Aw, man, I was so bummed when Michael Keaton dropped out of Spider-Man: Homecoming. When he was in talks to play a villain in the picture, my mind immediately went to the different ones he could be. Most signs pointed to Vulture. But I didn’t like that. Then I heard another rumor that he might be Norman Osborne. That one I did like. Though, when the news broke of his departure, all hope was lost.
Today, I’m happy again. According to The Hollywood Report:
“Michael Keaton is back in the spider’s web. After initial talks stalled out, Keaton and Marvel Studios are in final negotiations for the Oscar-nominated actor to take on the villain role in Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
Signs are again pointing to Vulture, as he is rumored to be the main villain. Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide by Tom DeFalco says “Like his namesake, the Vulture is a pitiless predator. This villain, whose real name is Adrian Toomes, preys upon the rich, the powerful, and the unwary. Using an electromagnetic harness of his own invention to fly, he strikes on swift and silent wings……started an electronics firm with his best friend Gregory Bestman. With Bestman handling the administrative side of business, Toomes concentrated solely on his inventions…..Soon, Bestman gained total control of the company and fired the inventor. Yet Toomes continued to work on the harness. Once the device was complete he took his revenge by using it to terrorize his old partner and steal from his former company.”
Back when casting for Amazing Spider-Man 2 went underway, it was rumored that Colm Feore (Thor, Face/Off, Gotham) would be Toomes; even to the point of listing him as such on IMDB. Eventually, he turned out to be a character named Donald Menken, a member of the Oscorp board. I think Feore would have been perfect for the Vulture.
Then, when Sam Raimi was still working on the fourth installment of his Spidey story, the studio pressured him to change his villain from The Lizard to The Vulture, with John Malkovich (Red, Dangerous Liaisons) attached. Anne Hathaway was to be his daughter, who would eventually turn into The Vulturess. And what was that that daughter’s name? That’s right: Felicia Hardy, who’s better known as Black Cat. In the comics, Hardy’s father was not Toomes, but The Cat, a notorious thief whom ended up in prison.
There are many villains rumored to be a part of Spider-Man: Homecoming. I reported yesterday that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin might make an appearance. There’s also talks of The Tinkerer, Jackal, and Norman Osborn. And while he wasn’t attached to Spider-Man just yet, Oded Fehr (The Mummy, Charmed, Duece Bigelow) was rumored to play Kraven the Hunter on Marvel’s Most Wanted.
The former Batman as Vulture is probably based on one of his most recent roles as Birdman (not affiliated with the Hanna-Barbera character, as far as I know). While I’d rather him be Osborn, I’m just happy that he’s back in the picture. We’ll find out soon enough who’ll Keaton will play, and if any of these other rumors will come into fruition, when Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theaters July 7th, 2017.
Source: THR