Zendaya's presence is expected to be minimal when Tom Holland's web-slinger returns to the big screen in Spider-Man 4.
Following the "brutal" ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans questioned whether Zendaya's MJ would return for the webhead's next chapter. Thanks to a new report, fans not only have an answer but also an explanation.
Zendaya's "Reduced" Spider-Man 4 Role
According to well-known scooper Jeff Sneider, Zendaya's role as MJ will be "severely reduced" in Spider-Man 4.
While Sneider noted she is in the upcoming film, her role is now described as "minor" largely due to her conflicting schedule.
The A-lister's HBO series Euphoria is reportedly set to shoot from February to July of 2025 while Spider-Man 4 is slated to shoot from June to October.
Following both projects is the Dune threequel, Dune: Messiah (check out everything to know about Dune 3 here), which is scheduled to film from September to January.
This leaves Zendaya with only a limited window in August to shoot Spider-Man 4, resulting in a smaller role for Peter Parker's high school love interest.
A slimmed-down role for MJ was somewhat expected for the 2026 film. Not only did No Way Home end with Doctor Strange's spell, leaving her without any memory of Peter, but Peter made the sacrificial decision to leave MJ alone to give her a normal life.
Spider-Man 4 needs to let Peter and the audience live with his decision, as well as his new life on his own, before bringing MJ back.
What is surprising is the fact that Zendaya's schedule may have been the reason for her scaled-back presence, not Spider-Man 4's story.
As for the latter, producer Amy Pascal recently claimed Spider-Man 4's story will focus on his hardest decision which is choosing "to give up being Peter Parker."
Why Zendaya's Small Spidey Role Is Likely Temporary
Even though Zendaya's MJ may have fewer scenes in Spider-Man 4, it's unlikely that will continue in Spider-Man 5 and beyond.
It's no secret that the A-list actress and Spider-Man's Tom Holland are in a relationship; Zendaya also claims she wanted a different ending to No Way Home, describing it as "awfully sad."
There's also the fact that the Spider-Man: No Way Home script hinted at MJ's upcoming arc and how she will remember Peter. Perhaps that will be better set up in Spider-Man 4, only to be further explored in Spider-Man 5 and within the future of the MCU.
In the meantime, the actress' star power is only expected to rise, especially with Dune: Messiah. Since Dune: Part II changed Chani's story, her role in Dune 3 is a mystery and may give Zendaya even more to work with.
Spider-Man 4 is expected to debut in theaters on July 24, 2026.
