Andrew Garfield & Jamie Bell Reveal Awkward Spider-Man Audition Secret On 'WWHL'

Hollywood rivalries can linger for years, but Andrew Garfield and Jamie Bell proved that time heals all web-slinging wounds. During a Monday night appearance on Andy Cohen's *Watch What Happens Live!*, the duo opened up about competing for one of the biggest comic book roles in modern cinema history. The co-stars were promoting their project *The Uprising* when the topic of Marvel royalty suddenly hijacked the conversation. A studio audience member pressed Bell during a live Q&A, asking if he and Garfield had ever sat down to compare notes on auditioning for Peter Parker back in the day. Following Tobey Maguire’s departure from the blockbuster franchise, both British actors found themselves trapped in a grueling battle for the lead role in Sony's high-profile reboot. Host Andy Cohen couldn't hide his utter shock when Bell admitted that the pair had only brought up the old casting feud literally seconds prior to the question being asked. Cohen chimed in, noting that he actually overheard them mentioning the subject during an off-camera commercial break just moments before the camera turned back on. The host pressed if that really marked their very first chat about the audition race, and Bell backed up the claim.

Did Jamie Bell almost play Spider-Man Bell confirmed on air that the brief commercial break was indeed the very first time they ever discussed the high-stakes screen tests. He recalled a brief moment during the original audition period, highlighting how awkward the shared experience felt at the time. Despite the fierce head-to-head battle years ago, Garfield eventually nabbed the iconic gig. Garfield went on to wear the famous red-and-blue suit in 2012’s *The Amazing Spider-Man*, returning for the 2014 sequel and making a triumphant return alongside Maguire and Tom Holland in 2021's smash-hit *Spider-Man: No Way Home*. Meanwhile, Bell built an impressive résumé with critically acclaimed film roles, seemingly leaving any superhero heartbreak far behind him.

BUZZBEAT

Are Andrew Garfield and Jamie Bell friends The late-night broadcast made it abundantly clear that any lingering superhero awkwardness has totally evaporated over time. Now sharing the screen together in *The Uprising*, the two actors shared laughs on the couch over the wild coincidence of the fan query. It turns out fourteen years, a blockbuster trilogy, and a live TV commercial break were all it took to finally clear the air.