Spider-Man: No Way Home continues to be the star of internet conversation despite having been released in theaters more than a month ago. This is partially fueled by Sony officially releasing photos of all three Spider-Men from the film. While their involvement was known for quite some time, the studios still almost never included them in marketing.
Seeing Tobey Garfield and Andrew Garfield back in their Spidey suits brought an adrenaline rush that most audiences never thought they'd experience. Having three generations of wall-crawlers all swinging together and fighting a near Sinister Six was a dream come true.
One standout moment in the movie for many fans was when Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man saved Zendaya's MJ. The emotional scene brought tears to viewers' eyes as Garfield's Peter was overwhelmed by his successful catch—something that didn't go down well with Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
According to a new interview, that fan-favorite moment was almost very different from how it was previously, which may have lessened the impact.
Last Minute Improvement for Spider-Man and MJ
In an interview with Variety, Spider-Man: No Way Home sound designer Tony Lamberti commented on that big moment when Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker saves Zendaya's MJ.
According to Lamberti, at one point the scene "was scored with a giant choir," but then a comment by Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman Tim Roth changed everything:
“It was scored with a giant choir, but when Tom Rothman, head of the studio saw the playback, he told the room and everyone involved that we were selling ourselves short by not making it a real catch-your-breath moment.”
The team ended up listening to Rothman, and stripped out the music, "turn[ing] it into a sound design moment at the 11th hour:"
"We turned it into a sound design moment at the 11th hour... Andrew catches her and they come to the ground. They have their little emotional moment, and then it’s back into music.”
Spider-Man Saved By The Sound Design
It's incredible how such important decisions can happen so late in the game. Of course, sometimes blaring the score is a perfect choice. However, that's not always the answer. In realizing this, the sound designers made one of the best moments in the film infinitely better and more impactful.
One of the best aspects of Spider-Man: No Way Home is how the creatives behind the score knew when to have it blasting at max volume or when to keep it toned down. The music is often more subtle and soft in the background, which perfectly gives audiences that nostalgic emotional boost while allowing everything on screen not to be overwhelmed.
The subtle The Amazing Spider-Man theme playing in the background when Andrew Garfield first enters the MCU perfectly balances everything happening on screen. It allows the audiences to feel that nostalgic satisfaction while also being able to experience and focus on the sense of wonder that his Peter was going through at the same time.
Then there's the moment that fans consistently rave about: the three Spider-Men swinging together. This is a scene where subtly isn't the answer, and the sound designers clearly knew that. Instead, the loud music felt triumphant and hopeful and matched the epicness of what was on screen.
For those that want to re-experience Spider-Man: No Way Home, it's still playing in theaters worldwide.
