She almost landed in 'Spider-Man' - Kate Hudson Rejected Mary Jane in *Spider-Man*—Here’s Why She Never Regretted It
The 2002 film Spider-Man became a global hit, earning $826 million at the box office. Tobey Maguire starred as Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s trilogy, with Kirsten Dunst taking on the role of Mary Jane Watson. Yet the part of Mary Jane could have gone to another actress entirely—Kate Hudson was originally offered the role but turned it down.
In 2002, as Spider-Man was in pre-production, Hudson chose a different path. She opted to star in The Four Feathers, a war drama, instead of playing Peter Parker’s love interest. Years later, she reflected that the decision felt right at the time, believing things unfold as they should.
On the set of The Four Feathers, Hudson met Heath Ledger, and the two became close friends. Meanwhile, Kirsten Dunst stepped into the role of Mary Jane, appearing in all three of Raimi’s Spider-Man films. The franchise’s success solidified Maguire’s place as the iconic spiderman for over a decade. Maguire later returned to the character in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), sharing the screen with Tom Holland, who now plays the hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hudson, however, has never expressed regret over her choice, standing by her decision to pursue The Four Feathers instead.
Hudson’s career took a different turn, while Dunst became synonymous with Mary Jane Watson. The Spider-Man franchise continued to evolve, with Holland now leading the series in the MCU. Meanwhile, Maguire’s return in No Way Home brought his version of the character back to audiences after nearly two decades.
