MJ (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

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MJ
File:Zendaya as MJ.jpeg
MJ, as portrayed by Zendaya in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).
First appearance Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Last appearance Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Created by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Portrayed by Zendaya
Information
Nickname(s) MJ
Family Unnamed Mother and Father
Nationality American

Michelle Jones-Watson, most commonly known as MJ, is a fictional character portrayed by Zendaya in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise, an original character within the media franchise that pays homage to Mary Jane "MJ" Watson, a recurring love interest of Spider-Man in comic books and various media.[1][2][3]

She is depicted as a smart, snarky classmate of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and becomes his love interest in the sequel Spider-Man: Far From Home, a unique aspect for original characters within the MCU franchise and upon Spider-Man feature films preceding it.[4] She returns in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), helping Peter, Ned and Dr. Strange to capture multiple villains that have entered their universe from the multiverse.[5] Initially, Zendaya's role was the subject of controversy, due to the belief that an African American had been cast to portray Mary Jane Watson, though her portrayal received positive reviews after Homecoming's release as a strong female supporting cast member, additionally receiving the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Far From Home.

Creation and concept

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She has a really cool wardrobe, really funny, lots of literary nods. I like the idea that she’s a real reader and bookish. She always has a big pile of books she’s carrying around, which I picked and obsessed over.

—Jon Watts, director[6]

According to Spider-Man: Homecoming co-screenwriter John Francis Daley, MJ was intended as a reinvention of Mary Jane Watson.[7] While her nickname reveal was an homage to the supporting character within the comic books and other Spider-Man media, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed she is an original Marvel Cinematic Universe character.[8] Feige added: "Peter's had a lot of friends over the years in the comics, and a lot of schoolmates and characters he’s interacted with. It wasn't just Mary Jane Watson; it wasn't just Gwen Stacy; it wasn’t just Harry Osborn. So we were very interested in the other characters, and that’s where Liz came from and that’s where the version of the character Michelle came from."[9] Jon Watts, director of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home, likened the character to Ally Sheedy's Allison Reynolds from The Breakfast Club (1985) and Linda Cardellini's Lindsay Weir from Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000).[6]

The character's full name is Michelle Jones-Watson, which was first revealed in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Until that point, she had been known only as Michelle, or Michelle Jones.[10]

Portrayal and characterization

File:Zendaya by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Zendaya portrays the character within the MCU.

MJ is portrayed by actress Zendaya within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a student at Midtown School of Science and Technology, as one of Peter Parker's classmates and friends. Years after Liz's departure, she and Peter start a romantic relationship. MJ is snarky and coy, but also kind and friendly. She often acts as the voice of reason, and she provides Peter with comfort and advice.[11][12][13]

Her character is depicted as an intelligent girl and a bookworm; Zendaya described her character as "very dry, awkward, intellectual", having an introverted personality because of her intelligence.[14] Unlike previous supporting female characters within Spider-Man films, such as Mary Jane Watson from the Sam Raimi trilogy and Gwen Stacy from the Amazing Spider-Man films, MJ does not start off as a romantic interest. Instead, the character Liz was created initially for the role of romantic interest to start off with until the sequel.[15][4] Initially in the first two films, MJ is not depicted as a damsel in distress, unlike Mary Jane Watson in the Raimi films, but like Gwen Stacy in the Amazing Spider-Man series, she is willing to aid Peter in his battles, putting herself in harm's way and is also a brilliant student like the Ultimate Marvel incarnation of Mary Jane Watson.[13] In the third film, her portrayal was utilized as being rescued by Andrew Garfield's incarnation of Spider-Man being used as a dedication of a scene in The Amazing Spider-Man film series showing the attempted rescue and eventual demise of Gwen Stacy. [16]

Fictional character biography

Captain of the Decathlon

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Further information: Spider-Man: Homecoming

In 2016, Michelle, commonly known as MJ, is introduced as a student at Midtown School of Science and Technology and enjoys mocking her classmates, including Peter Parker. She is given the opportunity to take over from the departing Liz as captain of the Academic Decathlon Team, and begins to open up more with teammates, such as Ned Leeds and Parker.

In 2018, she falls victim to the Blip, but later in 2023, she is restored to life.

School vacation

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Further information: Spider-Man: Far From Home

In 2024, MJ attends the school sponsored trip to Europe, where her affections are sought out by Parker and Brad Davis. When she deduces Parker's identity as Spider-Man, MJ helps discover Mysterio's fraudulence, by exposing him as the one who staged the Elemental invasion. Shortly after their trip to Europe, MJ and Parker begin a relationship, and have their first date by swinging in the city, although MJ is later horrified when TheDailyBugle.net's J. Jonah Jameson releases a doctored video of Mysterio and Spider-Man, claiming that Spider-Man is responsible for the Battle of London and exposing his identity as Parker.

