Andrew Garfield Talks Returning As Spider-Man
One of the most pleasant surprises during Spider-Man: No Way Home was seeing Andrew Garfield return to the role of Peter Parker and thrive.
While The Amazing Spider-Man films may not have given Garfield the best material to work with, Garfield has always been a Spidey fan at heart, and dedicated to the story of the character.
While fans were split on Garfield’s turn as Spider-Man in his own film series, his performance in No Way Home was universally lauded. More than just a cheap cameo, Garfield’s Spider-Man served as the heart of the Tom Holland-led film, and his character’s narrative was advanced.
In the film, Garfield’s Peter Parker was able to get a sense of closure and redemption from both his heroic act of saving MJ and the camaraderie and understanding he found with Holland and Macguire’s Spider-Men.
Garfield Was Excited To Return
In the new book The Art of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Garfield discussed how excited he was to reprise his role as Spider-Man and join the MCU.
“It was exciting on so many levels. On a fan level — which I am — and on an actor level, being able to work with my Spider-Man, Tobey, and then the brilliant Tom. Then, on an even deeper level of, well, what does that mean? What can we explore about these three brothers who are separated through time and space?”
The “Essence” of Spider-Man
Diving back into playing Spider-Man, and entering the multiverse, gave Garfield the opportunity to reflect on the different versions of the character that have appeared on the big screen. Reflecting on the character’s psyche, Garfield came to the conclusion that the “essence” of his character was how isolated he is.
“The essence of that character [Peter Parker] is so much about isolation and being a one-man army, especially in the origins of the story. Obviously, with Tom’s iteration, joining in with the Avengers is a deeply reassuring thing — but I think, essentially, he’s a lone kid, and that’s what makes him so compelling and relatable because we all know what that is somehow.”
It is that feeling of isolation that brings the three Peter Parkers closer together in No Way Home. Together, they find out that they are not alone after all.
“It was just suddenly mind-boggling and incredibly healing and beautiful to think, ‘What if you discovered you weren’t in fact alone and that someone was going through the exact same struggle that you felt like you were uniquely going through?’ That feeling like you’re not alone in the universe is quite a powerful thing.”
The Pressure Was Off
Garfield won fans over with his portrayal of an older and wiser Peter Parker, one who has experienced his own failings and loss. With that said Garfield also injected humor and irreverence into his character. According to the actor, he felt like this time around, he had a lot more freedom as Spider-Man.
“I felt like the pressure was off, and I was given a lot of freedom to explore and be the irreverent version of the character that I always felt a connection to — to be messy and free and playful and silly. It just felt like a very free, healing experience.”
Credit To Holland
Reflecting back on the movie, Garfield credits his No Way Home co-stars with helping him become the Spider-Man he always wanted to be
“And that was probably a lot to do with Tom. Tom had to carry that movie. Me and Tobey just got to show up and support him and have some fun.”
Based on the positive reaction that Garfield’s return as Spider-Man received, and with Secret Wars on the horizon, I wouldn’t be surprised if we haven’t seen the last of his Peter Parker.
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