Realistic digital trickery seems to be the name of the game these days. Whether it be movies, TV shows, or dating app profiles, anything from a decent filter to a flat out complete face replacement can usually be seen to some degree. Sometimes it’s just for fun, like swapping Jim Carrey into aJames Bondmovie. But other times, it almost feels like a glimpse into an alternate reality, as thisSpider-Manvideo shows.
This new little project was undertaken by a particularly skilledSpider-Manfan. To set the stage, many will agree that Sam Raimi’sSpider-Manmovies featured arguably the best take on the web-slinger’s story set to film (divisive reaction toSpider-Man 3aside). But one opinion that appears to be almost universally held is that, whileTobey Maguire did a fantastic job as Spider-Manhimself, at no point in any of the films does he (or most of the other actors playing high school students) actually come across as a real teenager.
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Apparently, Reddit user CesarHuchim agreed with that sentiment wholeheartedly and set out to envision a world where the movies were made a number of years earlier and Maguire was actually age-appropriate. Utilizing some clever computer tricks, they edited a number of stills from theSpider-Manfilms, shaving at least a decade off Maguire’s handsome mug like a before and after shot from a late night infomercial. It almost looks like aTom Holland deepfake. The difference is striking, and possibly a bit jarring, as the divided comment section was quick to demonstrate.
True to what the Reddit post’s title says, Maguire does indeed look like a high school student in the manipulated shots. But while most users didn’t argue with the effectiveness of CesarHuchim’s little undertaking, some argued with the idea itself. This is pointed out right away in the highest voted comment, whichnotes that Peter Parkerwas only in his teens for the first movie, and in his early ’20s in the subsequent films.
Frankly, that just seems like a product of the internet itself. Somebody puts genuine effort into something, and everyone else just searches for something to nitpick about it. That’s not to discount the points made in the comments, as it’s true that the difference between Maguire’s age and that of his character isn’t allthatjarring. Plus it introduces an intriguing idea of maybe de-agingMaguire to appear inSpider-Man: No Way Home. But it’s a little unfortunate how the negatives always seem to rise to the top.
Granted, talking about the nitpicks is, in itself, a nitpick. So it’s probably best to not dwell on all that and just enjoy the tiny Tobey that CesarHuchim has gifted the world. If one can’t enjoy something so simple, what can they enjoy?
Spider-Man: No Way Homeis scheduled to be released in theaters on July 22, 2025.
