Kate Hudson reveals she almost played Mary Jane in Spider-Man

Kate Hudson says she turned down the Mary Jane role in ‘Spider-Man’, choosing ‘Four Feathers’ and Heath Ledger instead

Kate Hudson has revealed that she nearly joined the Spider-Man franchise, turning down the role of Mary Jane Watson in the original 2002 film. The Almost Famous star confirmed on Watch What Happens Live that she passed on the role, which ultimately went to Kirsten Dunst. Hudson reflected on the decision, noting that while it would have been fun to be Mary Jane, the choice led her to star in Four Feathers, where she met Heath Ledger and formed a lasting friendship.

Four Feathers, a war drama also starring Djimon Hounsou and Wes Bentley, released shortly after Spider-Man. While the film received mixed reviews and grossed $29 million against a $35 million budget, Hudson has no regrets about the path she took. “Life happens exactly the way it’s supposed to,” she said, acknowledging that circumstances guided her choices while still admitting it would have been enjoyable to portray the iconic comic character.

Spider-Man went on to gross $826 million worldwide, spawning a trilogy with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst under Sam Raimi’s direction. Maguire briefly returned for Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, but Dunst has not reprised Mary Jane since Spider-Man 3. Hudson emphasized that she feels the original cast were the right people for the role and values the experiences her own career choices brought her.

Beyond Spider-Man, Hudson also revealed she has turned down other roles that would pair her with her mother, Goldie Hawn, citing that the projects would need to feel genuinely funny and different.