SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Star Marisa Tomei Says MCU Plans For Aunt May Changed "But It's Turned Out Okay"

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Star Marisa Tomei Says MCU Plans For Aunt May Changed "But It's Turned Out Okay"

Spider-Man: No Way Home star Marisa Tomei has reflected on her Marvel Cinematic Universe experience, revealing that plans for May Parker have changed quite a bit from what she was originally pitched...

News
By JoshWilding - Dec 10, 2021 06:12 AM EST
Filed Under: No Way Home
Source: Collider

When Marvel Studios cast Marisa Tomei as May Parker in Captain America: Civil War, it's fair to say fans were surprised by the direction they were taking Spider-Man's Aunt in. Considerably younger than her comic book counterpart, this May has also been far more active in Peter's life as a superhero after discovering his secret identity in Spider-Man: Homecoming. 

Talking to Collider about her role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tomei praised director Jon Watts and how he's guided her through the craziness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

"I love him, I trust him so much as a director, and he’s so brilliant and so fun to be around," the actress enthused. "So, with each installment, I get to know him a little better, and we get to even explore more ideas, ideas that we had from the beginning that might happen later, we can pick up threads together since we’ve had these three films together."

When the site asked about how Aunt May's arc was first pitched when she was cast in 2015, Tomei admitted that things haven't panned out exactly the way she expected. "Well, yeah. I mean, it’s not exactly what I was told from the beginning, but it’s turned out okay," she said, adding the following when asked if she knew about plans to explore the Multiverse. "No, that stuff is so top secret, I’m not told about that stuff until it has to be revealed to me."

It's a shame Tomei didn't elaborate on what the original plan for May was in the MCU, though playing Spider-Man's aunt certainly hasn't been a thankless role. While we would have liked to see a little more of her, May has been a pivotal part of her nephew's journey, and that should continue in No Way Home (we're also hoping to find out whether she patched things up with Happy Hogan). 

Spider-Man: No Way Home arrives in U.S. on December 17 and in the UK on December 15.

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Origame
Origame - 12/10/2021, 6:44 AM
What ideas though? So far she's just been unrealistically supportive of Peter being Spiderman and having various iron man characters talking about how hot she is. There really hasn't been much to this version of the character.
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 12/10/2021, 7:00 AM
@Origame - yeah but she is pretty hot.
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2021, 7:14 AM
@Gmoney84 - yes she is.

...but she's supposed to be aunt may.
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2021, 7:17 AM
@JakeyChappers - different doesn't mean good. And I can't even say she's necessarily good or bad as a character. She's a nothing character, existing purely because Peter is too young to be living on his own yet. Say what you will about hearing those motivational speeches, but at least that serves a function within the story. And it's not like we got around that. They just gave those speeches to other characters.
Chappers
Chappers - 12/10/2021, 8:06 AM
@Origame - In both of the previous iterations it was insinuated Aunt May knew he was Spider-man for a long time anyway and she never said anything. Aunt May in the MCU is way more representative of a modern day Auntie in regards to age and how she acts. A bit weird that we're saying she has to be old, unattractive and fragile to be any good
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2021, 8:36 AM
@JakeyChappers - 1) insinuations aren't confirmations. It's very likely both versions just know the general problems Peter is going through instead of specifically that it's Spiderman related. But even still, much of those insinuations are involving Peter going through an existential crisis and unsure if he can continue being Spiderman, meaning their words of encouragement are meant to be a reconciliation that this is who Peter is and he needs to be Spiderman. Such a realization never happened with mcu aunt may.

2) never said she had to be fragile or unattractive. But Peter is our surrogate character in these movies, so we shouldn't be looking at his parental figure as being attractive in a sexual way. And as for old, yes she doesn't need that to be a good character. But she needs it to be aunt may. Because aunt may is an elderly character.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/10/2021, 8:51 AM
@Origame - What is with you and always thinking "attractive" means a sexual way? You try arguing this every time there's a topic about Aunt May. Because someone opines that another person is attractive doesn't automatically mean it's sexual.

Also, this Aunt May is WAAAYYY more realistic than 90 year old decrepit Aunt May. The comics and the previous films are NOT the MCU. Your expectations of wanting a cookie cutter character is entirely silly. This is the May of the MCU, not a carbon copy of another iteration.
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2021, 9:02 AM
@Tonic24k - funny thing? I'm not the one saying it. The movie is. Repeatedly.

Also, what's so unrealistic about a kid being taken care of by an elder? And the actress who played aunt may in the raimi trilogy was in her 70s, but anyway to make it sound worse.

