(Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images)
Kate Hudson is reflecting on a major career crossroads and acknowledging that one decision still lingers in her mind years later. Appearing on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the 46-year-old actress opened up about turning down a role that ultimately became iconic.
The part went to Kirsten Dunst, who starred in the Spider-Man franchise beginning in the early 2000s. “When people say these things, it doesn’t feel good to talk about it,” Hudson said during the interview. “The people who are in the movie are the right people, and your circumstances in life happen the way they happen. But yes, I did turn it down.”
Hudson explained that the decision was not rooted in a lack of interest, but rather in a scheduling conflict that forced her to choose between two major opportunities. At the time, she committed to The Four Feathers, a historical epic in which she starred opposite the late Heath Ledger. “I got to meet Heath Ledger, who became a very good friend,” Hudson said.
“That experience would’ve never happened otherwise. Life happens exactly the way it’s supposed to.” Still, the Spider-Man role has never fully faded from her thoughts. Looking back, Hudson acknowledged that imagining herself in the blockbuster franchise is unavoidable. “Now that I look back, it’s one of those things where I’m like, ‘You know, that would’ve been nice to be in the Spider-Man movie.’”
The part Hudson passed on became a defining role for Dunst, who played Mary Jane Watson opposite Tobey Maguire in director Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. The films, released between 2002 and 2007, were massive box office successes and helped shape the modern superhero genre, cementing Dunst’s status as a leading Hollywood actress.
Hudson’s career, however, followed a very different but equally successful path. After rising to fame with her breakout role in Almost Famous, she built a resume that blended romantic comedies, dramas, and independent films. While Spider-Man might have shifted her trajectory, Hudson has long maintained that her career unfolded exactly as it was meant to.
Now, she is looking ahead rather than backward. Hudson’s next project is Song Sung Blue, where she stars alongside Hugh Jackman. Jackman has already praised Hudson’s performance publicly, suggesting it could be award-worthy. The film marks another evolution in Hudson’s career, showcasing her musical abilities and dramatic range.
For Hudson, the reflection on Spider-Man is less about regret and more about perspective. Her comments on Watch What Happens Live revealed an actress who understands the weight of missed opportunities but also recognizes the value of the experiences that replaced them.
As she put it, some choices close one door while quietly opening another. And while she may occasionally wonder what life would have looked like swinging through New York City on the big screen, Hudson remains grounded in the belief that her journey, friendships, and career moments happened for a reason.
