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Jake Gyllenhaal in Talks to Play Mysterio in Next SPIDER-MAN Movie

Despite the events of Avengers: Infinity War, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will be back in an untitled sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, which hits theaters next year. With production beginning this summer, Sony and Marvel are now casting new characters. Today, we now know not just the villain of the movie, but that an A-list actor could play him.

Various trades, including Variety, are saying that Jake Gyllenhaal is in negotiations to join the Spider-Man sequel. If a deal closes, he will play the villain Mysterio. A recurring villain in Spider-Man lore, Quentin Beck is a special effects wizard and stunt man who uses his talents as a criminal. Several other characters have taken the Mysterio mantle over the years.

Mysterio is one of two new characters being cast for the sequel. The other one is a female character in her 20s, with actresses auditioning now.

Gyllenhaal would join Holland, Zendaya, and Marisa Tomei, who are also reprising their roles from the first movie. Variety adds that Michael Keaton’s Vulture, the main villain of Homecoming, will also be back. With these two villains and Scorpion, could Sony and Marvel be putting together the Sinister Six? Time will tell.

Over the years, Gyllenhaal has been approached for many different comic book roles. He was approached for the title role in Batman Begins, while he was a rumored contender to replace Ben Affleck in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. He also turned down a role in Suicide Squad and was allegedly on the Green Lantern Corps shortlist. But most intriguingly, he nearly replaced Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 2. To think that a potential Spider-Man villain actor could have played Spidey himself is interesting.

Gyllenhaal has primarily focused on smaller movies in recent years, but kept the door open to joining the superhero genre if the right role ever came along. It looks like Mysterio could be that role.

Stay tuned for more as we have it. Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 hits theaters on July 5th, 2019.

Paul Romano

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WOBAM! Entertainment.