In the ever-expanding web of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where multiversal variants swing from timelines like threads in a cosmic tapestry, a grassroots movement has taken flight that’s as audacious as it is inclusive. Fans are campaigning fervently for Bella Ramsey—the non-binary breakout star of The Last of Us and Game of Thrones—to don the red-and-blue suit as the next Spider-Man in a potential MCU reboot. What started as a playful quip in an August Variety interview has snowballed into a full-throated petition drive, viral TikTok edits, and heated Reddit debates, with supporters chanting, “She’s perfect for the role!” As Tom Holland’s Peter Parker gears up for Spider-Man: Brand New Day next summer, this fan-fueled push envisions Ramsey not replacing the web-slinger, but redefining him—or them—in a fresh, gender-fluid iteration that honors Spider-Man’s core ethos: Anyone can wear the mask.

The spark ignited on August 17 during HBO’s Emmys nominees event, where Ramsey, 21, was chatting with Variety’s Marc Malkin about dipping toes into superhero waters. With co-star Pedro Pascal freshly cast as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the conversation turned to MCU aspirations. “I don’t know about that,” Ramsey demurred when asked if they’d lobbied Pascal for a spot. Then, with a grin that echoed Ellie’s mischievous smirk, they added, “I could be Spider-Man.” It was offhand, laced with self-awareness—Ramsey even praised Holland’s tenure—but the internet, ever the vigilant arachnid, pounced. Within hours, #BellaAsSpiderMan trended worldwide, amassing over 500,000 posts on X. Fans flooded timelines with AI-generated mock-ups: Ramsey mid-swing over a neon-lit Queens, quipping one-liners with a gritty edge honed from post-apocalyptic survival.

By week’s end, the fervor formalized. A Change.org petition titled “Cast Bella Ramsey as Spider-Man in the MCU Reboot: Power to the People with Great Responsibility” launched on August 20, rocketing past 250,000 signatures in days. Organized by 19-year-old NYU film student Aria Chen, the petition argues that Ramsey’s “raw vulnerability, fierce athleticism, and unshakeable moral compass” mirror Peter Parker’s tormented heroism. “Spider-Man has always been the everyman—or everyperson—fighting personal demons while saving the city,” Chen wrote in the petition’s manifesto. “Bella embodies that. From Lyanna Mormont’s unyielding bravery to Ellie’s quiet rage, they’ve proven they can carry a franchise on sheer charisma.” Supporters hail Ramsey’s youth (they turned 21 in September) as ideal for a reboot post-Brand New Day, imagining a street-level saga where a non-binary Peter grapples with identity amid symbiote temptations and multiversal echoes.

Ramsey’s resume reads like a superhero origin story. Thrust into stardom at 10 as the pint-sized warrior Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, they commanded scenes with a ferocity that belied their age, earning a 2016 Saturn Award nomination. Fast-forward to 2023’s The Last of Us, where HBO’s adaptation of the Naughty Dog game catapulted them to Emmy-nominated glory as Ellie, the immune teen navigating loss and loyalty in a fungal apocalypse. Critics raved: The New York Times called their performance “a revelation of quiet devastation,” while Variety praised the “visceral authenticity” that turned survival horror into emotional poetry. Off-screen, Ramsey’s candor about their non-binary identity—coming out in 2023 via a heartfelt Instagram post—has made them a beacon for queer youth, blending vulnerability with defiance. “I’ve always played characters who feel like outsiders finding their power,” Ramsey told The Guardian in a July profile. “Spider-Man? That’s the ultimate underdog tale.”

The campaign taps into Marvel’s multiverse momentum, where Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse proved audiences crave diverse webslingers. Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy as Spider-Gwen, and Miguel O’Hara’s Spider-Man 2099 have shattered the Peter Parker mold, grossing billions while championing inclusivity. Fans point to this as precedent: Why not a non-binary Peter in a reboot exploring themes of self-discovery? “The mask hides the face, but it reveals the soul,” tweeted @WebheadWarrior, whose thread dissecting Ramsey’s Ellie monologues against Peter’s quips garnered 100,000 likes. TikTok exploded with edits syncing The Last of Us fight scenes to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse tracks, captioned “Bella’s swings would hit different.” Even Ramsey leaned in, reposting fan art on their Stories with a simple “🕷️??”—fueling speculation of quiet endorsement.