Exposed identity and multiverse invasion

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Further information: Spider-Man: No Way Home

A week after Parker is framed for the murder of Beck, MJ along with Peter and Ned head back to Peter's aunt and caretaker May Parker's house and is eventually interrogated and taken to custody by the Department of Damage Control. The charges of them would then be dropped by defense attorney, Matt Murdock, though their controversy would live on with them being rejected to university applications. Parker consulted with Stephen Strange about a spell that would help people forget that he is Spider-Man, which Strange cast for him but would go horribly wrong and destabilize due to many changing requirements which included MJ's knowledge of her boyfriend's superhero identity. He would be berated by Strange after the spell that he didn't attempt to contact MIT acceptance before the spell was cast. Which leads Parker to attempt to convince an MIT administrator for accepting Ned's and MJ's application. After the attempt, it is soon revealed to Peter that the spell brought many realities of the multiverse of Spider-Man foes who know Parker is Spider-Man. MJ helps Parker and Ned find the "visitors" of these universes. MJ and Ned also accidentally created a portal from Strange's sling ring when one time trying to find Parker but instead find an an alternate version of Peter (later code-named as Peter-Three) in one attempt and another one (later code-named as Peter-Two) in another attempt. Ned and MJ eventually find their own universes Parker and learn of May's death by the hands of Norman Osborn, which leads to MJ to help comfort Parker. In a standoff between Spider-Men and their villains near the Statue of Liberty, Ned and MJ protect the original bind spell by Strange as the Spider-Men battle their enemies together. MJ falls from the Statue of Liberty after a Pumpkin Bomb from Norman detonates on the object that contains the spell. Parker from MJ's universe tried to save MJ but was stopped by Norman. She was then ultimately saved by Peter-Three who felt grief reminiscing of losing his own girlfriend in a similar situation. Before Strange once again fixes back the spell, Peter and MJ confess their love for each other and share a passionate kiss before the spell officially starts to make people forget Parker's Spider-Man identity. Later, Parker tries to reintroduce himself to both MJ and Ned, but finds himself unable to do it.

Reception

Casting controversy

File:Zendaya - 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg
Zendaya at the Spider-Man: Far From Home premiere in 2019

According to news media, after the announcement of Zendaya being cast, there was much controversy and speculation sparked on the fact that Zendaya, an African American actress, would be portraying Mary Jane Watson.[14][17] Media outlets defended Zendaya over the issue, along with the Guardians of the Galaxy film series director James Gunn on social media.[18][17] Zendaya responded to the rumors of her character as Mary Jane by The Hollywood Reporter in an interview saying:

Whenever we were on set, one of us gets some random character name [on the call sheet]. [Bloggers were] like, "Oh they must be so and so." And we just crack up about it, because it's like, 'Whatever you want to think. You'll find out.' It's funny to watch the guessing game. But of course there's going to be outrage over that because for some reason some people just aren't ready. I'm like, "I don't know what America you live in, but from what I see when I walk outside my streets of New York right now, I see lots of diversity and I see the real world and it's beautiful, and that's what should be reflected and that's what is reflected so you're just going to have to get over it."[14]

She also confirmed that despite the confusion, she is "100% Michelle" and not Mary Jane as many have speculated.[19] However Michelle reveals in No Way Home that her full name is Michelle Jones-Watson.

Portrayal reaction

The character of MJ had a positive reception in Homecoming by film critics, with Zendaya referred to as a "scene stealer" in her first major film role, despite her limited screen-time.[20][21][22] Caitlin Busch of Inverse felt thankful that the character was not Mary Jane Watson and opined that the original character works better for the film.[23]

The character has also received positive feedback from a feminist perspective, especially in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Karen Han of Polygon felt that the character was a positive representation of strong female characters while additionally Vanity Fair noted how MJ was not portrayed as a warrior like Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter, Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia or Evangeline Lilly's Hope van Dyne but also not a damsel and declared her as the "MJ we both need and deserve".[24][25] Her personality was reminiscent to as Daria Morgendorffer in Daria to some reporters.[24][26] Rachel Leishman of The Mary Sue described the MCU version of MJ as extremely important in Peter Parker's life.[27]

MJ, alongside Parker and Jacob Batalon's Ned Leeds were described as a "priceless trio" by Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood with his review of Spider-Man: No Way Home.[28] The relationship between the three characters in the films were noted as more matured by Brian Lowry of CNN.[29] Sam Machkovech of Ars Technica also praised the trio's chemistry noting that in the second film both MJ and Ned had a rivalry with each other of Peter's relationship but in the third film they were ultimately more bonded together. [30] The chemistry in Spider-Man: No Way Home of MJ and Tom Holland's Parker was praised by RogerEbert.com's Brian Tallerico. Brian opined that the film is the first of the films to let their relationship to shine. He also noted, "she nails the emotional final beats of her character in a way that adds weight to a film that can feel a bit airy in terms of performance."[31] Don Kaye of Den of Geek also praised the chemistry of MJ with Parker and also noted that both she and Batalon "provide gentle comic relief". [32] Jennifer Bisset of CNET described her role as much more to do in the third film and also noted of Zendaya's role being gifted of character growth. [33] Eli Glasner of CBC News described "formerly mopey" MJ as having an stronger footing with Parker in the third film.[34]

Awards

Zendaya has won the 45th Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actress for portraying the character in 2018 through 2019.[35]

In other media

A temporary Winter of 2021 and 2022 video gaming skin of Zendaya's character and Peter Parker's character was introduced by Fortnite following the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home. [36]

See also

References

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CC-BY-SA icon.svg The plot description and characterization were adapted from Michelle at Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license.

External links

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