It?s still weird to think about there being movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Avengers 4. With what little we know about it, plus the events of Avengers: Infinity War, there?s really no way to know what they?ll look like. The only sure thing is they?ll still be superhero films. At this point, the only Phase 4 movies we know for sure are coming are sequels. So at least we can be relatively certain they?ll resemble their predecessors. The sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming (which I really hope is called Spider-Man: Prom) will be another lightly comic superhero high school melodrama. Only with a new villain this time. And now we know who that villain is.
Jake Gyllenhaal is in talks to play Mysterio in the next movie, according to Variety. That?s pretty perfect casting, actually. After seeing how dark the actor can go in Nightcrawler, he can certainly bring a ton of terror to a comic book villain like Mysterio. I?m just glad the villain is finally getting his big screen debut. He was always my favorite of Spider-Man?s rogues. I loved his theatricality, his ability to surprise Spider-Man, and his cool magic tricks. Also, he has that fish bowl head. I can?t tell you why young me liked that look, I can only tell you that I did. Gyllenhaal can certainly play up the theatrics and give us a great magic show, so I can?t wait to see what they do with him.
Once again, the movie will be a joint production between Marvel Studios and Sony. Pretty much everyone?s returning for the sequel, too. Aside from the obvious returns like Tom Holland, Marissa Tomei and Zendaya, director Jon Watts is back and Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are writing the script again. The movie will also see the return of The Vulture. Yes, Michael Keaton has signed on for the sequel, so Tom Holland?s Spider-Man hasn?t seen the last of his original nemesis. There?s no word on the plot of the movie, but I have a theory.
This is pure speculation, but based on what the comics usually do with Mysterio, this is what I think is likely. The comics (and animated series, and video game) love to have Mysterio make fake Spideys. The movie could be about The Vulture meeting Mysterio and teaming up with him to get revenge on Spider-Man, ruin his good name, and thereby get back into his family?s good graces. Mysterio could make a fake Spider-Man commit high-profile crimes, forcing Peter to navigate a New York that doesn?t like him. Probably without much assistance from any Avenger this time. It would also give the movie a good reason to introduce The Daily Bugle. And if it does, please recast J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. There?s really no one else who can do it.