Finally, saying I want a cookie cutter character when defending the mcu aunt may is hilarious. She's the most generic parental character ever now.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/11/2021, 1:19 PM
@Origame - There's nothing "sexual" about May being attractive. That's just a sensationalized statement. And yes, saying the old May is 90 was being exaggerated on purpose. But it still remains that it never made sense to have an aunt be more like a grandma. And the MCU May is far more likable and relatable than the others. Complaining about this version every opportunity you have is just irrational.
Origame
Origame - 12/11/2021, 3:14 PM
@Tonic24k - 1) again, my whole comment about her being sexy was in response to how we're having all these iron man characters talking about it, as well as just random people on the street.

2) a woman is capable of having children from ages 12 to 51. Now assuming the mother of Ben and Richard Parker was at least 18, it's possible for her to have had Richard at a later time in her life than Ben. With upwards of a 30 year difference. And it even happened with my cousins so it's not even like it's that unlikely.

3) you're confusing opinion for fact here. Personally I can't relate to someone who's just fine with her nephew being in danger, and I like a parental figure who's motivational.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/13/2021, 10:08 AM
@Origame - I know what's capable...but it's certainly not typical. MOST aunts to a kid in high school are not grandma ages. And also, we're talking about a CBM here...there are far more unbelievable events in this franchise than an aunt supporting her nephew's heroics.

And at the end of the day, Aunt May in the MCU is not Aunt May from the comics. This is a different universe from those stories. Just like how there's a white Nick Fury and a black Nick Fury....just wrap your head around the fact that the MCU is an original take on the character and she's written to be more relatable and more like an actual aunt.
Origame
Origame - 12/13/2021, 12:11 PM
@Tonic24k - 1) so what if it's not typical? It's also not typical to be raised by your aunt in the first place or to be a genius.

2) you're the one arguing about believability. I'm just arguing they keep the character as is from the comics.

3) change is to be expected, yes. But everything outside of literally being an aunt is taken from the character.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/15/2021, 9:59 AM
@Origame - Dude....the MCU is NOT the comics. There are a slew of departures from the comics. Films are adaptations of the comics, not carbon copies. They freshen the stories up to give them uniqueness. When you gonna realize that?
Origame
Origame - 12/15/2021, 10:42 AM
@Tonic24k - I like how you have to ignore every other point I said because you know how wrong you are, and just arguing the one singular point you actually can.

And even then, you're ignoring what I actually said. So I'll repeat word for word what I actually said since it still works as a response here.

Change is to be expected, yes. But everything outside of literally being an aunt is taken from the character.

When are YOU gonna realize what I'm actually arguing?
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/15/2021, 5:13 PM
@Origame - Pwhaha. No dude. I didn't ignore any points because I felt wrong. I didn't bother arguing your other points because they're [frick]ing dumb. But since you wanna bring more attention to it, i'll help you out here. Peter being raised by his widowed aunt is a big part of the character. Maintaining the essence of a character is important. How old she is and--god forbid--how attractive she is doesn't take away from that element. You're whining again that she's attractive and it's silly. Move on from that. Stop complaining for once in your life.

Also, I don't care to follow your annoying ass bullet point format. I responded with a generalized argument in paragraph format. It was meant to cut the argument back down to its main focus.

But hey, I'll remember this for next time. I'll fragment my next argument into 100 bullet points and tell you you're wrong for not adhering to my exact format and responding to each point individually. 🤡
Origame
Origame - 12/15/2021, 6:02 PM
@Tonic24k - 1) ...no, you ignored them because you legit couldn't think of any. don't hide it dude. that's even more pathetic.

2) So her being a widowed aunt is a big part of her character (even though everything concerning her being widowed and an aunt is completely ignored in this version), but not her age, which is where her wisdom comes from? You know, the wisdom that she uses as her literal role in the narrative? Can you even tell me one thing about her being a widowed aunt that is added to her character and is with this version of the character?

3) My complaint has never been about attractiveness. And the fact that you keep saying that is hilarious.

4) God forbid I make this actually readable and easy to follow. But anyway for you to try and make me sound worse.

5) Today I learned you struggle counting to three.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/15/2021, 11:19 PM
@Origame -

1. Wrong.
2. She actually plays an aunt. A fun aunt that understands the situation. Not a cliche grandma that's not even a grandma.
3. Um, yes it has been and that's other character's interest toward her is "sexual" which makes your complaint even more eye-rolling.
4. I can read paragraphs just fine. And putting every single argument you ever have in bullet points doesn't help at all...it just makes you look like a sociopath. Get some self awareness. Everyone chuckles at your bullet pointing. It's so try-hard.
5. Four
Origame
Origame - 12/16/2021, 4:26 AM
@Tonic24k - 1) well fine. Stay in denial.

2) that's literally just calling her an aunt. Seriously, what is she doing that a mother wouldn't? And cliche means it's lost it's original meaning. Being an old and wise person giving advice has been her role since the very beginning.

