Movie Monster’s Fancast for Spider-Man Villains and Supporting Characters
In 2015, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment made a historic deal which allowed Spider-Man to be used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Last year, Spider-Man made his glorious MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War and will be featured in his first solo outing, Spider-Man: Homecoming, due for release this summer. Sony and Marvel have big plans for the character in the future which is leading to speculation from fans like myself. What stories will the filmmakers adapt or take inspiration from? Which villains will be featured? How about the supporting cast? Today, Movie Monster will unveil his fancast for supporting characters and villains I would love to see in upcoming Spider-Man films.
Sean Penn as J. Jonah Jameson
J.K. Simmons is now the DCEU’s Commissioner Gordon thus making him come back to reprise the role of Peter Parker’s ruthless boss unlikely. My choice for replacement is two-time Oscar winner, Sean Penn. A highly talented actor who knows how to be the center of attention in every scene is in and has experience playing both cold and ruthless characters as well as comedic ones. Penn has the capability to add a new spin on the character.
Courtney B. Vance as Joseph “Robbie” Robertson
Although he had been in the business for many years, 2016 was a big year for Courtney B. Vance who earned praise for his performance as Johnnie Cochran in The People v. O.J. Simpson. Vance can also play very charismatic roles in addition to dark, serious ones making him fit for the role of Robbie Robertson, an editor for The Daily Bugle. He can be a good contrast to Sean Penn’s rude, cynical J. Jonah Jameson.
Lucy Boynton as Betty Brant
Seeing how Betty Brant is someone who Peter crushes on for a time, I decided to go with a younger actress around Tom Holland’s age. I went with Lucy Boynton who played the female lead in the indie smash Sing Street. Her role in that film had a cold exterior who actually has a sweet personality and lot of determination. I envision Betty as being a mix of brains and beauty and a strong, close friend to Peter. Lucy Boynton has the talent to pull it off.
Kara Hayward as Mary Jane Watson
Whether or not Zendaya is playing a version of the character in Homecoming is yet to be seen. If we are proven wrong, my choice for Peter’s redheaded love interest. Hayward burst onto the scene in her role as a feisty tween in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. Since then, she has had roles in films such as The Sisterhood of Night and Manchester By the Sea where she has shown dramatic skills. The last iteration of Mary Jane Watson was not exactly the fun and likable girlfriend every guy wishes he had. Hayward would be able to pull that off with ease.
Jovan Adepo as Randolph “Randy” Robertson
Randy Robertson is one of Peter Parker’s schoolmates and the son of Robbie Robertson of the Daily Bugle. He is a rather interesting character that would make a good addition to the franchise if the writers ever wanted to delve into Spider-Man’s relationships with and support from the Robertsons. Jovan Adepo is a newcomer who made his film debut in Fences with Denzel Washington following a role on The Leftovers. He has shown to be a very talented actor who would do justice to this rather troubled character.
Skyler Samuels as Gwendolyn Maxine “Gwen” Stacy
I get the feeling that Gwen Stacy is who Angourie Rice is playing in Homecoming but hey, I could be wrong. If they were to do this character in live-action again, my choice would be Skyler Samuels. Samuels has been building a name for herself due to her roles in series such as American Horror Story and Scream Queens as well as films such as The Duff. Skyler Samuels is an actress who is beautiful, talented, funny, and likable. All four of those are traits to Gwen Stacy’s character making her fit for the role.
Callie Hernandez as Felicia Hardy/Black Cat
There have been two attempts to bring this character to the big screen. Sam Raimi wanted to do it, Marc Webb wanted to do it, here’s hoping that the team behind these films get the chance to do it. Black Cat is a fun, sexy character with a lot of personality and spunk. My choice for the role would be Callie Hernandez who had a small supporting role in La La Land and is set to appear in this summer’s Alien: Covenant. In her few roles so far, Hernandez has shown to be talented actress who has plenty of star potential. She can easily portray both the fun, seductive side as well as the layered, conflicted character Felicia Hardy is. She could be seen as the MCU’s new cinematic femme fatale like Black Widow.
Janelle Monae as Jean DeWolff
I felt I needed to diversify this fancast a little more. Since we have already seen two iterations of Captain George Stacy, I feel it’s time to give that character a break. If Marvel were to use another police character, I would go with Jean DeWolff, a no-nonsense police detective. Singer Janelle Monae made a splash on the big screen in two Best Picture nominees, Moonlight and Hidden Figures. Both of those films showed that she can play a sassy but well-meaning person. Monae can introduce the audience to a unique, strong, and likable female character.
