Jake Gyllenhaal is in talks for his first comic book movie role and its a big one.
The actor is in talks to play the classic Marvel villain Mysterio in the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. Spider-Man comic creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced Mysterio in the comics in 1964. A special effects expert, Quentin Beck used his talents to create elaborate illusions to commit crimes and to fight Spider-Man.
Tom Holland starred as the Marvel hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming and recently appeared in Avengers: Infinity War. Jon Watts is returning to direct the sequel to Homecoming, which raked in $880 million worldwide. Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, two of the screenwriters behind the first movie, are back as well along with Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley who are currently penning the sequel’s script.
Plot details are still unknown at this time, but insiders say Marvel and Sony, who will co-produce the film, were looking to cast a new male and female lead, with the desire for the male lead to be played by an A-list actor. Actresses for the female role, which is expected to be someone in her 20’s, are currently being auditioned by studio executives. Michael Keaton is reportedly set to return as well for the sequel as The Vulture, Homecoming’s main villain.
For Gyllenhaal, it marks his first time in the comic-book realm. Though over the last decade he has starred in more dramatic fare, the star has said he isn’t against doing a particular genre and takes each piece of material into consideration. Original Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire injured his back while shooting Seabiscuit in between Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004), and Gyllenhaal was briefly considered to take over the role if Maguire could not return to his duties. Maguire was able to return to work, and the filmmakers put a joke about Spider-Man hurting his back into the sequel.
Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel is set for July 5, 2019.
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