The Amazing Spider-Man 2 won’t feature Peter Parker’s one true love (sorry Gwen Stacey, we’re thinking long term here) Mary Jane, in a surprising announcement that cuts the lovely and talented Shailene Woodley from the cast list. With the announcement from Sony that The Amazing Spider-Men 3 and 4 are to follow over the next 5 years, director Marc Webb has obviously decided to explore the MJ story arc in a later film.

Shailene Woodley had already filmed a few scenes as MJ for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, so the news she is being cut altogether comes as something of a surprise. It may be all for the best, however, since it gives Marc Webb more time to build the relationship between Peter Parker and MJ, which will probably the crux of the romantic story arc in the subsequent films of The Amazing Spider-Man series.

Shailene Woodley had this to say on her role being cut from The Amazing Spider-Man 2:

“Of course I’m bummed, but I’m a firm believer in everything happening for a specific reason… based on the proposed plot, I completely understand holding off on introducing [MJ] until the next film”.

Sounds like we’ll be avoiding an awkward love triangle for Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Shailene Woodley in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Thank God, the last time Spidey tried romantic drama we got Spider-Man 3, and we all remember how THAT turned out:

The most unfortunate spin to this story is that Shailene Woodley may not be available for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 or 4. Her star has been rising fast since her role in The Descendants, and her schedule is rather full. This means that Marc Webb may choose to recast Mary Jane for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 now that the strict release schedule has been announced. Poor Shailene Woodley!

Do you think Marc Webb should wait for Shailene Woodley? Who else do you think could play Mary Jane in The Amazing Spider-Man 3?