Did Reddit change the MCU? It seems so! The director of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Jon Watts, revealed that fan theories on Reddit significantly influenced a pivotal scene in the movie. Specifically, the introduction of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men.
Reddit's Influence on the Spider-Verse
Watts confessed that he actively monitored Reddit during the scriptwriting process. Initially, the scene involved Peter Parker, grieving Aunt May's death, with portals opening on a rooftop to reveal the other Spider-Men. However, Watts stumbled upon fan art depicting this exact scenario. He realized they couldn't proceed with such a predictable reveal.
"There had been rumors that Tobey and Andrew were going to be in the movie... We were writing the script, and we were working on where we wanted to reveal the guys... Then I was on Reddit... I was like, 'Well, we can't do that. If that's exactly what everyone thinks we’re going to do, we absolutely can't do that,'" Watts explained.
A Surprising Twist
To subvert expectations, the filmmakers opted for a completely unexpected setting: Ned's grandma's house. Watts humorously noted, "Probably having the two Spider-Men appear at Ned’s Filipino grandma’s house in Queens, I don’t think anyone was doing fan art of that on Reddit.” This change not only surprised audiences but also added a unique and memorable element to the film.
- Fan theories on Reddit influenced the movie.
- Director Jon Watts actively monitored Reddit.
- The original rooftop reveal was scrapped.
- The Spider-Men appeared at Ned's grandma's house instead.
Andrew Garfield removing cobwebs from Ned’s grandma’s ceiling became a fan-favorite moment, highlighting the impact of this last-minute change. It's a testament to how filmmakers are now actively engaging with online fandom to deliver unexpected and engaging experiences.