Share and Follow
Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” promises a mix of familiar faces and newcomers that could shake up the franchise. However, there’s a rumored addition that might stir comic book fans, giving them a new character to love or loathe. Dive into the video above to explore the full story.
Speculation is rife that Eman Esfandi, known for portraying Ezra Bridger in “Ahsoka,” is gearing up to join the “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” ensemble. The buzz suggests that Esfandi will take on the role of MJ’s (played by Zendaya) new beau, Paul Rabin. This name might trigger a reaction among “The Amazing Spider-Man” enthusiasts, as Paul and his distinctive man bun are not universally loved in the Marvel community.
But is Paul Rabin truly villainous in the Marvel Comics? Not quite. He’s generally portrayed as a decent guy, yet his presence is divisive because he stands between Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker rekindling their romance. Given how Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man” films have frequently drawn inspiration from various comic book arcs, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Paul emerge as a formidable rival for MJ’s affections.
Should Paul Rabin indeed become MJ’s love interest in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” it would mark the first instance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Tom Holland’s Spider-Man faces competition for MJ’s heart. Previously, Tobey Maguire’s rendition of Peter Parker navigated a similar landscape, contending with multiple suitors for MJ (Kirsten Dunst).
In Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” series, MJ first dates Flash Thompson (Joe Manganiello) and then Harry Osborn (James Franco). This presents a challenging dynamic for Peter, as Flash is his tormentor, while Harry is his closest friend. Despite this, MJ confesses her love for Peter by the end of “Spider-Man,” though Peter turns her down, worried that their relationship could put her in danger from his enemies.
Is Paul all that bad in Marvel Comics? No, not at all. He’s actually a decent dude for the most part, but some readers hate him because he’s the roadblock preventing Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker from getting back together as a couple. Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man” movies haven’t been shy about borrowing bits and bobs from various comic book storylines before, so it wouldn’t be all too surprising to see Paul included as Peter’s heated rival for MJ’s affection.
There’s a history of Peter Parker versus MJ’s boyfriends
Sony Pictures Releasing
If Paul Rabin features as a love interest for MJ in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” it’ll be the first time Tom Holland’s Web-Head will have to compete for MJ’s attention in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Previously, Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker battled almost as many suitors as he did villains to date MJ (Kirsten Dunst).
In Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man,” MJ dates Flash Thompson (Joe Manganiello), followed by Harry Osborn (James Franco). For Peter, it’s a complicated situation, because Flash is his bully and Harry is his best friend. Yet MJ tells Peter she loves him at the end of “Spider-Man.” Peter rejects her, though, fearing that villains will come after her if they become too close.
“Spider-Man 2” sees MJ engaged to astronaut John Jameson (Daniel Gillies). On her wedding day, MJ leaves John at the altar to find Peter and tell him that she wants to be with them. Finally, they become an item. Hooray! Yeah, they have a fallout in “Spider-Man 3,” mostly because of the symbiote influencing Peter, but they patch things up when all is said and done. Could the same happen for Holland’s Peter and Zendaya’s MJ in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” — or will Paul become glued to MJ’s hip from now on? Watch the video above to find out more.