male love interest was partly a joke, but that his broader point about Spider-Man’s sexuality was intended to open a discussion about sexuality, prejudice and the groups represented by the superhero. Garfield believed Spider-Man could represent everyone and should not be limited by race or sexual orientation.
The idea was ultimately never incorporated into the films, and Garfield’s version of Peter remained focused on his relationship with Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone. He continued to discuss the possibility of a Spider-Man with a more fluid sexuality in later interviews, however, making the old remarks a notable example in discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ representation in superhero cinema.