Dunst inserting a bombshell of a statement would drive bonkers every early dot-com Spider-Man fans of the 2000s. The co-star of Raimi’s original Spider-Man films spoke late into the possibilities of coming back for Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire. Then her mind works farther into a story wherein Peter Parker and MJ are parents. Like, they actually have kids. That’s some sort of crazy next-level webslinging mayhem.
Now to the nitty-gritty part: What did she exactly say? Dunst sort of threw it out there casually, which just made it even more plausible. “That would be cool, right? I mean, I don’t know if the fans are into it. I feel like that is an interesting movie, right? Me and Tobey doing that again but with kids.” Oh, Kirsten, where have you been all this time? The fans have been screaming about it for ages. Since Spider-Man 3 left theaters back in 2007, people have been thinking inevitable thoughts of what could be done in a fourth. And now she’s here saying the very thing that would essentially make most people heal from their childhood.
The internet exploded into a flurry of activity. The players were quick in joining the conversation. Someone was practically shouting, “WE’RE INTO IT!!!!” alongside a gif of Tobey as Spider-Man. “Trust me, us Spider-Man fans have proven that we’d love NOTHING MORE than to see Peter & MJ be parents because it’s so much more refreshing than the same bullshit the comics kept doing!” And honestly? They are right. The comics have put these characters through some deranged resets and convoluted storylines, so actually having them grow up and become parents…that would be nice. Like a breath of fresh air after being stuck in a hot subway car without air conditioning.
Yet, not everybody was on the idea. One critic commented: “Translation: ‘I have no career and would love the paycheck.'” Ouch! This just had to be one. Another dragged up some dirty laundry about Dunst’s earnings back in the day, complaining she “did nothing but play a damsel in distress” while Tobey did all the hard work. The truth was that Mary Jane was iconic enough to walk on her own. She had that whole “Go get ’em, Tiger” vibe that was practically 2000s romance goals.”
There loomed the demand for the fourth installment of Spider-Man, getting harder by “Fans have been begging for Spider-Man 4 since at least 2011” – almost a decade full of hoping and wiling for it! Another said simply “It might fix me,” which… mood. That’s true, those Raimi Spider-Man movies hit differently compared to others; it would be… therapeutic to see that iteration of Peter Parker really getting a happy ever after with MJ and kids. Like your best comfort show ever, just now with spandex and web shooters.
There was also an interesting argument about where this would sit amongst all the craziness called the present Spider-Man multiverse. Now that Tobey made an exemplary return in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it opened more doors, while at the same time calling to equally inviting stories for his iteration of Peter Parker. One co-commenter thought it was “amazing to see Tobey & Kirsten closing this arc with Peter and MJ as parents,” which in a way would seal off in justice the characters credited with starting the whole modern superhero movie era.
Just followed by some wacky comments. One asked about some cuts in Tobey’s suit they just noticed, while another insisted on getting an Amazing Spider-Man 3 first, which…okay, Andrew Garfield is awesome but let’s maybe put a pin on that one for now. The people want Tobey and Kirsten; that’s the tea.
The discourse of superhero movies has changed so much since those original Spider-Man movies were released. Back then, they were simpler: Boy gets powers, boy loses uncle, boy gets girl, boy struggles to balance it all. Yet, now we’re in an age where multiverses are quite common and characters can quite literally hop across different realities. A Spider-Man 4 with Tobey and Kirsten as parents would bring things full circle by showing what happens after the “happily ever after,” something most superhero movies never get to show.
Sony Pictures must at least be looking at the buzz. The reaction to Dunst’s comments has been mostly positive, with stans begging the studio to make it a reality. “Please Sony 🙏” one person tweeted, summing up the desperate hopes of an entire generation that grew up watching these films. With superhero fatigue starting to become a real thing, a grounded story about Peter Parker navigating parenthood while he’s still Spider-Man might be exactly what genre needs right now.
So what’s the next step? Kirsten Dunst is in. The fans are screeching. The multiverse lays the framework. All that remains is for Sony to say yes and get Sam Raimi to sign on as director. The pieces are all there, begging to be put together. Spider-Man 4 starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst as parents is not just a fan service; it’s a continuation of that story that hundreds of millions fell in love with two decades ago. And, honestly,…we’re ready for it.
