Andrew Garfield took the entirety of the MCU fandom by surprise when he stepped out of the portal in Spider-Man: No Way Home, released in December 2021. Until then, things were so tightly under wraps that even Tom Holland, infamous for spoiling movies, could not do the fans a favor by spoiling it beforehand.
What is even more interesting is Garfield’s reaction when he learned that Tobey Maguire was willing to do a cameo in the movie. In fact, he did not reveal his reaction until now, and we are just as surprised as we were back then.
Andrew Garfield Had a Surprising Reaction to Tobey Maguire’s Cameo
Andrew Garfield succeeded Tobey Maguire in the reboot of the Spider-Man franchise in 2012. The first movie titled The Amazing Spider-Man was received well and was the 7th-highest-grossing movie of the year with a worldwide gross of $758.7 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
The second movie was released in 2014, but it received mixed reactions. Consequently, Sony decided to scrap the third movie and thus ended Garfield’s run as the web-slinging superhero, of whom he has been a huge fan for years. Even so, in all the years since then, fans could not help but wonder if he was ever going to put on the suit again.
Ahead of the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, rumors began swirling that both Maguire and Garfield would reprise their roles. Everyone involved in its making did a great job of keeping their casting a secret. Recently, in an interview with Esquire, Garfield revealed his reaction when he learned that The Great Gatsby actor was approached for a cameo.
I thought, Tobey is not going to want to do that. Tobey will act every 10 years, much to my chagrin, and I’ve shared that to him. When I heard that he was kind of leaning in I was like, ‘It is either going to be the greatest thing in the world or the worst thing in the world.’
Thankfully, it was the former. After getting over the initial shock, a wave of nostalgia washed over the viewers to witness all three live-action versions of Spider-Man in the same movie. The film quite literally made history as it grossed $1.9 billion worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), making it the highest-grossing movie of the year.
Andrew Garfield Says Return to His Role as Spider-Man Was “Healing”
Much like Tom Holland who manifested his role as Spidey, Garfield has always been passionate about playing the neighborhood superhero. When Sony scrapped his third solo movie, the Hacksaw Ridge actor was obviously a bit disappointed.
No Way Home seemed like the universe’s way of giving him the closure he needed. In Esquire‘s latest issue, he said, “It was really healing for me.” When asked if he would do it again, his answer was affirmative.
For sure, I would 100 percent come back if it was the right thing, if it’s additive to the culture, if there’s a great concept or something that hasn’t been done before that’s unique and odd and exciting and that you can sink your teeth into.
He loves the character and finds it joyful. He claimed that if what he was doing was making everyone happy, then he was happy to do it. So, Marvel and Sony know what to do because fans are as ready as ever to welcome him back.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is available for streaming on Fubo.
Frequently asked questions
What was Andrew Garfield’s reaction to learning Tobey Maguire might join the Spider-Man: No Way Home cameo?
In a recent Esquire interview, Garfield said he initially doubted Maguire would participate, noting that Maguire “will act every 10 years.” He recalled thinking that once Maguire leaned in, the team-up was “either going to be the greatest thing in the world or the worst thing in the world.” The article reports it turned out to be the former, delivering major nostalgia for audiences.
Would Andrew Garfield return to play Spider-Man again?
Yes. The article reports Garfield said he would “100 percent come back if it was the right thing,” provided the concept is additive to the culture and offers something unique he can sink his teeth into. He called his No Way Home return “healing” after Sony cancelled his third solo film, and the article notes Marvel and Sony know fans remain eager for his return.
How did Spider-Man: No Way Home and Andrew Garfield’s earlier films perform at the box office?
According to the article, Spider-Man: No Way Home (released December 2021) earned $1.9 billion worldwide, becoming that year’s highest-grossing film. Garfield’s 2012 debut, The Amazing Spider-Man, grossed $758.7 million globally and ranked as the seventh-highest earner of its year. A 2014 sequel drew mixed reviews, leading Sony to cancel a planned third installment.
