Singer-Actress Zendaya cast in MCU Spider-Man film

[Mister Mets]

As reported on Deadline, Disney channel actress-singer Zendaya will appear in the upcoming MCU Spider-Man film...

EXCLUSIVE: Sony and Marvel Studios are beginning to cast up their Spider-Man reboot. I’m told that actress-singer Zendaya has landed a key role in the ensemble they are building around Tom Holland, who’ll play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the film to be directed by Jon Watts (Cop Car). She was among the actresses who’ve quietly been testing for roles, and I hear she will play a character named Michelle. Nobody is providing details on whether this is the romantic lead opposite Peter Parker, but it doesn’t sound like it. In the comics, Parker romanced Mary Jane and Gwen.

It's an interesting insight into the direction Marvel and Sony are taking the series. It feels a bit weird not to be familiar with the careers of actors and actresses cast in major parts in a Spider-Man film. I feel old.

[Huntsman Spider]

Yeah, they are really determined to sell this as being an authentic film modernization of Spider-Man's high school years. If Zendaya's been cast as a character named Michelle, the only one I can think of from the Spider-Man comics would be Michele Gonzalez from the Brand New Day era. If so, I hope the movies do her better than the comic writers did.

[Kevinroc]

A lot of people are saying that "Michelle" is a placeholder name and they aren't going to announce who she is actually playing until later.

So speculate away.

[Huntsman Spider]

You have just unleashed the hounds, good fellow. May there be some higher power that has mercy on us all.

[Frontier]

From what I've seen with her, I could actually see her playing Mary Jane. She certainly has the spunk for it .

Though while I'm not averse to race-changing so long as the actor/actress is right for the role and the character is intact, I would feel disappointed that one of Marvel's most iconic redhead would probably no longer be a redhead. Especially given how inconsistent comic hair color translates to live-action hair color.

Ironically Zendaya's Shake it Up co-star and real life BFF, Bella Thorne, is a popular fan casting for MJ as a I recall...she even has MJ's height .

[Kevinroc]

From what I've seen with her, I could actually see her playing Mary Jane. She certainly has the spunk for it .

Though while I'm not averse to race-changing so long as the actor/actress is right for the role and the character is intact, I would feel disappointed that one of Marvel's most iconic redhead would probably no longer be a redhead. Especially given how inconsistent comic hair color translates to live-action hair color.

Ironically Zendaya's Shake it Up co-star and real life BFF, Bella Thorne, is a popular fan casting for MJ as a I recall...she even has MJ's height .

If they've cast Zendaya as MJ, they could always give her a wig or dye her hair. There are people of different ethnicities with red hair.

[Von]

From what I've seen with her, I could actually see her playing Mary Jane. She certainly has the spunk for it .

Though while I'm not averse to race-changing so long as the actor/actress is right for the role and the character is intact, I would feel disappointed that one of Marvel's most iconic redhead would probably no longer be a redhead. Especially given how inconsistent comic hair color translates to live-action hair color.

Ironically Zendaya's Shake it Up co-star and real life BFF, Bella Thorne, is a popular fan casting for MJ as a I recall...she even has MJ's height .

Let us mark this moment in Internet History: The First Post of the Legendary 10,000 Post Bloodbath Fury (2016)

[Hilden B. Lade]

A lot of people are saying that "Michelle" is a placeholder name and they aren't going to announce who she is actually playing until later.

So speculate away.

Harriet "Harry" Osborn

Pete's best- and girl- friend in one package!

[Aruran.]

I think she is being cast as Michelle Gonzales. Might be a whole arc of the movie where they have Vin as well whose a cop that doesn't agree with what Spidey is doing and Michelle leads the anti-Spider-Man fan club or something like that.

The only reason why I don't think it's a place holder name, is cause they already named Aunt May, so why do it on other well-known characters?

[Kevinroc]

I think she is being cast as Michelle Gonzales. Might be a whole arc of the movie where they have Vin as well whose a cop that doesn't agree with what Spidey is doing and Michelle leads the anti-Spider-Man fan club or something like that.

The only reason why I don't think it's a place holder name, is cause they already named Aunt May, so why do it on other well-known characters?

The speculation was that Aunt May was cast as part of Civil War.

Now they're getting into making the new Spider-Man (which should begin production some time this Summer, so expect more casting announcements in the days ahead).

Productions do this kind of thing all the time. Even Civil War did it (look how long it took them to announce Martin Freeman was playing Everett Ross).

[Sardorim]

A lot of people are saying that "Michelle" is a placeholder name and they aren't going to announce who she is actually playing until later.

So speculate away.

I would say that you're most likely right.

Strange though if this movie doesn't have Mary Jane or Gwen in it.

[Mister Mets]

She's not going to be a lead in this film, although she is expected to have a bigger role in the sequels.

Variety has revealed additional information regarding Zendaya's role in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. According to them, she will not be a lead in the film, nor will she be playing Peter's love interest, but she will play a bigger part in future installments. Make of that what you will.

[Mister Mets]

A lot of people are saying that "Michelle" is a placeholder name and they aren't going to announce who she is actually playing until later.

So speculate away.

I've been looking through various writeups on this, to see if there's anyone who isn't a commentator who thinks that Michelle's a placeholder name.

A few of the articles have one person making the placeholder argument, and saying similar stuff. So it may just be one person saying this.

[Zeitgeist]

I get big Liz Allen from the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon vibes, and I'm surprised I'm the first one here to bring this up.

[Kevinroc]

I've been looking through various writeups on this, to see if there's anyone who isn't a commentator who thinks that Michelle's a placeholder name.

A few of the articles have one person making the placeholder argument, and saying similar stuff. So it may just be one person saying this.

Productions using a fake name as part of a casting announcement are pretty frequent. Marvel themselves did such a thing with the Netflix Luke Cage series (Misty Knight was originally referred to as "Missy").