Kirsten Dunst, the Mary Jane Watson of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, has recently materialized from the ether to quickly become the people’s champion. After a self-imposed hiatus, Dunst, now a mother of two and an Oscar nominee to boot, has candidly revealed why she’d sling back into the superhero fray, and her answer is one we were definitely not expecting.
It’s been a minute (two years, to be exact) since Dunst appeared on theater screens, a break she attributed to the challenging task of shedding the “sad mom” typecast that’s dogged her steps post-motherhood.
Despite her remarkable career, which boasts a turn as a tormented mother in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, Hollywood’s bigwigs seemed to offer only narrow roles to an actress of her caliber. Typecasting is something most actors fervently try to dodge, for good reason.
This might then explain why, when Marie Claire broached the subject of a superhero genre return, Dunst’s response was refreshingly frank: “Yes, because you get paid a lot of money, and I have two children and I support my mother.” It’s a practicality that resonates in an industry often shrouded in glamor yet not immune to the economic realities facing working parents everywhere.
From the audience’s point of view, Dunst’s honest answer is a stark contrast to the usual Hollywood facade. Having sailed through the ebbs and flows of fame since her early days, Dunst has made it clear that she isn’t looking to ride the superhero wave for clout. Instead, she’s eyeing the future for roles that might resonate with her, all while keeping her family’s well-being in the foreground.
“I don’t want to take my kid out of school for a role unless I cannot say no, and it’s that incredible,” she stated, reflecting a sentiment many a working parent can attest to. As for the superhero scene, it’s shifted dramatically since Dunst’s days as MJ. The mantle has passed, from Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy to Zendaya’s MJ, each iteration offering a new lens through which to view Peter Parker’s world.
Nevertheless, the idea of Dunst’s return, whether as an “older Mary Jane” or another caped crusader, isn’t just a flight of fancy. It’s clear evidence of the enduring appeal of these characters – and the entire Raimi run of Spider-Man – and perhaps a testament to Dunst’s own lasting legacy within the superhero genre.
The buzz on social media, where fanboys and haters alike dissect every small detail, has been filled with praise for Dunst’s honesty. As one Twitter user accurately put it, “This is the most honest answer this question has ever gotten, and I respect the hell out of it.”
The last installment in Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy was released in 2007, and 17 years later, fans remain hopeful for Spider-Man 4 against all odds. Though it looks more and more unlikely to happen as the days go by, Raimi has previously expressed that he wouldn’t be opposed to directing another Spider-Man film if he received a script he approved of.
Until then, Dunst fans can look forward to her upcoming A24 film, Civil War, which is set to be released in theaters on April 12.
