Hollywood casting can be a fickle thing. But for actresses who’ve graced the silver screen as Spider-Man’s love interest, there seems to be a recurring theme – a hidden talent for tennis!
Believe it or not, all three actresses—Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone, and Zendaya—who have portrayed Spider-Man’s love interest on the big screen share a surprising connection to the world of tennis.
It’s not merely a coincidence; each of them has actually portrayed a tennis player in different movies, following their roles in Spider-Man flicks.
Spider-Man Actresses Have Unexpected Tennis Connection
The first connection in this web of coincidence takes us back to 2004’s romantic comedy Wimbledon. Kirsten Dunst, who famously portrayed Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man trilogy, took on the role of Lizzie Bradbury, a determined young tennis player on the verge of success.
The film follows her journey and her romance with Peter Colt (Paul Bettany), a former tennis champion attempting a comeback. Next up is Emma Stone, who portrayed Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man films.
In 2017’s biographical drama Battle of the Sexes, Stone stepped into the shoes of tennis legend Billie Jean King. This movie tells the story of King’s famous 1973 match against Bobby Riggs, which was a huge moment for gender equality. Stone’s performance really brought out King’s determination and athletic prowess.
The most recent addition to this curious trend is Zendaya. While details remain under wraps, her upcoming 2024 film Challengers is a romantic sports drama centered around the world of tennis.
Zendaya’s upcoming film, might not be based on a true story, but it’s exciting to know that she’s putting in some serious work to prepare for her role. Variety reported that the Hollywood actress dedicated three months to training with Brad Gilbert, a former professional tennis player turned coach.
Even Spider-Man Actors Share Surprising Soldier Roles Connection
It’s pretty interesting how the Spider-Man universe and tennis, two seemingly unrelated things, have this strange connection. But it’s not just the leading ladies who have a surprising link – even the actors who’ve played Spider-Man share something in common.
Turns out, all three live-action Spider-Man actors, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, have played soldiers in other movies.
Maguire starred in the 2009 film Brothers as Captain Sam Cahill, a Marine grappling with PTSD after being held captive in Afghanistan. Garfield, on the other hand, took on the role of Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge (2016).
Doss was a real-life World War II medic who refused to carry a weapon due to his pacifist beliefs. Holland starred in Cherry (2021) as the titular character, a former Army medic struggling with PTSD after serving in Iraq.
Now, it will be interesting to see if the future Spider-Man and their love interests continue this unexpected trend. Only time, and perhaps some keen casting choices, will tell!
