I’m convinced Gwen Stacy is finally about to join theMCUthanks to a glaring clue inSpider-Man 4’s working title. AfterSpider-Man: No Way Homeraked in thethird-highest global box office for the MCU, it’s no surprise that the studio made a beeline for the sequel before movies likeThor 5andDoctor Strange 3have even been confirmed. I’m certainly not complaining, asSpider-Man: No Way Homeremains one of myfavorite MCU movies, and the sooner we can see the progression ofSpider-Man’s MCU journey, the better.
As it happens, I think this path will lead him straight to Gwen Stacy, a character that hasn’t been seen in live-action since Sony’s ill-fatedThe Amazing Spider-Man 2in 2014. Fans like myself have questioned whether Peter Parker’s pre-MJ love interest from Marvel Comics would debut at all in the MCU given Tom Holland’s Peter Parker was immediately involved with the supposed love of his life from his second movie. True to form, however, I think the MCU is about to debut Gwen Stacy more unconventionally, and here’s how.
Why Spider-Man 4’s Working Title Has Me Convinced Gwen Stacy Will Appear
Spider-Man 4’s Working Title Is “Blue Oasis”
Spider-Man 4is fully in development, with Tom Holland revealing that he and Zendaya (who portrays MJ in the MCU) have already read at least one version of the script. According toThe Cosmic Circus,the working title for the movie while in development is “Blue Oasis.“The MCU’s reported working titles are interesting, as while some of them are purely used as red herrings to throw the ever-prying eyes of fans off the scent of the project, some working titles can hint at what to expect.
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If this is the case for “Blue Oasis,” thenMarvel may be about to adapt theSpider-Man: Bluerun of comics. This emotional run depicted Peter Parker embodying the comic’s subtitle as he reminisces over a now-dead Gwen Stacy following the tragic events adapted inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2. Gwen Stacy plays a central role in these comics, albeit through memories - but it’s not as ifSpider-Man 4will faithfully adapt this run. Instead, I think Marvel may be referencing the importance of Gwen Stacy in this upcoming narrative.
Gwen Stacy Has Been Widely Speculated To Be Peter Parker’s New Love Interest
She Has Yet To Be Introduced To The MCU Despite Her Importance To Peter’s Story
Spider-Man: No Way Homehad a heartbreaking moment of its own when Peter Parker bid a tearful goodbye to his first love, MJ. Despite his promise that he would remind her of their history, Peter later decided against nullifying the effects ofDoctor Strange’s memory-wiping spell, leaving MJ (and Ned) in the dark about his identity to protect them from the implications of them being so closely tied. This was a heartbreaking move, though ultimately a demonstration of how Parker has matured as he goes on to fight crime after striking out alone with pure anonymity.
Doctor Strange’s use of the Runes of Kof-Kol made everyone in the MCU forget who Peter Parker was, but not his Spider-Man identity.
While it may feel as though the dust has barely settled on this bombshell, many are already looking towardPeter’s next love interest. While he’s no Tony Stark, Peter Parker has had his fair share of romantic encounters in Marvel Comics, and Black Cat is among the foremost candidates that fans expect/want Marvel to introduce inSpider-Man 4.Another prime candidate, however, is Gwen Stacy, a character whose absence in the MCU is almost as conspicuous as Uncle Ben’s.
Of course, this flies in the face of convention when it comes to Peter Parker’s typical timeline. Yet ofall the MCU’s franchises, Spider-Man is among those that have taken the most creative liberties. Just as MCU MJ isn’t called Mary-Jane, but instead Michelle Jones-Watson, it seems par for the course for Marvel Studios to debut Gwen Stacy (or whatever it decides to rename her as) as MCU Peter’s second love interest instead of his first. Regardless, my prediction is that Peter’s second relationship won’t be fully adapted on-screen.
I Think Gwen And Peter’s Relationship Will Happen Off-Screen
It Would Help To Explain MJ’s Reappearance In Spider-Man 4
There are a few factors that lead me to believe that Peter and Gwen’s MCU romance will occur off-screen. First,Spider-Man 4is slated to be released on July 22, 2025 - one month afterAvengers: Doomsday’s release dateof July 07, 2025. Given the likelihood that Spider-Man will appear inAvengers: Doomsday, or will at the very least be affected by its events, thena significant time-jump will have occurred betweenSpider-Man: No Way HomeandSpider-Man 4. A lot can happen in the space of a few years, and I posit that a relationship with Gwen Stacy could be one of them.
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This is becauseSpider-Man: Bluesees Peter Parker reminiscing about, not experiencing, his relationship with Gwen. I believe this should sidestep Gwen’s death, as it would feel both derivative ofThe Amazing Spider-Man 2and needless without establishing Gwen as a character worth caring about. It could also help to convey how much Peter Parker has grown between his two most recent solo outings, filling the gap with an entire relationship that could help to explain one final factor.
Tom Holland confirmed that he and Zendaya were allowed to read the script forSpider-Man 4, which all but confirms that her MJ will also reappear. Given MJ was ostensibly left out of Peter’s life at the end ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, we’re left wondering how exactly she could slot into the sequel. A prior relationship with Gwen Stacy helps to explain this, as I think Peter will realize his true feelings for MJ during that time and recommit to her inSpider-Man 4- setting up a particularly tear-jerking reunion.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Cast
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the first sequel to the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland as the titular wall-crawler. After wiping his identity from the public’s memory in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker continues his crime-fighting adventures without the aid of Iron Man technology or the support of his former allies.
