Elizabeth Banks was turned down for role in 'Spider-Man'

Los Angeles: Actress-filmmaker Elizabeth Banks says she was rejected to play Mary Jane Watson in “Spider-Man” as she was considered too old to be actor Tobey Maguire's love interest in the 2002 superhero movie.

The “Pitch Perfect 2” director screen-tested for the role which was eventually played by Kirsten Dunst.

“I screen-tested for the role of Mary Jane Watson in the first Spider-Man movie, opposite Tobey Maguire. Tobey and I are basically the same age -- and I was told I was too old to play her. I'm like, 'Oh okay, that's what I've signed up for'," Banks told Glamour magazine, reports mirror.co.uk. 

Nevertheless, she is grateful she has enjoyed longevity in her career.

“What I'm grateful for now is longevity. I was never a flavour of the month. I feel very comfortable that I will be working in this industry for a while."