Spider-Man Gay? Andrew Garfield Wants Peter Parker to 'Explore His Sexuality'
'What If M.J. is a Dude?' Garfield Asked Director; Fans Not Excited About Idea
Spider-Man should be gay, Andrew Garfield suggested in a recent interview. The actor has played the web-slinging superhero in two movies now and although he wondered whether Peter Parker should "explore his sexuality," some fans don't seem happy with the idea.
"Why can't [Spider-Man] be gay?" Garfield recalled he said while having a philosophical discussion with movie producer Matt Tolmach. The actor is said to love playing the role, and suggested that his nature and sexuality should be open to interpretation as the comic gets older. Peter Parker's love interest could still be called "M.J.," though.
"And I was like, 'What if MJ is a dude?'" he recounted to Entertainment Weekly. "Why can't we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It's hardly even groundbreaking! … So why can't he be gay? Why can't he be into boys?"
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Garfield went further than that, even suggesting an actor to play the part of Spider-Man's male love interest- Michael B. Jordan of "The Wire," who is rumored to play the Human Torch in the next "Fantastic Four" remake.
"He's so charismatic and talented. It'd be even better- we'd have interracial bisexuality!" Garfield said. He also mentioned that he was "kind of joking, but kind of not joking about M.J."
Marc Webb, director of "Spider-Man 2," heard the idea as well and didn't think much of it.
"Michael B. Jordan, I know," he replied to an EW journalist. "Are you kidding?"
Many fans seemed to agree with the director that Spider-Man, one of America's most iconic and loved superheroes since 1962, needed no sexual reboot.
"No! If Andrew Garfield wants to find a reason to make out with Michael B. Jordan, then do it in another movie. Or play a comic book hero that was actually gay in the comics," annie1001 wrote on the EW.com blog.
Other users complained that Spider-Man shouldn't be used to "promote an agenda." One user pointed out that homosexuals want to see stories about themselves when being entertained, but that they should involve an original character, instead of remodeling an existing one.
"Gays for the most part want to see original gay character exactly as you described," Cousin Bleh responded.
The actual sequel to "The Amazing Spider-Man" will feature Jamie Foxx as villain Electro, Peter Parker's romance with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), Oscorp founder Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper) and his son Harry (Dane DeHaan), who is also Parker's friend.
"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" is slated for a May 2, 2014 release.
