Why do mj and ned forget peter

Overview

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the forgetting of Peter Parker by Mary Jane 'MJ' Watson and Ned Leeds occurs in the 2021 film 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', directed by Jon Watts. This storyline follows the events of 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' (2019), where Peter's identity as Spider-Man was publicly revealed by Mysterio (Quentin Beck) in a posthumous video. Facing global scrutiny and danger, Peter seeks help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell that would make everyone forget he is Spider-Man. However, during the casting on December 17, 2021, Peter's repeated interruptions cause the spell to malfunction, resulting in a multiversal breach that brings villains from other realities into the MCU. Ultimately, to fix the chaos, Strange casts a corrected spell that makes everyone, including MJ and Ned, forget Peter Parker entirely—not just his superhero identity—thereby resetting his personal relationships and protecting the multiverse.

How It Works

The mechanism behind MJ and Ned forgetting Peter involves Doctor Strange's mystical abilities, specifically a memory-altering spell from the Book of Cagliostro. In the film, Strange initially attempts to cast a spell that would erase the memory that Peter Parker is Spider-Man from everyone on Earth. However, Peter's constant requests to exclude certain people (like MJ, Ned, and Aunt May) from the spell cause it to become unstable and fracture. This leads to the spell pulling in individuals from other universes who know Peter Parker is Spider-Man. To resolve this, Strange proposes a new spell: one that makes the entire world forget Peter Parker exists altogether. This spell works by rewriting reality on a global scale, erasing all traces of Peter from people's memories and records. It is cast successfully at the end of the film, resulting in MJ and Ned having no recollection of Peter, though they retain vague feelings of familiarity when they later encounter him.

Why It Matters

This forgetting is significant because it resets Peter Parker's life in the MCU, allowing for future storytelling without the burden of his exposed identity. It emphasizes themes of sacrifice and responsibility, as Peter chooses to let go of his closest relationships to protect MJ, Ned, and the multiverse. The event has real-world impact on the franchise, potentially leading to new narrative directions in upcoming Spider-Man films, such as exploring a more isolated Peter or reintroducing classic comic elements. It also highlights the consequences of tampering with powerful magic, serving as a cautionary tale within the MCU's expanding mystical lore.