Fans of Spider-Man were treated to some of the biggest cameos of their life when No Way Home was released in 2021. In fact, the appearance of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield was more than a cameo, as their characters were integral to the overall story of the third Tom Holland Spidey installment in the MCU. Their return was a significant reason for No Way Home being one of the most successful movies of all time, despite releasing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The film grossed $1.9 billion against a $200 million budget, dominating the global box office for weeks following its release.
Jacob Batalon has starred alongside Holland in all three of his films, playing Peter Parker's best friend, Ned. Apparently, the actor got a bit too comfortable while filming Spider-Man: No Way Home, telling The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that he brought his girlfriend to set the first day that Maguire and Garfield showed up.
"This is actually really funny but my girlfriend, I brought her on to visit work once and it was inadvertently when Tobey and Andrew first came. I had introduced her to Tobey and she was like, 'Wait. Why is this Spider-Man on your Spider-Man?' And I was like, 'Baby, it's like a really big secret. So don't say nothing.' She's not a big fan but she obviously loves Spider-Man. I think that she was going to tell her dad. Just like out of nowhere. And I had to stop her. But her dad wasn't going to say anything, I just feel like she's not used to this world, obviously."
"So she sat on it for a year and a half. She knew the secret everyone wanted to know. Shout out to her. She definitely got to know [Maguire and Garfield] really quick."
Spider-Man: No Way Home faced its fair share of leaks before the eventual release, but a confirmation from Batalon's girlfriend would've been detrimental to the cast and crew of the project. Luckily, most fans still had the surprise of a lifetime in theaters and one that won't soon be forgotten.
Maguire and Garfield's Return Was Long Overdue
Tobey Maguire was the first introduction to a live-action Spider-Man for many fans. He appeared in Spider-Man beginning in 2002 until the end of his trilogy in 2007. The second film is widely regarded as one of the best comic-book adaptations to date, despite the lackluster response to the third and final movie.
Garfield would take over the role in 2012 with The Amazing Spider-Man, returning in 2014 for the sequel. His two projects didn't receive as much praise from fans or critics during their initial release. However, Garfield's portrayal of Peter Parker and his web-slinging counterpart has since become a fan favorite along with Maguire.
Tom Holland began portraying the beloved character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016 when he appeared in Captain America: Civil War before he started his solo trilogy. Seeing all three actors on-screen at once was something no Spider-Man fan could forget and was long overdue for audiences who have waited to see Maguire back as Parker since 2007. Now, fans can only hope we see more of Maguire and Garfield in their beloved roles, although Spider-Man: No Way Home was enough to satisfy any Spidey fanatic.