Sony Pictures and Marvel broke the news that they’ve reached a deal to share Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), where Sony will still control the Spider-Man film franchise and Marvel will produce. However, the new Spider-Man movie won’t arrive until 2017 and Spidey will most likely make his first appearance in the MCU through “Captain America: Civil War” in 2016.
Shortly after the news broke, Variety reported that Sony Pictures is looking for a much young actor to replace Andrew Garfield, who may or may not have already left the film franchise. Dylan O’Brien and Logan Lerman were being considered for the lead role but The Wrap’s reporter Jeff Sneider revealed that Marvel might take a different approach for the next Spider-Man.
The current Ultimate Universe version has an African American Spider-Man and he is a 13-year-old Brooklyn kid named Miles Morales. He discovers his spider powers after he was bitten by a spider 11 months before Peter Parker’s death. After Gwen Stacy told Miles about Parker’s decision to become a superhero, he decides to become the next Spider-Man in honour of Peter Parker.
Back in 2010, Sony was on the hunt for a new Spider-Man. “Community” star Donald Glover/Childish Gambino, who is an enthusiastic Spider-Man fan, became the subject of an online campaign to get him to audition for the role of the web slinger. Glover publicly endorsed the campaign as well but the role ultimately went to Andrew Garfield.
Now that Sony is back on the hunt for a new Spidey, some fans think that perhaps the time has come for the African-American Spider-Man to appear in the MCU. Sneider even talked about the possibility of having a non-white Spider-Man on the “Meet the Movie” podcast, which he co-hosts with Mark Reilly from Schmoes Know.
While it’s not verified, he said:
Listen, this is not set in stone guys, but I’m telling you right now, Spider-Man’s not going to be white. Spider-Man’s not going to be white. I’m 95% sure. Spider-Man’s going to be most likely black. But there’s a chance he could also be Latino. 95% sure, not white…I don’t think it’s going to be Peter Parker.
Take this with a grain of salt, of course. Sneider cited that since the script was not written yet, and that Marvel and Sony might just want to bring Miles Morales to the MCU.
He added:
I really feel strongly – Sony has an opportunity to beat Marvel and DC to the punch with sort of a major black comic book movie character. Like I mentioned last week, the e-mails that leaked were perceived to be racist in some quarters. I really think that is going to play into things.
However, Marvel’s official press release specifically stated that the collaboration between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios is a way for them to “take Peter Parker’s story into the future”. It is unclear how Sony will rope Peter Parker in but perhaps they will introduce Miles Morales in an alternate universe.
In a recent interview with Donald Glover, Yahoo asked if the “Community” star wants to audition for the role of Peter Parker again. Having voiced Miles Morales in the animated TV series, “Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors” on Disney XD, Glover said:
Of course, I would always be honored to play Spider-Man. But I just want the Spider-Man movie to be dope, that’s all I want.
However, this time around, the 31-year-old actor would leave the Spider-Man campaign to the fans.
He said:
I’m leaving it to them. Campaigning’s part of life, but for me, I’ve got a lot of stuff that I’m really excited about, and dropping it all… of course it’d be an honor. But it’s fine, if it comes, if not.
Glover will be seen in Gregory Jacobs’ “Magic Mike XXL” and Ridley Scott’s “The Martian“.
Do you want to see an African-American Spider-Man in the MCU? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
(Source: comicbook.com, Yahoo)
