John Leguizamo could have also beenSpider-Man: Homecomingvillain Vulture until Hollywood came knocking. Even though the actor would have been great for the role, Leguizamo was cast as an alternative option to Michael Keaton, whose casting process was a bumpy road that took longer than expected for Sony Pictures to seal the deal.
Vulture has an interesting history in Hollywood, as the genius supervillain was supposed to be the antagonist inSpider-Man 4with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguirebefore it was canceled for the Andrew GarfieldSpider-Manreboot. Vulture finally had his debut inSpider-Man: Homecoming, the reboot of the Andrew Garfield reboot, but it appears that even the MCU adaptation was a struggle to realize on screen, with John Leguizamo at the center of that process.
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Leguizamo spoke to Chris Killian atComicBookfor the home media release ofViolent Night, where the actor revealed that he was “supposed to be the Vulture” forSpider-Man: Homecoming. “We had negotiated, and I was about to play him, and they said that Michael Keaton wanted it back, and they asked me if I would give it up. I said, ‘Well, okay I guess.’ They said, ‘No, we’ll work with you again, we’re gonna…’ That’s what happened there.” The actor expresses that the role offered to him in place of Vulture was “something tiny,” and as a result, he declined.
No details were given on what that mysterious role was. It could have been a Teacher at Peter’s High School or a love interest ofMarisa Tomei’s Aunt May, who appears to be getting more hip in every on-screen adaptation but staying just as wise and empathetic as a character. Even so, it is understandable why Leguizamo turned down these smaller roles compared to the antagonist ofSpider-Man: Homecoming, which probably involved a multi-year-long contract.
Keaton’s Vulture was a surprise in theMorbiuspost-credits scene, andSpider-Man: No Way Homewas originally going to feature Vulture. The studio wanted a name that carried the franchise forward with a presence that would resonate with the general audience. Even so, it is still fun to think about how Leguizamo’s interpretation of Vulture would have been different from Keaton’s while working within the parameters of the same screenplay, especially within the context of the film’s themes, such as the struggle of working-class citizens, and even Peter’s internal conflict in learning how to define right and wrong.
It is not surprising that the studio ultimately wanted a big name for theSpider-Manreboot, especially since cast members Tom Holland, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, and Tony Revolori weren’t as recognizable as they are now to the general audience. The studio thought they needed a presence that stood oppositeRobert Downey Jr’s Iron Manto make its story feel as grand as possible.
Spider-Man: Homecomingis available to stream on Starz.
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