The next MCU Spider-Man movie could feature the live-action debut of Spider-Gwen, and there are several actresses who would be perfect for the role.
Spider-Gwen has yet to join the MCU, but the very possibility of her introduction has inspired casting suggestions for the role. Recent comments from actor Jacob Batalon about a potential Spider-Man 4 have renewed speculation about the future of the franchise and the potential addition of a super-powered Gwen Stacy. The Spider-Verse aspects and open nature of Spider-Man: No Way Home’s ending certainly give Marvel the option to introduce Spider-Gwen alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker.how to play the entertainer on piano
Introducing Spider-Gwen into the MCU could inject a fresh burst of energy into the Spider-Man series should Batalon’s Ned or Zendaya’s MJ not feature in the franchise’s future. The original Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy love story has been an iconic comic book character arc for several decades. However, since its debut in 2014, the Spider-Gwen comic backstory has quickly become popular in its own right. Spider-Gwen differs from the traditional Gwen Stacy in a few ways. Where the original Gwen Stacy character’s tragic death is a major turning point in Peter’s character development, Spider-Gwen is from a different universe where this dynamic is flipped: Gwen is the heroine and Peter’s death is crucial to her story.
Spider-Gwen’s more modern, feminist bend makes casting her live-action counterpart a unique challenge as compared to the live-action Gwen Stacy portrayals previously seen in other films. Bryce Dallas Howard played Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3, and Emma Stone took on the role for The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel. If Spider-Gwen were to make her first-ever live-action appearance in the MCU, there are a number of great actors who are perfect for the part. Here are five standouts who should be considered.
Milly Alcock
Marvel should do everything in their power to make a Milly Alcock Spider-Gwen casting happen, as the House of the Dragon star has become the favorite choice for an MCU version of the character. On top of bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Spider-Gwen of the comics and the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse films, the actor’s performance as the young Rhaenrya Targaryen on House of the Dragon proves Alcock has got the acting chops as well. Rhaenrya’s tragic backstory, rebellious nature, and struggle dealing with the weight of power and responsibility are nearly identical to the super-powered version of Gwen Stacy.
Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy’s star power has steadily risen. Her acting talent, stunning unique appearance, and unmistakable voice have helped make her a success in horror films like Split and Last Night in Soho. She became a household name with her role as Beth Harmon in the hit Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, for which she received her first Emmy nomination. With more experience than Milly Alcock and having displayed a similar rebellious wit, Taylor-Joy has what it takes to bring Spider-Gwen to life in the MCU, and he upcoming movies, such as the Mad Max spinoff Furiosa, show that her rise to super-stardom won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Despite the negative reception of her first Marvel superhero film, The New Mutants, the MCU would still be wise to bring Taylor Joy’s immense skill and rising notoriety to the franchise as Spider-Gwen.
Joey King
After getting her start as a child actor in the movies Ramona and Beezus, Crazy Stupid Love, and the comic book movie sequel The Dark Knight Rises, Joey King is already a veteran actress. As an adult, she has made a name for herself in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth trilogy. However, recently, King has shown a propensity for action-heavy roles. Her character stole the show among the star-studded ensemble of the 2022 action movie Bullet Train, and she excelled as the tradition-bucking and sword-wielding titular lead of Hulu’s The Princess. Those combat skills would be a major asset to a Spider-Gwen actress, especially after the fight scenes of Spider-Man: No Way Home took on a much more physical, brutal nature than the previous films. Joey King has shown she can excel in that realm, making her a name to watch for an MCU Spider-Gwen.
Camila Mendes
The MCU has already shown a willingness to change the race of traditionally white characters, including MJ in the Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy. That potentially opens up the casting pool to actors like Riverdale star Camila Mendes. She recently proved that she can still convincingly play a high schooler in the Netflix teen comedy movie Do Revenge. Her role as Drea Torres there as well as her breakout turn as Veronica Lodge in Riverdale show she has the comedic talent to fit in with the MCU’s tone and humor if she were to be cast as Spider-Gwen. While Mendes would be more of a high-upside pick than a proven commodity, the same could be said of Tom Holland when he was originally chosen as Peter Parker. And Marvel can afford to bet on Mendes’s talent and star potential with intellectual property as consistently bankable as Spider-Man.
Millie Bobby Brown
Best known for playing Eleven in Netflix’s horror series Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown is probably the most famous actor on this list. After rumors of a Millie Bobby Brown casting in Eternals proved to be untrue, Spider-Gwen could be a perfect role for the young superstar to enter the MCU. Brown, who is currently working with MCU heavyweights the Russo Brothers on the upcoming film The Electric State, has already proven herself as a stellar actress outside of Stranger Things in the movies Enola Holmes and Godzilla vs. Kong. Marvel casting a household name like Millie Bobby Brown as Spider-Gwen in Spider-Man 4 would drive excitement to a new level.