Ellar Coltrane as Harold “Harry” Osborn
Harry Osborn is one of the most fascinating characters in the Spider-Man mythos. One day he’s one of Peter’s loyalest of friends and the next day, he’s a complete psycho. For such a role, a young actor who can portray both of these sides to Harry would be needed. My pick would be Ellar Coltrane, the star of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood who we see grow from kid to adult in the span of three hours. Coltrane looks like he can play both a carefree teenager and a person struggling with their inner demons. He has shown to be a rather promising actor and a role like this could show audiences how talented he can be.
Matt Dillon as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin
I envision the latest version of Norman Osborn to be a villain whose presence impacts the entire MCU. He would be shown as a dangerous force who slowly goes insane until he eventually becomes the Green Goblin. My choice for the role would be Matt Dillon who I think not only looks like Norman Osborn but has both experience in comedies and dramas. With that said, I think Dillon is capable of giving us an intense version of Norman Osborn that can butt heads with Tony Stark. That is if Marvel is planning to keep Robert Downey Jr. past Infinity War.
Joel Murray as Otto Octavius/Dr. Octopus
From the little bit I have seen of Joel Murray, he has both comedic timing and the talent to nab the audience’s attention with his intense way of delivering his lines. His character on Mad Men had a mad look in his eye from my perspective. It made me feel that Murray was right for the role of Dr. Octopus. A villain with four mechanical arms is indeed wacky but I think Joel Murray can strike a balance with his performance that shows a villain who is both mad and frightening.
Pierfrancesco Favino as Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter
I feel Kraven’s cinematic debut is long overdue. His inclusion in a film would be change of pace considering how a majority of the villains we have seen on screen in the past have been the results of science gone wrong. Having Spider-Man go up against a psychotic hunter who wants him as a trophy would make quite a film. Although Pierfrancesco Favino is of Italian origin unlike Kraven who is Russian, I felt he was underused as a villain in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Perhaps the role of Kraven, who I think he resembles, could be the villainous role he needs.
Jon Hamm as Quentin Beck/Mysterio
Anyone else waiting to see Jon Hamm, one of the most acclaimed actors of this generation, to make an appearance in a comic book movie? I sure am. Hamm has the talent to be both funny and dramatic. I think that kind of range can come in handy in order to play a villain that can manipulate someone’s thoughts and perception. After seeing what Marvel did in Doctor Strange, I think we can see a lot of visual creativity with a character like Mysterio.
Peter Stormare as Dmitri Smerdyakov/Chameleon
I did some careful consideration before making this decision. The Chameleon is a villain who is also a master of disguise and I wanted someone who has much range of an actor. I settled on casting Peter Stormare. Stormare is a notable character actor having appeared in films such as Fargo and Minority Report and television series such as Prison Break and The Blacklist. Stormare has the ability to both funny and downright terrifying. He strikes the right balance to play a character like the Chameleon.
Jesse Plemons as Edward “Eddie” Brock Jr./Venom
One thing I would love to see Marvel take advantage of again is the Symbiotes seeing how they are slowly setting up the cosmic side of the MCU. The most famous Symbiote villain is of course Venom, whose last cinematic appearance was severely disappointing. The actor I would like to see redeem this character is Jesse Plemons from Breaking Bad. His chilling performance as Todd Alquist knew how to get under my skin. I feel he would perfect to play one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous and lethal foes. He could be one of Marvel’s scarier villains along with Kilgrave from Jessica Jones.
Fran Kranz as Cletus Kasady/Carnage
Given the gruesome nature of this character, it would be a challenge for the crew to pull off Carnage with a PG-13 rating. If he were to ever appear in a film, my choice would be Fran Kranz. I nominate based on his performance as Marty, an unhinged stoner, in the brilliant horror satire The Cabin in the Woods. In that film, he has shown to be both darkly funny and can be dramatic this well. He is not widely recognized (unless you’re a fan of Joss Whedon’s work) but if here were to bring this psychopath to terrifying life, Fran Kranz would become a respected actor.
George Eads as William Baker/The Sandman
George Eads portrayed my favorite CSI character, Nick Stokes, but outside of that franchise and a few other series, George has never really leaped onto film which is a shame because he is very talented. I can see him playing the Sandman because he resembles the character both facially and physically. Although I’m not a big fan of the Sandman character, he is a key member of the Sinister Six which I home come to play later in the franchise. I believe George Eads can play a convincing villain and would be something entirely out of his range.
Jose Pablo Cantillo as Maxwell “Max” Dillon/Electro
In order to differentiate this Electro from the one Jamie Foxx played, this one would be based off the Ultimate version. This version is the result of bioengineering done by Hammer Industries who works as a henchman to the Kingpin. This Electro would also be a member of the Sinister Six. My choice for the role is Jose Pablo Cantillo who played hard-edged thugs in Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium and Chappie. He appeared to have a lot of fun playing those roles and I can see him portraying a version of Electro that is sadistic, dangerous, and engaging to watch.
