There’s some buzz floating around that always-entertaining actor Jake Gyllenhaal is set to star as the Marvel villain Mysterio in the upcoming “Spider-Man: Homecoming” sequel, playing opposite Tom Holland when the film hits theaters on July 5, 2019. Gyllenhaal, now 37 years old was competing against Ryan Gosling for the role but Gosling had to pull out due to a scheduling conflict. There was also word that Marvel was looking to sign Matt Damon to the role but couldn’t get a deal done. When Gyllenhaal is your backups plan, that’s not a bad deal.
Ironically, Gyllenhaal was at one time prepared to play the role of Spider-Man himself when Sam Raimi wanted to replace Tobey Maguire for Spider-Man 2,. Many years later, Gyllenhaal will be getting his chance to join a franchise he’s had his eyes on for awhile.
Mysterio made his first appearance in the comic book series for “The Amazing Spider-Man” in issue #13 in 1964. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Producers were keen to sign Ryan but he was busy filming another project. Jake is a suitable alternative with experience of playing villainous characters.” Gyllenhaal should do just fine playing the role of Quentin Beck (Mysterio), a former special effects artist and stuntman who failed in Hollywood only to take on a life of crime.
The first Spider-Man: Homecoming film was a huge success grossing over $334 million domestically and $880.2 million worldwide and has been highly acclaimed as the best of the many incarnations of the Spider-Man movie franchises. Shooting for Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 is due to begin in London in June.
Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 may have found its villain
And it's Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio https://t.co/4kaBaD403M pic.twitter.com/eRa2ZVzcpp
— Screen Rant (@screenrant) May 21, 2018
Jon Watts will return to direct the sequel, with Tom Holland set to reprise the character of Peter Parker in the film (that is of course after Marvel figures out how to get Spider-Man out of the sticky mess that is the new Avengers: Infinity War films.)
This film will be another in a long line of sure-things for Marvel who is pumping out films left, right, and center.