Andrew Garfield, who portrayed Spider-Man in the 2012 film "The Amazing Spider-Man" and its 2014 sequel, has reasserted his long-held view that the iconic superhero could be gay.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Garfield, 43, stated, "I just still believe that anyone can be in that suit." He elaborated on his perspective, explaining that the character's enduring popularity stems from its ability to transcend specific identities. "That's the point of why it's such a kind of universally beloved character, one of the greatly beloved characters in the history of fiction is because you don't see skin color, you don't see gender, you don't see sexuality. Anyone can project themselves into that suit."
Garfield first voiced this idea over a decade ago. In 2013, he publicly questioned why Spider-Man couldn't be gay and "like boys," a sentiment he characterized at the time as "an exercise in rebellion that I felt passionate about." He also explored the possibility of gender-swapping Mary Jane Watson, suggesting an LGBTQ+ interpretation of Peter Parker's relationships. "I was like, 'What if MJ is a dude?'" he recalled discussing with producer Matt Tolmach. "Why can't we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It's hardly even groundbreaking! … So why can't he be gay? Why can't he be into boys?"
At that time, Garfield even suggested Michael B. Jordan, whom he admired since "The Wire," as a potential actor to play his character's love interest, noting the potential for "interracial bisexuality."
Garfield's tenure as Spider-Man concluded with his appearance in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," where he joined Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire, the actors who have also played the character on screen. This collaboration led to the formation of a group chat among the three, which Holland has dubbed "the Spider-Boys."
Garfield's advocacy for inclusivity within the Spider-Man narrative reflects a broader desire for representation. "I like the idea of a place where everyone is being honored and everyone is being included, and it was just a kind of act of saying, 'Well, why not?'" he said. "And you'll be telling on yourself if you have a strong opinion either way."
