Hollywood’s beloved Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, has a long record of films to his credit, all of which highlight his extraordinary acting abilities. He swung into the Spider-Man franchise in 2012, taking over the iconic role of Tobey Maguire in The Amazing Spider-Man. The film’s director shared some entertaining insight about why he chose Andrew Garfield for the part.
Andrew Garfield was picked as Spider-Man because of his skills at eating burgers
After the box office success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield has a troop of fans demanding his return to the superhero role. Many fans of his The Amazing Spider-Man series are eagerly anticipating the release of a third installment. With the 2012 release of The Amazing Spider-Man, in which Garfield played Peter Parker and Emma Stone played Gwen Stacy, this enduring franchise got its start.
After the second installment’s 2014 release, the series was unfortunately ended. However, there is a rising rumor that Garfield would return to the character in upcoming projects given the popularity of his portrayal of Spider-Man in 2021.
Marc Webb, the man behind The Amazing Spider-Man, revealed one of the main factors that went into casting Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker in an interview with Yahoo Movies. “We tested a lot of really talented, wonderful young actors,” said Webb. He further continued saying, “There was a moment when — I mean this sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. We were doing a scene that’s not in the movie, where he was eating a cheeseburger and telling Gwen to like calm down or to –[try] to put her at ease, while he is eating food.”
Webb was particularly impressed by Garfield’s attention to detail in that burger-eating scene.
Andrew Garfield’s burger-eating attention to detail impressed Marc Webb
Director Marc Webb is pleased that he had the chance to watch Andrew Garfield’s genuine self shine through during an audition, even though we never got to see Garfield’s burger-eating skills on the big screen. “The way he ate this food – it was such a dumb task – such a dumb independent activity that you give to an actor to do, and he did it,” Webb vividly recalled the incident. He further explained his feelings saying, “ I felt like there’s something in the way he embodied and committed to that really tiny minutia – I just hadn’t seen before. I can’t explain exactly what I felt like it worked, but that was it.” It’s evidence of how even the most basic tasks can highlight an actor’s skill.
Although Garfield’s burger-eating skills may have set him apart, it was his chemistry with Emma Stone that secured his role as Peter Parker. The two actors had a great friendship, director Webb recalled with affection, and they brought out the best in one another on screen. For the time being, all that is left to do is hope and wish that The Amazing Spider-Man 3 will eventually be made.
Source: Yahoo Movies
Frequently asked questions
Why did Marc Webb cast Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man after watching him eat a burger?
During auditions for The Amazing Spider-Man, director Marc Webb ran a scene that wasn’t in the movie, in which Andrew Garfield ate a cheeseburger while trying to put Gwen Stacy at ease and calm her down. Webb said the way Garfield committed to that ‘really tiny minutia’ revealed a level of embodiment he ‘hadn’t seen before,’ which helped convince him Garfield was right for Peter Parker. The cheeseburger bit was an audition exercise and never appeared on screen.
Did Andrew Garfield’s chemistry with Emma Stone affect his casting?
Yes. According to Marc Webb, while the burger-eating audition moment stood out, it was ultimately Garfield’s chemistry with Emma Stone, who played Gwen Stacy, that secured his role as Peter Parker. Webb recalled that the two had a great rapport and brought out the best in one another on screen, and they went on to star together across The Amazing Spider-Man films.
Which Spider-Man films did Andrew Garfield star in as Peter Parker?
Andrew Garfield played Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), taking over the role from Tobey Maguire, and returned for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014); both were directed by Marc Webb and co-starred Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. He later reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), which renewed fan demand for an Amazing Spider-Man 3.
