When Shailene Woodley was first cast as Mary Jane Watson in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’, most of the fans of the film series breathed a sigh of relief that the filmmakers went for acting talent above anything else. Don’t get us wrong, Woodley is an incredibly good looking actress, but where she’s really ahead among other actress her age is with her acting ability. Other than Jennifer Lawrence and Saoirse Ronan, there are few actress that are in their early 20s that have the versatility and honesty that Woodley has on screen, no matter the role.
Shailene Woodley at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Of course, producers and studios have managed to spot this already and have made her the next YA franchise queen, placing her as the lead for the massively anticipated ‘Divergent’ franchise as well as a major supporting role in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’.
However, not everyone is happy with Woodley as Mary Jane, saying that she’s not ‘hot enough’ for the character. Certain fans have been posting on Comic Book fan sites saying, “[Shailene Woodley] can look pretty do-able when she's all done up for a magazine shoot or whatever, but walking around like that in the real world? Just isn't gonna cut it sweetheart. People don't seem to understand: MJ is supposed to be unattainable, the nerd's wet dream, a girl Peter Parker would never even dream would look twice at him. And Woodley? Sorry, but I reckon any one of us would have a shot at that in a bar after a few too many Tequilas...Amarite?”
Shailene Woodley with red hair on the set of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'
Many sites have posted a response to this statement, with some even saying that these fans didn’t deserve the movie if they thought like that. It’s been pretty clear throughout this reboot that Marc Webb, the director, is going for talent and depth over aesthetic, but it seems as if some fans cannot let go of their own images of each character.
Shailene Woodley on Ellen
