How Peter, MJ, and Ned's Relationship Evolves in No Way Home

Tom Holland, Jacob Batalan, and Zendaya reveal how Peter, Ned, and MJ's relationship evolves in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Holland, Batalan, and Zendaya reprise their roles in the third film for the MCU's version of Spider-Man, joined by Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfred Molina, Willem Defoe, Jamie Foxx, and J.K. Simmons. Spider-Man: No Way Home will hit theaters on December 17.

The relationship between Peter Parker (Holland), Ned Leeds (Batalan), and Michelle 'MJ' Jones (Zendaya) has been a key part of the young Spider-Man's life in the MCU. Spider-Man: Homecoming introduced audiences to his high school life, with classmate and best friend, Ned, quickly discovering Peter's heroic alter-ego. Ned became Peter's "Guy in the chair," helping him bypass his suit's limits and giving him guidance. MJ joined Parker's circle of trust in Spider-Man: Far From Home after long suspecting the truth behind his disappearances and helping him defeat Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). With Spider-Man: No Way Home picking up immediately after Far From Home's cliffhanger, which framed him for Mysterio's murder, Peter's closest friends are more important to the young hero than ever, and the three stars have sat down to discuss how Peter, Ned, and MJ's relationship develops.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Holland, Batalan, and Zendaya were asked how Peter's identity being revealed has impacted the relationship between himself, Ned, and MJ, and how it has forced it to evolve. Holland revealed the experience made the trio come closer to protect Peter's secret, praising it as an opportunity to have some creative changes. Holland then revealed that the dynamic is new to Peter, and their relationship grows stronger, praising Batalan's performance in a final scene of the film and saying that his performance almost brought him to tears. Check out the trio's response below:

"Tom Holland: We just come closer together. You know, it's an interesting thing. Like the more people know, the more we become insular, and we feel like we have to protect the secret more. And I think it allows us to have some really nice creative changes and differences between the characters. Our characters are falling in love, something that Peter Parker has never done before. Our characters, our friendship is getting stronger and stronger. Definitely demonstrated by that final scene of the film.

Jacob Batalon: Right.

Tom Holland: Jacob's performance in that scene is amazing.

Jacob Batalon: I mean…

Tom Holland: Honestly, mate, it's crazy. As soon as you started crying, I was like, "Jacob, you can't start crying because if you start crying I'm going to start crying." So, yeah..."

Ned, MJ and Peter leaning against the lockers in Spider-Man: Homecoming

Holland previously revealed he would like a Spider-Man prequel short film exploring how the trio met, suggesting MJ could have come to Peter and Ned's aid at school. Though there are no confirmed plans to explore the origin of their friendship, an animated series covering Peter's early years in the MCU, Spider-Man: Freshman Year, was revealed as part of Marvel's Disney+ Day announcements. Meanwhile, though the trio's future remains unknown, Sony confirmed that Holland's Spider-Man will continue to be the MCU's friendly neighborhood hero as part of their agreement with Marvel Studios.

Peter, Ned, and MJ's relationship is one of the strongest parts of the MCU's take on the hero, as Holland, Batalan, and Zendaya's chemistry firmly solidifies the friendship between the trio. Spider-Man: No Way Home brings them further than before into Peter's heroic life alongside Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch), with audiences looking forward to seeing more of their interactions. However, with trailers showing MJ and Ned in peril as Peter faces villains from across the multiverse, the stakes have never been higher for the group when Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on December 17.

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