Update: Variety has revealed additional information regarding Zendaya’s role in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. According to them, she will not be a lead in the film, nor will she be playing Peter’s love interest, but she will play a bigger part in future installments. Make of that what you will. (Source.)
You can read the original report below.
With a summer start date right around the corner, Marvel and Sony are beginning to finally add to their cast for the 2017 Spider-Man reboot. We already have star Tom Holland, who will be playing the web-slinger himself, as well as Marisa Tomei, who was cast as Aunt May last year. And now, according to the latest report by Deadline, it appears as though we can add Zendaya to the growing cast. Per their report, Zendaya has been cast as a character named Michelle.
Sony and Marvel Studios are beginning to cast up its Spider-Man reboot. I’m told that the actress/singer Zendaya has landed a key role in the ensemble they are building around Tom Holland, who’ll play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the film to be directed by Jon Watts (Cop Car). She was among the actresses who’ve quietly been testing for roles, and I hear she will play a character named Michelle.
While this bit of casting is interesting given that it’s for neither Gwen Stacy or Mary Jane Watson as Peter’s love interest, it may give us our first hint at the direction of the Jon Watt’s reboot. The only Spidey-relevant “Michelle” is Michele Gonzalez, a creation of writer Mark Waid during his Amazing Spider-Man run. The brother of Peter’s friend and roomate Vin Gonzalez, Michele caught the eye of Peter during his separation from MJ. During that run, in which Peter was NOT a teenager, he and Michele, a defense attorney, had a one night stand following a night of hard drinking at Aunt May’s wedding. It will be interesting to see if this is the Michele that has been cast and, if so, will her brother Vin be joining her soon. Vin had a very interesting relationship with Peter in the comics and ended up serving some time behind bars.
Zendaya is the first person outside of Holland and Tomei to be cast and is an interesting choice. The 19-year old is mostly known for her work on the Disney Channel, but has branched out into R&B music in her young career. The Wrap’s Borys Kit pointed out that his sources have indicated to him that Sony and Marvel are working towards casting a very multi-ethnic supporting cast and Zendaya certainly helps in that regard.
This should be the first of several additions to the cast over the next short while as Spider-Man gears up to go into production in June.
Source: Deadline.
