Spidey’s 20th anniversary swings in a twist! Turns out, Kirsten Dunst wasn’t just averse to rainy, upside-down kisses (remember that iconic smooch?). She also nixed a stunt so scary, it had MJ screaming. Forget the Green Goblin—what could terrify Hollywood’s sweetheart more than swinging from buildings?
Let’s unmask the untold drama that left Mary Jane drawing a superhero-sized line in the sand.
Spidey Smackdown: Dunst Ditched Stunt & Kissed Through the Rain in Spider-Man 2!
Swinging into theaters 20 years ago, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 continues to be a fan favorite. But it turns out, the filming wasn’t all smooth sailing for Kirsten Dunst, our MJ. While we celebrate two decades of the web-slinger’s sequel, let’s revisit a lesser-known story: Dunst saying “no” to a stunt and the truth behind that now-iconic upside-down kiss with Tobey Maguire.
Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN 2 was released in theaters 20 years ago today. 🕷️
— Marvel Multiverse (@MarvelMultive) June 29, 2024
Re-watch the official trailer: pic.twitter.com/wwekR56DTe
Dunst, it seems, learned the art of setting boundaries early on. While details remain under wraps, she shut down a stunt that left her feeling “terrifying.” “I’ve always said ‘no,'” she declared. “It’s my life, you know? Never doing it again!” Now that’s an action hero move in itself!
This wasn’t the only time Dunst asserted herself. Remember that rain-soaked, upside-down kiss with Maguire in the first Spider-Man? Turns out, it wasn’t exactly a meet-cute moment. “Freezing rain,” “Maguire struggling to breathe”—those were the behind-the-scenes ingredients for a scene forever etched in cinematic history. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, the now-42-year-old reprised the role for the sequels, even if that kiss felt more like CPR than romance at the time.
Looking back, the Bring It On actress seems to have found humor in the whole upside-down situation. She even said that director Raimi thought the scene would be “romantic and special.” But in reality, it was quite the opposite. Pouring rain, a breathless Maguire, and a late-night shoot were all it took. Still, the actress takes pride, calling it a “great kiss” in retrospect.
So, the next time you rewatch Spider-Man 2, remember that there’s more to the story than meets the eye (or, in this case, the rain-soaked mask).
Dunst Faced “Perfect Teeth” Pressure on Spider-Man Set
While swinging into superhero stardom with Spider-Man 2, Kirsten Dunst faced a villain most actors wouldn’t expect: a producer with a not-so-super suggestion. Yep, a producer thought her smile needed “fixing” to align with their vision of a “perfect” grin. Dunst, all of 19 at the time, was having none of it. “Nope, not doing that either,” she declared.
Thankfully, Dunst had a real-life superhero in her corner—Sofia Coppola, director of her breakout film, The Virgin Suicides. Coppola’s confidence boost was a shield against the pressure. “The fact that the coolest girl liked how I looked, that’s what preserved me,” Dunst alluded (via independent.co.uk).
This wasn’t the only time Dunst felt Hollywood’s pressure to conform. She also spoke out about the “extreme” salary gap between her and co-star Tobey Maguire. Seems MJ wasn’t all roses and upside-down kisses. But hey, at least she kept her smile—perfect or not!
Watch Spider-Man 2 on Apple TV!
