Spider-Man: No Way Home
Spider - Man : No Way Homeretcons MJ ’s name , which is a ridiculous and unnecessary change . Zendaya play MJ in the film , which in comics lore digest for Mary Jane , who has been the main beloved interest for Peter Parker since her introduction inThe Amazing Spider - Man#42 in January 1967 . In the comedian , MJ is a white adult female with red hair , which is how she was portrayed in the originalSam RaimiSpider - Mantrilogy , played by actress Kirsten Dunst . In the new trilogy , " MJ " is portray by Zendaya , who is mixed race and without the red fuzz , but still the main love interest of Peter Parker , although her name , specifically her nickname , was never explained untilSpider - Man : No Way Home . Not only was this reveal somewhat underwhelming for viewers , but the change really undermined several fundamental facet of her character .
Zendaya has played MJ in all three of the Jon Watt ’s directedSpider - Manfilms , starting off as a more upstage character , rather than the eudaimonia , actress / supermodel persona that she ’s been in the comics . The Mary Jane of the comics ' full name was Mary Jane Watson , which stayed that way until both she and Parker were espouse , becoming Mary Jane Watson - Parker . This lasted for a foresighted while until a storyline called " One More Day " which had Mary Janemake a deal with Mephisto to hold open Aunt May ’s life in return for all retention of her and Peter ’s union and time together to be pass over for practiced ( similar to the ending ofSpider - Man : No Way home base ) and Parker ’s secret identity restored . Since that prison term , the pair of had a number of ups and down feather over the class of many years , finally reconnecting to their condition quo as a couple .
Related : How Spider - Man ’s individuality Can reverse MJ Into Mary Jane Watson In No Way Home
WhileSpider - Man : No Way Homepulls from the " One More Day " plot line in term of the memory wipe and the former films have built up their relationship as a meant - to - be couple akin to their funny ascendent , the real issue withMJ ’s name reveal in the filmis that it read the last rest comic - Good Book connection off from her . It ’s unveil that her name is Michelle Jones - Watson , although she says she"doesn’t go by that"when Watson is mentioned , hinting that there ’s more to the narration there ( although it ’s not revealed in the film ) . Messing with the hyphen , drop " Mary " , and the massive difference in personality from the beginning is at long last a ridiculous modification to the character that make it all seem like a big bait and switch , rather than a new version of the classical character .
It seems as though Marvel Studios ' goal was to make a new interpretation ofMary Jane for the newSpider - Manfilmseries , as that ’s what the purpose seemed to be with casting Zendaya . A assorted - race actress without the signature red hair and freckle is an interesting angle , as it would ’ve been obvious who she was from the startle if she had those physical quality . However , by changing up the name and characteristics of MJ in the films ( she usher no inclination to being an actress or supermodel ) , it begs the question of why the movie included her at all . If the character has nothing in common with who she is supposed to be from the comic , then it seems that the only purpose of the MJ nickname is to get out the carpeting out from under the consultation and pervert their expectations .
By the remainder ofSpider - Man : No Way Homeit becomes unmistakable that whileZendaya ’s MJ was Parker ’s beloved interest , she has absolutely none of the quality of the MJ from the comics , from personality to physical appearance , and does n’t even share the same name . This could intend that she ’s an whole different case wholly and that there ’s another Mary Jane out there that fits the comic book mould – perhaps from the burgeon multiverse . Had the name simply cleave and MJ was Mary Jane Watson , then it would be simple-minded enough to accept that she ’s the same character from the strip , albeit mostly in name and kinship to Spider - Man only . As it is , though , she ’s so vastly different in every way save for her love of Peter Parker , that it feels like a wasted chance to faithfully adapt a Graeco-Roman character .
Next : What Kirsten Dunst Has Done Since play MJ In Spider - Man
