Andrew Garfield reaffirms support for a gay Spider-Man

Actor Andrew Garfield has reaffirmed his long-standing support for the idea of a queer Spider-Man, describing his original 2013 comments as an “exercise in rebellion.” Speaking in recent interviews to promote his film “The Uprising,” Garfield reiterated his belief that the character’s universal appeal lies in the fact that “anyone can be in that suit” because the mask obscures skin color, gender, and sexuality.

Reflecting on his time portraying Peter Parker in “The Amazing Spider-Man” films, Garfield recalled suggesting that the character could explore his sexuality or that the iconic love interest, Mary Jane Watson, could be reimagined as a male character. At the time, he had even proposed Michael B. Jordan for the role to create what he called “interracial bisexuality.”

While Marvel has since introduced the gay Spider-Man character Web-Weaver in comic books, Garfield noted that the cinematic versions of Peter Parker have traditionally focused on heterosexual romantic arcs. He maintains that inclusivity is a key component of why the character remains a beloved figure in fiction.