‘The Hunger Games’ Star Mckenna Grace Says Playing Gwen Stacy in the MCU Would Be a Dream Job, and Fans Are Ready To Make It Happen
Few names come up in Marvel fan-casting conversations as often as Mckenna Grace. The 20-year-old actor already has a small piece of MCU history, having played a young Carol Danvers in ‘Captain Marvel’, and her career has only gained momentum since.
Grace has been busy lately. Her recent credits include ‘Regretting You’, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ and ‘Scream 7’, and she’s currently on the press run for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’, where she plays Maysilee and Merrilee Donner.
Now she’s addressing one of the internet’s favorite casting wishes head-on. Speaking with content creator Sami Haidary in a red carpet clip shared on Instagram, Grace said playing Gwen Stacy in the MCU would be a dream job for any actor. She also joked that she tends to land the roles fans cast her in.
Grace’s answer was playful but clearly enthusiastic. She noted that fan-casting has a way of coming true for her, which only added fuel to the online campaign. She stopped short of suggesting anything is actually in the works. Still, her reaction to the idea was warm enough that fans quickly began sharing side-by-side images of her and the character, with some urging Marvel to make it happen.
Mckenna Grace on playing Gwen Stacy in the MCU. https://t.co/tC9z6kXIKm
— best of mckenna grace (@mckennagsource) October 15, 2026
It’s easy to see why the idea has caught on. Grace has built a reputation across horror, drama and franchise filmmaking, from Phoebe Spengler in the ‘Ghostbusters’ films to her Emmy-nominated guest turn in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.
Part of the appeal is that the role is wide open in Marvel Studios’ live-action universe. The MCU has never featured Gwen Stacy on screen, even though the character is one of the most important figures in Spider-Man’s history.
Previous live-action versions came from outside the MCU, with Bryce Dallas Howard appearing in ‘Spider-Man 3’ and Emma Stone starring in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ films. Hailee Steinfeld has voiced Spider-Gwen in Sony’s animated ‘Spider-Verse’ movies.
The Games that changed it all. #TheHungerGames: Sunrise on the Reaping – only in theaters & IMAX November 20. https://t.co/KaN8WnHbxJ
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) October 13, 2026
In the comics, Gwen met Peter Parker at Empire State University and became his great love before she was killed by the Green Goblin. Her multiversal counterpart, Spider-Gwen, has since become a fan favorite in her own right, and some fans argue Grace would suit either version.
The timing of Grace’s comments has fans speculating even more. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ opened on July 31 to largely positive reviews, with critics praising Tom Holland’s performance, and its ending appears to leave Peter’s story very much open.
Gwen is also expected to play a big role in the second season of ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’. That has fans wondering whether a live-action version could follow.
Grace’s comments follow a few weeks of online chatter. In mid-September, an unnamed Marvel scooper claimed she was being considered for a major MCU role, though the post didn’t name a character or project.
SCOOBY IS FINALLY REAL!!! Meet the goodest boy in Scooby-Doo: Origins, coming to Netflix in 2027 https://t.co/0FjfVAw4Bt
— Netflix (@netflix) June 8, 2026
Another report later listed Grace alongside Emma Myers, Ester Expósito and Emily Rudd as possible contenders for an unnamed part. Neither Marvel nor Grace has confirmed any of it, so for now these claims should be treated as speculation.
That uncertainty hasn’t stopped fans from campaigning. With her prior Marvel connection and a growing list of high-profile roles, Grace is a natural fit for the kind of casting the MCU often makes.
Whether or not Gwen Stacy is in her future, Grace has plenty on her plate. Beyond ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, she’s set to reprise her role as Daphne Blake in Netflix’s live-action series ‘Scooby-Doo: Origins’.
She also continues to build her music career, and her 2026 feature on Ice Nine Kills’ “Twisting the Knife” from the ‘Scream 7’ soundtrack topped Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. For an actor who says fan-casts tend to come true, Marvel may want to take note.
Would you like to see Mckenna Grace play Gwen Stacy in the MCU?
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