Summary
- The deleted MJ scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home hints at the potential for her to have a greater role in Peter Parker’s crime-fighting activities, adding to the tragedy of their lost memories.
- The memory spell in the movie sets up a new status quo for the supporting characters, with MJ and the others unaware of Peter’s true identity or their past relationships with him.
- Despite the current separation, there are hints in the movie that suggest the possibility of MJ and Ned eventually regaining their memories and reuniting with Peter in future adventures.
The deleted MJ scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home adds to the tragic feel of the movie’s ending. Played by Zendaya, Marvel’s loose take on the Mary Jane Watson character may very well have made her last MCU appearance with Phase 4’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. If the outcome of the movie’s final battle is any indication, MJ’s part in Peter Parker’s MCU story is over for good.
Spider-Man: No Way Home seemingly set up new stories by closing the door on an important, three-movie chapter in the wall-crawler life. All three MCU Spider-Man movies have seen Tom Holland’s character interact with a supporting cast that includes Ned, Flash Thompson, MJ, Aunt May, and Betty Brant. But thanks to Doctor Strange’s memory spell, there will be a new status quo going forward, as none of these characters are aware of Peter’s true identity or their past relationships with him. With Peter no longer a part of their lives, it seems the MCU’s Spider-Man will be moving on to his next adventure without them.
Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Cut MJ Scene Shows What The Trio’s Future Could Have Been Like
As if this ending to their stories together wasn’t sad enough, it’s made even more heartbreaking by a cut sequence involving Zendaya’s character. Judging by concept art from the Spider-Man: No Way Home – The Art of the Movie art book, MJ nearly played a role in the big fight scene at the Statue of Liberty. As for how that would even be possible, the art book reveals that she would have been wearing Doctor Strange’s Cloak of Levitation for the scene. This is a sign that No Way Home toyed with the idea of MJ having some level of latent, magical talent, not unlike the approach it took with the MCU’s Ned Leeds.
The prospect of Ned and MJ using magical items or possessing the capability for magic demonstrates the sort of future they could have shared with Peter had they not lost their memories of him and his time as Spider-Man. They may have never become full-fledged superheroes, but the notion of MJ taking part in the big fight proves that she’d have been able to assist him in his crime-fighting activities. Such a development would have led to an even closer bond between the trio of characters. Unfortunately, Spider-Man: No Way Home has denied them that potential.
Spider-Man: No Way Home Hints MJ & Ned Will Remember Peter Eventually
Although the MCU has strongly indicated that Peter’s days of sharing his superhero journey with Ned and MJ are over, there are hints in Spider-Man: No Way Home that allow for some hope of an eventual reunion. For much of the movie, it’s clear that both have embraced the presence of magic and superheroes that Spider-Man brought into their lives. Their appreciation and excitement regarding these elements of their world are parts of who they are, and therefore won’t disappear simply because they don’t remember who Spider-Man is. If they wind up getting involved in these sorts of adventures without Peter, it may only be a matter of time before they uncover the memories that were taken from them.