Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige have earlier confirmed that Spider-Man 4 will return to the MCU. With the multiversal events in the last film shaking things up in Peter Parker’s world, fan theories are running wild about the potential storyline for a fourth film. While Tom Holland will return to this film, Zendaya’s and Jacob Batalon’s return are yet to be confirmed. Fans speculate that the character Gwen Stacy will appear in the film, potentially replacing Zendaya’s MJ.
Feige hinted that Peter Parker will be part of the “street side” of the MCU alongside Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock made an appearance in the previous film and left behind a piece of his alien symbiote. Fans expect that the symbiote will find its way to Peter Parker and he will don the black Spider-Man suit in Spider-Man 4.
Gwen Stacy May Replace Zendaya In Spider-Man 4 (Theory)
According to a fan theory on Reddit, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will probably start attending Empire State University (ESU) in Spider-Man 4. He will work at the Daily Bugle to pay his bills and meet Gwen Stacy at the University. They expect this phase of Peter Parker to extend into a trilogy of movies where various villains will appear.
The theory also suggests that Holland’s character will don the black symbiote suit, which alludes to the rumor that the film will be named Spider-Man: Back in Black. Spider-Man in the black suit will be more aggressive due to the symbiote, but will ultimately come to an agreement with it.
One twist that the theory provides to Gwen Stacy is that she adopts the costumed identity of the Black Cat, a revelation made only at the end of the film. In the comics, the character Felicia Hardy dons the Black Cat suit, a burglar, who briefly comes head-to-head against the web-slinger.
5 Actresses Who Could Play Gwen Stacy In Spider-Man 4
Gwen Stacy was previously played by Bryce Dallas Howard in the Tobey Maguire-led Spider-Man films and Emma Stone in The Amazing Spider-Man series. The role was also voiced by Hailee Steinfeld for the Spider-Verse films. Taking over from such talents is no easy task, but there are a few actresses, who have the acting chops as well as the resemblance to pull off the character.
Madelyn Cline
Madelyn Cline quickly rose to prominence with her role as Sarah Cameron in the Netflix teen drama, Outer Banks. She was paired opposite Marvel actor Dave Bautista in the sequel to Knives Out, Glass Onion. Cline already showed her affinity for the character, when she wore the Spider-Gwen costume during Halloween in 2020. The rising star is also very close in age to Tom Holland.
Anya Taylor-Joy
The acting range seen from Anya Taylor-Joy in such a short time makes her a top contender for the role of Gwen. She won the Golden Globe award for her role in The Queen’s Gambit. Her critically acclaimed performances include The Witch, Split, Peaky Blinders, Emma, and most recently The Menu. She also takes on the role of Furiosa in the eponymous movie releasing this year. Gwen Stacy would definitely be interesting in her hands and she is Forbes’ top choice for the role.
Also Read: Spider-Man 4 Villian: 2 Marvel Villians Who Should Fight Tom Holland in His Next Solo MCU Movie
Kiernan Shipka
Kiernan Shipka began as a child actress, with her most noticeable role as Sally Draper, the oldest child of Don and Betty Draper, in Mad Men. She later went on to headline a comic book-based character, Sabrina Spellman, in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She was recently confirmed to be appearing alongside Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in Red One. Besides her acting skills, she looks perfect for the part with her uncanny resemblance to the comic version.
Chloë Grace Moretz
For superhero film fans, Chloë Grace Moretz proved her brutal fighting skills when she was just 13. She played the role of Hit Girl alongside Marvel actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kick-Ass and its sequel. Kick-Ass raised a few eyebrows for Moretz’s depiction of violence and profanity in the film. Moretz could definitely provide the versatility needed for Gwen, a superhero character, this time in a more family-friendly setting (hopefully!).
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning’s The Great is just the latest example of her nuanced characterizations. She handles equal amounts of humor and drama in playing Catherine in the Hulu series. Spider-Man 4 could potentially be her return to big-budget films, after her shift to more indie projects in recent years. Her availability, comic-accurate look, age, and acting skills all combinedly make her one of the top contenders for the role.
