Following the film’s record-breaking success, director Jon Watts has finally opened up about the process of makingSpider-Man: No Way Homewhile also sharing the one scene that served as a therapy session for the cast.
Spider-Man: No Way Homepicks up immediately whereFar From Homeleft off, as Peter Parker seeks Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) help in restoring his secret identity after the world finds out who Spider-Man really is from Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). Through the use of this magic, Parker must then deal with multiversal consequences. Of course, the real topic of discussion was seeing the return of many characters frompastSpider-Manfilms like Tobey Maguireand Andrew Garfield’s versions of the web-slinger. For every Marvel fan, that was something that many believed they wouldn’t get to witness on the big screen.
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Speaking with Variety, Watts recalled the first day on theset ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, sharing that he had no worry. “I had a deep feeling of gratitude,” Watts said. He and his team began working on the story back in 2019, but when the pandemic came around, a level of uncertainty began to rise. “There was a question ‘Will there ever be movies again?’ There was a feeling that the whole filmmaking experience was in jeopardy," he said.
But being surrounded by an amazing cast and crew, Watts had a feeling that everything would work out. “The first day was completely different from the first day of any film I’ll ever be on, because of the situation. So to be on the set and working, I felt deep gratitude. I think everyone else also felt that gratitude and I hope that comes across,” Watts explained. “I was surrounded by incredible, award-winning actors every day. I love working with actors: It’s nice to be talking with people who have thought about the characters and the scenes at least as much as I have. Everyone was at the top of their game.”
There was one particular scene, however, that every fan, including Watts, was excited to witness. The sceneinvolved all three live-action Spider-Man actorsinteracting on screen together, and Watts pulled the cast together for a “therapy session” before filming the iconic sequence. “We sat on folding chairs in a circle and went through the script together. I had talked to everyone separately, but to have everyone together to talk about the story, how the pieces fit together and what Spider-Man meant to them — that was exciting for me,” Watts shared. “We had the only three actors to ever play Spider-Man in a film, and each had been through so much, on and off screen. It was like a Spider-Man therapy session.” Watts would further add that it was like capturing a once in a lifetime event, as every crew member just stepped back to process and take in what they were witnessing.
While Watts continues relishing in hisSpider-Man: No Way Homesuccess, the director is already gearing up for his next projects. Other than hopping on board to helm the MCU’s version of The Fantastic Four, Watts is also set todirect Brad Pitt and George Clooneyin an upcoming thriller for Apple TV Plus. While both of those films are in early development, it’s clear from Watts’Spider-Mansuccess that he is a filmmaker to look out for and one who will be in the industry for a long time.
