Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies gave us plenty of memorable moments, but the scene that will go down as one of the most iconic in superhero movie (hell, movie full stop) history is that upside-down kiss between Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in the 2002 original.
After rescuing MJ from some thugs in an alley, Spidey lowers himself down to face the love of his life, and MJ peels his mask back and plants a kiss on the hero while the rain pours around them.
As sexy and romantic as the scene was to watch, it doesn't sound like it was at all pleasant to film.
Dunst was asked about the kiss sequence during an appearance on this week's episode of The Jonathan Ross Show.
“I remember [the film’s director] Sam Raimi giving me a book of famous kisses to be inspired, but also he really wanted to make it special even though it was kind of miserable actually doing it."
“It was pouring with rain, freezing, Tobey couldn’t breathe so it was almost like I was resuscitating him,” she added.
Dunst reprised her role for Raimi's next two movies, but didn't return alongside Maguire for Spider-Man: No Way Home despite rumors that she was originally going to appear. Dunst has previously said that she wasn't asked to be a part of the movie, but still hasn't ruled out playing MJ again down the line.
"I mean, listen, no one asked me about anything but I do think that... I mean, this multi-universe just keeps going on and on," she said, before teasing, "I feel like that could happen," she said in a 2022 interview.
Rumors persists that both Maguire and Andrew Garfield are being lined up to appear in the still untitled Spider-Man 4, so if Dunst was ever going to return as Mary Jane, that would seem to be the perfect opportunity.
Have another look at the kiss scene in the player below, and let us know if you'd like to see Dunst back in the role of MJ Watson in the comments section.
Spider-Man centers on student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who, after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. He vows to use his abilities to fight crime, coming to understand the words of his beloved Uncle Ben: "With great power comes great responsibility."