Tobey Maguire reprises his role as the eponymous superhero in this sequel based on the characters from Marvel's comics. Two years have passed since the events of 'Spider-Man' (2002), and the mild-mannered Peter Parker (Maguire) faces new challenges as he struggles with the gift and the curse of being a superhero, desperately trying to balance his dual identities as the web-slinging Spider-Man and his life as a college student. Tormented by his secrets, Peter finds that his relationships with all those he holds dear are in danger of unraveling. His life-long yearning for Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) becomes even stronger as he fights the impulse to reveal his secret life and declare his love. His friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is also complicated by the young Osborn's bitterness over his father's death and his growing vendetta against Spider-Man.