Freida Pinto as Dr. Ashley Kafka
The character of Ashley Kafka plays a pivotal role in stories featuring Carnage. Last time Kafka was on screen, the filmmakers derived from the source material and made her a male German mad scientist. If a more comic accurate version were to appear, my choice would be Freida Pinto. Her performances in both Slumdog Millionaire and Rise of the Planet of the Apes show that she can a rather powerful actress with a wide emotional range. Not only can I see her play a part in Carnage’s story, but in the formation of the Sinister Six as well seeing how many of members of that team were locked in the Ravencroft Institute. Freida Pinto would be a welcome addition to the cast.
Patrick St. Esprit as Silvio Manfredi/Silvermane
In a perfect world, the Marvel films would crossover or reference the television series. Daredevil and Luke Cage both introduced organized New York crime syndicates while Agent Carter makes mention of the Maggia. A prominent Maggia member is Silvermane who is a frequent enemy to Spider-Man and who also becomes part cyborg later on. Yeah, a villain who is not only a dangerous mobster but a cyborg. Ain’t that something? My choice would be Patrick St. Esprit whose brief role as a Peacekeeper commander in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire showed a lot of intensity. Last year, Esprit played supporting roles in Independence Day: Resurgence and War Dogs showing that he is on the rise in Hollywood. Patrick St. Esprit’s talent would make Silverman a rather unique foe to the wall-crawler and perhaps a rival or ally to Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin who should make his way into the films somehow.
Barkhad Abdi as Lonnie Thompson Lincoln/Tombstone
For my next casting choice, I will be slightly deviating from the comics. The character of Tombstone is drawn as someone with albinism but I could not find any albino actors. So, I went with a regular black actor. My choice for the role is Somali actor Barkhad Abdi who made his intense acting debut in 2013’s Captain Phillips and is set to appear in Blade Runner 2049 later this year. Abdi clearly has the skills to play a terrifying villain that can be a henchman to the film’s main antagonist. I can see Barkhad Abdi playing a ruthless criminal hitman that the Web Slinger can encounter.
John Leguizamo as Joseph Lorenzini/Hammerhead
Hammerhead is one of Spider-Man’s goofier looking foes seeing how he has a large forehead made of vibranium. He is also also known as one of New York’s most fearsome gangsters. My choice for the role would be John Leguizamo, one of the best character actors in the business. Leguizamo is no stranger to playing off-the-wall characters as evident in his roles in Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, and Spawn and recently had a small part in John Wick where he was involved with an underground society. John Leguizamo can perfectly play a villain who is both over-the-top and lethal.
John Gallagher Jr. as MacDonald “Mac” Gargan/Scorpion
As you can tell from this fancast, I would like this new series to have The Daily Bugle and organized crime to play an important role. Mac Gargan was a private investigator hired by J. Jonah Jameson to keep tabs on Spider-Man’s activity. Gargan is driven insane after creating a suit that can replicate Spider-Man’s powers and then some. The MCU has a knack for high-tech villains so the Scorpion seems very fitting. My choice for the role would be John Gallagher Jr. from 10 Cloverfield Lane and the upcoming horror film The Belko Experiment. I not only think Gallagher Jr. looks a bit like Mac Gargan but I also think would do very well in this role.
Robert Maillet as Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino
Rhino really got the short stick in his last appearance on screen. If he were to appear again, I can see him working with Kraven the Hunter and the Chameleon or even being hired by the Kingpin to squash Spidey. My pick for Rhino is former wrestler and actor Robert Maillet whose credits include Sherlock Holmes, Pacific Rim, and Brick Mansions. The man is physically intimidating and knows how to bring attention when he is on screen. Imagine the level of intensity Robert Maillet can bring the to the role. It would be fantastic.
Tim Robbins as Benjamin Parker
The last character in my fancast is the very man whose death helped shape Peter Parker’s role as a hero. Although Uncle Ben is dead by the time we meet Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, he could still appear in flashbacks. If that were to happen, my choice would be none other than Tim Robbins. Best known for his roles in films such as The Shawshank Redemption and Mystic River, Robbins has shown to be an exceptional dramatic actor. Just imagine the number of motivational speeches he can give our young hero. I feel he can bring something new to this familiar and iconic role even if it is in small portions.
Whew, that was a lot of characters. Who knows which of these will actually end up being used and if any of these casting suggestions will come true. In conclusion, I’m very happy that Marvel now has control over the Spider-Man franchise and I’m looking forward to seeing where they take it in future installments. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this fancast. I’m currently planning two others and hope to get them on here soon. Leave your thoughts and suggestions down below. Movie Monster out! Peace!