Spider-Man: No Way Home Director Credits Reddit for Shaping Maguire and Garfield's Return

The inclusion of iconic Spider-Men Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man: No Way Home was shaped by a Reddit post that caught the eye of director Jon Watts.

At the Mediterrane Film Festival, Watts revealed that the online buzz surrounding Maguire and Garfield’s potential return inspired a fan to create a mock-up of their reintroduction, which closely mirrored his initial vision.

In response, Watts and his team crafted a fresh introduction for the classic Spider-Men, set in the home of Ned’s grandmother, to subvert audience expectations.

"Rumors were swirling about Tobey and Andrew being in the film while we were shooting," Watts explained (via Collider). "We were still refining the script, figuring out where to reveal these characters. The plan was for Peter to be grieving after Aunt May’s death, with the two Spider-Men emerging through portals, likely on a rooftop. It was still vague, still coming together.

"Then I saw fan art on Reddit depicting exactly that: a sad rooftop scene with two Doctor Strange portals and the Spider-Men stepping out. I thought, ‘We can’t do that. If everyone’s already picturing it, we have to change it up.’"

Watts noted that he trusted audiences to anticipate the story’s direction but still wanted to surprise them with the execution. He brainstormed a setting fans wouldn’t predict for Maguire and Garfield’s return.

"I figured the last place anyone would expect is Ned’s Filipino grandma’s house in Queens," Watts said. "No one was making fan art of that. It fit the story perfectly, as it marked a shift away from Peter’s perspective.

"We were with Ned and MJ, who needed a place to hide. Ned’s grandma’s house made sense, so we built the scene around it."

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Watts shared that altering the scene was challenging due to Covid restrictions, noting that the woman cast as Ned’s grandmother wasn’t a professional actor.

"Filming during the pandemic meant we had to fly a non-actor from Hawaii to Atlanta for the scene," Watts recalled. "By adding her and changing the setting, we surprised the audience in the best way, delivering what they wanted in a way they never expected."

Tom Holland will star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day next year, with filming set to begin soon. Sadie Sink from Stranger Things joins the cast in an undisclosed role, alongside Jon Bernthal returning as Punisher. While Maguire and Garfield aren’t expected to appear, future multiverse events in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars could potentially bring them back.