Will MJ ever remember Peter?

At first glance, the outlook seems grim. By the end of 2021‘s box office juggernaut Spider-Man: No Way Home – which garnered an impressive $1.9 billion globally – Peter Parker‘s longtime love interest MJ had no recollection of their relationship due to a botched spell by Dr. Stephen Strange.

Short Answer: Count on It

However, I‘m willing to bet my vintage comic collection that this is only temporary. MJ forgetting Peter goes against the very fabric of Spidey lore woven over the past 60 years.

In my expert opinion as a veteran gaming analyst and Marvel enthusiast, MJ remembering Peter again is virtually inevitable. The only question is how her memory gets restored in future MCU chapters.

By the Numbers: Spider-Man‘s Staying Power

For context around why undoing the memory wipe matters, let‘s quantify Spider-Man‘s monumental popularity across media over time:

This content juggernaut retains legions of fans even after 60 years because of resonating themes like "with great power comes great responsibility" and characters that feel like family.

Peter and MJ‘s romance tops that list. Erasing such an iconic love story long-term would contradict why audiences connect to this fictional universe.

Scenario 1: Dr. Strange‘s Spell Gets Lifted

While completely reversing the memory wipe spell seems unlikely in the near future, Dr. Strange still retains knowledge of Peter‘s identity in the MCU timeline.

Perhaps the good doctor could work some magic down the line to help MJ remember again without exposing Spider-Man‘s secret to the whole world. His next solo outing delves into the fallout of Peter‘s botched wish:

Dr. Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse, including alternative versions of himself. (via IMDb)

Maybe MJ regains memories when alternate reality shenanigans allow variants of people who know Peter‘s secret into the central MCU fold?

Scenario 2: MCU Explores Spider-Verse

Speaking of the multiverse, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse unequivocally proved cross-dimensional storytelling makes for cinematic gold. Oscar gold in its case.

The MCU could get in on the interdimensional action with a live-action Spider-Verse project down the line:

• Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker meets alternate Peters like Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield‘s versions.
• Variants of MJ get woven into the narrative.
• These multidimensional encounters jog the native MJ‘s memory.

Sony is continuing web-slinging animated adventures with Across the Spider-Verse in 2024. This furthers fan appetite for interactions across the Spidey multiverse.

Kevin Feige and co. would be foolish not to capitalize on that hype with a live-action Spider-Verse adaption, which organically allows for MJ to remember her ill-fated lover.

The Waiting Game Sucks, But the Payoff Will Satisfy

Unfortunately, concretely proving if/when MJ will regain memories extends beyond my self-proclaimed "Spidey sense". Upcoming films like the aforementioned Dr Strange sequel could lay more groundwork.

Or we may need to wait for confirmed projects like the fourth Tom Holland Spider-Man movie, which Feige himself teased is in early development.

But when handling a wildly-successful franchise boasting nearly $30 billion in total revenue, you don‘t dismantle an essential romance permanently.

MJ remembering Peter – whether in an MCU movie, series on Disney+, or Sony spin-off – is surely destined like Gwen Stacy returning down the line. It‘s simply good business.

And as a longtime super fan of the character across mediums, I sure hope so. We could all use more of Peter and MJ‘s magical (or should I say "mystical"?) dynamic enriching this fictional world.

Excelsior!