Spider-Man: Homecoming

Actually, didn't they say that Liz Allen would be his love interest in this movie? And she's played by Laura Harrier.

As far as I recall, the only official line is the casting of the character. Her being a love interest is a theory but not actually confirmed by word of God.

I honestly don't see why they should deny every stupid rumour out there...in fact, it is dangerous to do so. If they would react every time someone has a "scoop" with a denial, the "no comment" for the rare occasion that someone hits the target would be like a confirmation. It is better to not react to this stuff at all.

It's a stupid story either way, most likely more born out of wishful thinking than anything else.

I don't begrudge them for keeping their mouths shut, and I don't fully buy into the story at the moment (although I'd certainly love to see it happen). But I don't quite see what makes it "stupid?"

I think I'd prefer a situation where there are a few female characters around who have some degree of chemistry with Peter, but none of them is officially shown as a love interest just yet. Leave that for the sequels and just try for once the 'just can't get lucky with girls' angle.

The idea that Marvel would cast a young actress as "Michelle" (I would think for a role as important as Mary Jane, they would go through a number of screen tests with different actresses as well as testing the chemistry between the actors), officially introduce her as Michelle from the get go and at different places, including Comic con, just to hide that Mary Jane is in this movie. What would be the point?

As I understand it, the theory is that "Michelle" is a production codename meant to mask the fact that MJ is in the film. Production codenames are a pretty commonplace practice. Now, if they've actually gone on the record and officially said "this character's name is Michelle, full stop," then that's a probably a different matter (although even then, Lying Creator is a thing, so I wouldn't necessarily rule it out).

They introduced the actress as Michelle at Comic Con. Since the rumors that she is MJ aren't new but have been around since she got cast, I think Marvel would have come clean right there if it's true. In addition, one of the actresses confirmed at twitter that MJ is not in the movie.

That does indeed sound pretty conclusive.

Theoretically, they could just be really determined to preserve this particular twist (which would be understandable, given the political context surrounding it), but given how unreliable the source of this rumor apparently is, I'd guess that one unscrupulous clickbaiter just got everybody's hopes up for nothing.

Not to mention it's confirmed that whatever romance is there isn't going to be as major an element as the previous two series, so of all the things for them to lie about it doesn't make sense for a potential love interest to be one of them.

There wouldn't be lot of reason for the to lie about MJ's involvement even if she was the love interest. There isn't anything inherent in her character that would need to be a secret, given how much the audience already knows about her character - when Star Wars was tight lipped and ludicrously secretive, it was to hide who would be the new Jedi in the series and what the twists were.

What would the point be here, beyond denying themselves hype?

edited 22nd Aug '16 3:33:08 PM by KnownUnknown

I've seen recent pics and stuff of Zendaya and her hair hasn't been dyed red or anything. If that doesn't tell you that she's not MJ, then I dunno what will. And I'm almost sure Marvel would have her dye her hair if she was playing the character.

I still don't get it...yeah, Umberto has been right once in a while, but mostly about stuff which is either easy to guess or easy to find out (like spoilers in early screenings), when it comes to the big stuff - who will play Spider-man (according to him, Asa), what will be Chris Pine's role (according to him Green Lantern), who will be Starlord's father (according to him...I actually forget what he claimed, but he was wrong. I mostly remember him basically accusing James Gunn of lying when he immediately debunked the rumour) - he is usually either slightly off the mark or downright wrong. So why does everyone keep believing him?

edited 22nd Aug '16 11:00:03 PM by Swanpride

The people who believe it probably don't know who/what it's coming from or know of the guy enough to doubt the claims or anything. These people are usually the type to believe whatever if it suits them, whether it's in favor of the rumor or against it. Plus some will plain believe anything they hear/read. Honestly, most of the ones fighting against this and the ones defending it are probably not that big of fans, but just want to make a big deal about race. As long as it fits their ideals they may not care to actually do a little digging whether the rumor is true or even reliable.

Yes, but more or less every outlet there picket up the story and most of them didn't even bother to clarify that it is a rumour, instead reporting it as a fact.

I have no idea whether the rumor is true (I'd guess not though due to a combination of the source being unreliable and Zendaya not having her hair dyed on set).

However, it seems perfectly plausible to me that Zendaya's character could be introduced as Michelle and actually be Mary Jane Watson. The original presentation, carried over in Spectacular (forget if the 90's Animated Series did it- maybe early on?) is that Aunt May wants to introduce Peter to her friend's niece or grandniece and Peter avoids it because of... uncharitable assumptions he makes about what Mary Jane must be like.

With that in mind, I can imagine the film carrying that part over and also having a New Transfer Student calling herself Michelle that Peter and others have a crush on.

Then, at the end of the movie, he'd find out she's the same person as his Aunt has been talking about and she'd explain that she likes to go by Michelle since Mary Jane is so old-fashioned (cf. the Patsy/Trish situation).

edited 23rd Aug '16 7:57:12 AM by Hodor2

That does indeed sound like a very plausible way for them to both introduce Mary Jane and implement the Zendaya twist (and, perhaps sadly, it does qualify as a twist, because that's where WoC representation is at right now). Only time will tell if the rumor is true or not - most likely it isn't - but I don't think the idea itself is as ridiculous as some people are accusing it of being.

James Gunn weighed in on the casting saying "I do not believe a character is the color of his or her skin."

I feel like that's basically a confirmation at this point. Wouldn't James Gunn have perfect clarity as to who has been cast in what Marvel movie?

Then again, his statement rings true even if she wasn't cast as such.

James Gunn may be a Marvel director but beyond Guardians of the Galaxy I don't see why he'd be super involved with the other projects right now to know every thing that's going on, especially a solo film that has nothing to do with him. I'm sorry but I don't believe that's any sort of proof about Zendaya's role in Homecoming.

N Vm

edited 23rd Aug '16 4:28:52 PM by KnownUnknown

Why else make a comment? Why do so when Marvel hasn't really made any other statement? I don't think the actress herself has made any statement on it either.

I don't want to say 'He must know everything about the other movies', but I'm sure he'd probably pick up on what's going on in some of the other Marvel movies.

Its only a theory and not perfectly sound, but it just seems odd that a director from a different movie in the same series would make a defensive comment unless it had some reason to be addressed.

Neither Marvel nor the actress saying anything is even more proof that he probably doesn't know anything and is just sounding off to sound off.

It's weird logic but if he actually knew anything about it and Marvel was actually trying to keep it a secret he would've been obligated not to say anything.

As for why he said it, celebrities and industry folks are people too. They have opinions about things, they react to things, etc.

edited 23rd Aug '16 4:40:36 PM by KnownUnknown

In face, this is what he wrote:

So there's your answer.

I apologize then. The articles I read seemed to make it sound like he'd said that in an interview. My mistake.

I'm giving zero damns of the casting, All I want is a good acting and that's it.

It's cool, the internet makes things confusing all the dang time.

edited 24th Aug '16 1:05:41 PM by diyedas