Andrew Garfield has opened out about his friendship with Tobey Maguire, his co-star in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Spider-Man: No Way Home has swiftly climbed to become one of the most successful films of all time, recently dethroning Avatar to take third place in the all-time domestic box office in the United States. Following Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) as he battles both friends and opponents from different Spider-Man realities when one of Doctor Strange‘s (Benedict Cumberbatch) spells goes awry, the film is Spider-third Man’s solo outing in the MCU.
Garfield and Maguire are two of these pals from alternate realities. During his stint in the Amazing Spider-Man series, Garfield was the last actor to play Spidey on the big screen. Maguire is most recognized for his role as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s popular Spider-Man trilogy, which began in 2002. While it was widely assumed that the two actors would reprise their respective Spider-Man roles for No Way Home, Marvel kept their participation under wraps until the film’s release. The unveiling of Garfield and Maguire as Spider-Men in the film excited fans, and for many, it was a highlight of No Way Home.
Garfield acknowledged in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that playing Spider-Man alongside Maguire in No Way Home meant a lot to him. Garfield acknowledged that he was a huge admirer of Maguire’s Spider-Man films, saying that he “was simply captivated with what Michael was doing.” The actor went on to describe how this influenced his portrayal of Spider-feelings Man’s for Maguire’s. Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man interacts with Maguire’s as someone searching for a “older brother/mentor role,” as well as a source of both competitiveness and enjoyment, according to Garfield. Below is the complete quotation from Garfield:
“I have a full heart here, where I want Tobey to be impressed by me. I want him to be my older brother/mentor figure and to tell me I’m doing a good job. I want to compete with him. I want to better him. I want to rib him, have fun with him.”
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, together with Holland‘s Spider-Man, this “brotherly” connection between Garfield and Maguire’s Spider-Men is undeniably there. Maguire’s Peter Parker, as the oldest of the group, appears to take on the role of an elder sibling, supporting Holland’s Spidey when he most needs it following Aunt May’s terrible death. Garfield’s personal sympathies and affection for his Spider-Man predecessor were also evident on set, as the actor recently confessed that the now-famous “I love you guys” statement to Maguire and Holland was purely improvised.
After original speculations claimed Maguire and Garfield would only make a brief cameo, their involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home considerably exceeded fan expectations. The pair’s touching and real interactions added an extra, unexpected element of emotion to the plot, more than just more screen time. Many fans who grew up with Maguire’s Spider-Man as a role model during the early 2000s will no doubt relate to Garfield’s remarks, and it’s wonderful to hear that his appreciation extended to his Spider-Man: No Way Home co-stars as well.
