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Spider-Man 3: What Gwen Stacy's Role Was Setting Up For The Sequel


https://screenrant.com/spiderman-3-sam-raimi-gwen-stacy-story-setup/

Gwen Stacy was included in Spider-Man 3 at the request of producers, who wanted to add a rival love interest and fill an “other girl” type that Raimi had already created in the trilogy. However, Spider-Man 3 didn’t give enough time for Gwen’s character (and others) to be developed, though she was originally planned to have a slightly bigger role. Gwen was supposed to be the one trapped in the taxi in the climactic fight, not Mary Jane, who would have then be the one persuading Harry to help Peter. This would have made way for Gwen’s return in Spider-Man 4, as she reportedly made it to the first drafts of the sequel.

Gwen’s role in Spider-Man 3 ended up being that of the woman used to make the hero’s love interest jealous and thus trigger conflict in his personal life. Gwen realized this during the infamous jazz club scene and apologized to Mary Jane before leaving, and made one final appearance at Harry’s funeral. Given that Raimi’s Spider-Man films were all about Mary Jane as Peter’s crush and sentimental partner, Gwen’s role in the saga probably wouldn’t have lasted long. Gwen’s death could have been included in Spider-Man 4, more so as it was supposed to happen in Spider-Man 2, triggering a different type of conflict within Peter and also affecting his role as Spider-Man, as well as his relationship with Mary Jane (again).

Given how important her role is in the Spider-Man comics, Gwen Stacy had a lot of potential, and had she been approached differently in Raimi’s films, she could have had an actual future in it. The lack of plot and oversaturation of characters in Spider-Man 3 ended up affecting the characters in many ways, but at least Gwen’s popularity grew after it and was given a second chance in Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man films.

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