Andrew Garfield Thought He Was Too Old to Play SPIDER-MAN, but Explains Why He Landed the Role

Andrew Garfield played the title web-crawler in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel. Many were bummed when Spidey was rebooted so quickly for the MCU, because it sort of ushered Garfield out without giving his Peter Parker closure in the anticipated third film.

Luckily, he returned for Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, and we were able to see him suit up one more time. Rumors claim the MCU could utilize him at least one more time, which Garfield says he’s up for, but time will tell on that front.

As it turns out, the actor was pretty sure he wouldn’t even be cast in the first place when he auditioned for his first Spider-Man film. As he explained on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he remembered feeling “too old” to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man when he walked in to audition for the role.

Garfield credited his acting coach Greta Seacat for helping him nab Spider-Man, as her advice before his screen test made him treat it like “it doesn’t fucking matter.” He explained:

“I did the first audition and thought that’s that. I’m too old. I felt I was too told. Just generally I was like I am 25 or 26 and playing a high schooler. I know I got good genes and all but I don’t know. That’s not going my way.

“I was surprised to be given an opportunity to screen test. Greta gave me an acting adjustment: You have to treat this screen test as if you’re making a short film with all your high school friends. That allowed me to go f*ck it.

“Keep the channel open. Be free. This doesn’t matter. Treat this like it doesn’t f*cking matter. That’s when whatever talent you do have can just be there. You’re a child again. You’re emotionally available and you’re not tight and trying to get it right. I remember that feeling of ‘I don’t give a f*ck.'”

Garfield walked out of his screen test feeling “really good” thanks to that key change in mentality, and the rest is history. Garfield told Esquire earlier this month, of returning to the franchise:

“For sure, I would 100% come back if it was the right thing, if it’s additive to the culture, if there’s a great concept or something that hasn’t been done before that’s unique and odd and exciting and that you can sink your teeth into. I love that character, and it brings joy. If part of what I bring is joy, then I’m joyful in return.”

Watch Garfield’s full interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast below.