Yet, the push isn’t without pushback. In a polarized fandom still smarting from The Marvels‘ box-office woes and She-Hulk‘s meme-fueled backlash, detractors have mobilized under #SaveSpiderMan. X erupted with mockery—”Spider-They” trended mockingly, with users decrying it as “woke erasure” of the “inherently male” hero. One viral post from @ComicPurist quipped, “Peter Parker invented web-fluid; Bella invented gender-fluid. Hard pass.” Reddit’s r/marvelstudios subreddit, with 4.7 million members, hosted a 10,000-upvote thread titled “Bella as Spidey: Genius or Gimmick?” where comments ranged from “She’d bring fresh angst to the role” to “Stick to zombies—Marvel’s not your therapy session.” Backlash peaked August 28 when a counter-petition hit 50,000 signatures, arguing the Sony-Marvel deal mandates a “white dude” Peter, per contract whispers (unconfirmed, but fueling the fire).

Undeterred, proponents frame the campaign as evolution, not erasure. “Spider-Man’s about responsibility in chaos—gender doesn’t change that,” said queer comic scholar Dr. Lena Torres in a Collider op-ed. She cited Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s 1962 creation as a Depression-era immigrant’s son, ever adaptable. Ramsey’s advocates highlight their physical prep: Months of parkour and stunt training for The Last of Us Season 2 (filming wrapped in Vancouver last month) mirror Spidey’s acrobatic demands. “Bella’s got the flips, the fire, and the heart,” Chen told Entertainment Weekly. “Imagine them bantering with Deadpool or clashing with Venom—iconic.” Celebrities chimed in: Pedro Pascal tweeted a spider emoji under Ramsey’s Variety clip, while Spider-Verse director Joaquim Dos Santos posted, “The web connects us all. Who’s swinging next?”

Marvel’s silence speaks volumes. With Brand New Day—Holland’s fourth solo outing, teasing Sadie Sink as a mysterious ally and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher—slated for July 2026, a reboot feels distant. Kevin Feige has teased “younger heroes” post-Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), opening doors for variants. Rumors swirl of an X-Men reboot eyeing Ramsey for Rogue, per Cosmic Book News, but fans insist Spider-Man fits better. “Rogue’s cool, but Spidey’s the role for underdogs,” posted @EllieWebSlinger, whose fan trailer (Ramsey voicing a multiversal Peter) hit 2 million views on YouTube.

The discourse underscores broader tensions: Inclusivity versus tradition in a franchise grossing $30 billion. Across the Spider-Verse ($690 million worldwide) proved diversity drives dollars, yet The Marvels ($206 million) stoked “superhero fatigue” fears. Ramsey’s campaign, peaking at 300,000 petition sigs by September 15, has sparked think pieces: The Hollywood Reporter pondered, “Could Bella Revitalize Spidey for Gen Z?” while IndieWire warned of “fan wars eroding joy.” Ramsey, ever gracious, addressed the buzz in a Jimmy Fallon appearance last week: “It’s wild—love from all sides, shade from others. But hey, if Marvel calls, I’ll web up.” Their humility disarms critics; even #SaveSpiderMan posters concede, “Bella’s talented, just not our Spidey.”

As autumn leaves mimic falling web-lines, this movement reminds us: Fandom thrives on dreams, not dictates. Whether Ramsey slings webs or shatters symbiotes, their ascent signals a shift—heroes reflecting our messy, multifaceted world. In Peter Parker’s words, “With great power comes great opportunity.” For Bella, that power’s in the people’s hands. Swing on, fans—the reboot’s web awaits.