3) yes, other characters. And they directly call her hot regularly. And yet you still insist there's a difference between attractiveness and sexiness that I "don't understand".

4) dude you can barely follow three points. Also, sociopath? For labeling my points with numbers? Something people regularly do in SPOKEN conversations? You really are trying desperately to make me look bad.

5) no. If you look on the original comment I made before you started ignoring points, there are three comments. One, two, three. Now let's start our ABC's.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 12/16/2021, 6:52 PM
@Origame -

1-5. Stop complaining so much
Origame
Origame - 12/16/2021, 7:04 PM
@Tonic24k - 1-5 no
Origame
Origame - 12/16/2021, 7:04 PM
@Origame - 6. Learn to count
Chappers
Chappers - 12/10/2021, 6:52 AM
Don't understand the hate towards her portrayal being different to the older movies or less of a focus. we're getting something different with entirely different focuses than the Raimi and TASM movies had.

We've seen the frail Aunt May and motivational speeches so many times. If those movies never happened then i'm sure the MCU would have them front and centre, they're distancing these Spidey movies from anything that came before
ScottSummers
ScottSummers - 12/10/2021, 7:28 AM
@JakeyChappers - It's the same logic people use when complaining that we don't have an Uncle Ben yet. They just want to have the same story elements repeated over and over again. It's the same kind of mentality that led to Batman's parents being murdered AGAIN in BvS, and they'll want flashbacks to it in the new trilogy as well.

These people don't think outside their little immature entitled bubble.

All this crying does is stifle expansion of the mythos. If it were up to them, we'd all be driving Model Ts, because why ever would you explore a new idea?
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/10/2021, 7:05 AM
She's hot but doesn't feel like Aunt May when I see her on screen,I guess it's because she has always been old in the comics.

I reckon Aunt May is going to die in this movie.
IcePyke
IcePyke - 12/10/2021, 7:07 AM
Rosemary Harris is the True Aunt May!!

'Nuff said!
bobevanz
bobevanz - 12/10/2021, 8:32 AM
@IcePyke - bUt ShEs HoT
IcePyke
IcePyke - 12/10/2021, 9:22 AM
@bobevanz -
I know she's hot! (SuPerHoT!!!)
But for me she's not Aunt May
BatNips
BatNips - 12/10/2021, 7:21 AM
She ded
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 12/10/2021, 7:38 AM
😍
SeanMPC
SeanMPC - 12/10/2021, 7:54 AM
People forget that by Spider-Man 3, old Aunt May giving Peter an uplifting speech had become a joke/meme/fairly tired already. Sally Field was a great version too, but a little bit more of the same.

Marisa Tomei had some nice scenes with Peter in Homecoming, and YES she was barely in FFH, but the Europe story kind of necessitated that anyway.

I feel like we're gonna get some decent scenes with her in NWH, either due to Happy's death or others.
Chappers
Chappers - 12/10/2021, 8:09 AM
@SeanMPC - This is essentially the point i'm gettin at. I have no issues with Tomei's portrayal of Aunt May but I do think she could be in more scenes with Peter and have more to say which NWH might give us. but as for her Age and how she acts it's very representative of a modern day Auntie so I don't have a problem with it.

Don't think we should be forcing Aunt May into scenes or locations where it doesn't make sense, like your point with FFH
YonnyLayna
YonnyLayna - 12/10/2021, 8:08 AM
Pretty dumb that they went all the.way to "Update" MJ to the point of not being the same character but sexualize Aunt May tonthe.point she serves the same hot girl - nerd guy fantasy but.with Happy Hoggan
GhostDog
GhostDog - 12/10/2021, 8:29 AM
They’ve wasted this character
bobevanz
bobevanz - 12/10/2021, 8:33 AM
I don't think she makes it out alive, just my two cents
TheRealMandarin
TheRealMandarin - 12/10/2021, 8:45 AM
Yea-she gone die
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 12/10/2021, 9:13 AM
She’s fine for a new version of aunt may.

The only problem is that she is WAYYYY too supportive of Spider-Man. I mean she does a complete 180 from Homecoming to FFH.

FFH completely dropped the ball on her character. In HC she told Peter to run away from danger and her shock at the end was foreshadowing to problems in the next film. Then you watch FFH and she’s like...eh whatever, my nephew is rich and famous now.
KelvTwelve
KelvTwelve - 12/10/2021, 9:29 AM
@HulkisHorny - absolutely agreed. I was watching behind the scenes and they were saying how they thought it would be a fun inversion to have her turn out to be completely fine with it, but there's just so much more you could explore if she knew and WASN'T fine with it.

Like, imagine a world where Aunt May didn't get blipped but Peter still did. Imagine the anger she would feel towards Tony. We're literally seeing this kind of relationship play out with Kate Bishop's mom and Hawkeye when it should've been Aunt May and Tony.
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