It’s been just over a month since Marvel’sSpider-Man: Homecomingstarted filming in Atlanta, with many fans wondering if the cast and crew would take a break in the production to swing by Marvel’s Hall H panel atComic-Conyesterday afternoon. As it turns out, those rumors proved to be true, with directorJon Wattsand cast membersTom Holland,Zendaya,Tony Revolori,Jacob BatalonandLaura Harrierstopping by to reveal the first footage, along with new concept art that confirms the presence of the movie’s main villain, Vulture. While the footage hasn’t debuted online quite yet, a new interview with the director and stars reveals exactly whoTom Holland’s co-stars are playing.
Heading into SDCC, we knew thatTom Holland,Marisa TomeiandRobert Downey Jr.were reprising theirCaptain America: Civil Warroles as Peter Parker,Aunt Mayand Tony Stark/Iron Man, respectively. However, while the cast continued to grow in the weeks and months leading up to production, the studio would never confirm what characters these young stars are playing.Entertainment Weeklycaught up withJon Wattsand his young co-stars after the panel, with the director confirming thatZendayais playing Michelle,Tony Revoloriis playing Flash,Jacob Batalonis playing Ned andLaura Harrieris playing Liz. Here’s whatTony Revolorihad to say about playing Peter Parker’s iconic bully, Flash Thompson.
“I’m [Peter Parker’s] bully and I don’t know how cool he is, but when we call cut, I’m just like, Ah! You’re so cool.'”
WhenTony Revoloriwas cast back in April, he was said to be Peter Parker’s schoolyard nemesis named Manuel, but it seems that was all a ruse to protect his character’s identity of Flash Thompson. This character is quite important in theSpider-Mancomics, and has previously been played on the big screen byJoe ManganielloinSam Raimi’sSpider-Manand byChris ZylkainMarc Webb’s rebootThe Amazing Spider-Man. In the comics, Flash eventually becomes one of the hosts for the symbioteVenom, which could be explored in future movies. While directorJon Wattswouldn’t confirm ifMichael Keatonis playing the villain Vulture, which has long been rumored, the director did have this to say about why he’s the perfect villain for this movie, which has been described as an “all-out high school movie.”
“Vulture’s the first real villain in the Spider-Man comics. He’s in the second issue. He’s one of the classics from the best rogues' gallery out there, and we’ve never seen him, he’s never been brought to life.”
As for the rest of the characters, it is believed thatJacob Batalon’s Ned is in fact Ned Leeds. In the comics, Ned is a Daily Bugle reporter who, like Peter Parker, has a crush on J. Jonah Jameson’s secretary, Betty Brant and later becomes an incarnation of the Hobgoblin. It seems they may be reconfiguring this character by making him a classmate of Peter Parker, but we’ll have to wait and see.Laura Harrier’s Liz is most likely Liz Allan, who, in the comics, is Flash Thompson’s high school girlfriend, who later married Harry Osborn in the comics. Finally,Zendaya’s Michelle is most likely Michelle Gonzales, a recent addition to the comic book continuity who Peter Parker first meets as an adult, hinting again that this movie may be making some big changes to characters established in the comics. Take a look at this six-minute video interview with the cast and director ofSpider-Man: Homecoming.
