The day youve been waiting for a whole year has finally arrived with the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming to theaters nationwide. Directed by John Watts and starring Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Keaton, Spider-Man: Homecoming picks up right after his adventure with the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War.
As the movie starts, Peter Parker is getting used to his powers while greatly anticipating a phone call from the Avengers for his next call up to the big league when he discovers a cadre of individuals converting salvaged alien technology into weapons and selling them on the streets of New York.
There have been five other Spider-Man movies in this young century, and none of them got the job done quite like this one.
Spider-Man: Homecoming – Trailer 3
Next mission: figuring out how all web shooter combinations work. Watch the new “Spider-Man: Homecoming” trailer now – in theaters July 7.
Recently, The Shadow League was in attendance as the new Spider-Man/Peter Parker sat on a panel alongside his co-stars and discussed his role in the movie, how it came to be, and the great responsibility he felt in trying to get the character 100 percent correct.
I think the thing I had to remind myself of most when I took on this character is Tobey McGuire had such a huge impact on so many kids,” said Holland. “He was my role model for me when I was growing up and Peter Parker was my favorite character. I have to keep reminding myself that Im going to have the same impact on kids of a younger generation. You know, I wanted to do them proud and be a sort of role model for them and do a good job with a fresh, new version of the character we know and love so well.
If youve read the reviews or seen them flash across the screen in television commercials, then you already know what the critics are saying. Holland told the gathered press that he and the director wanted to make this Spidey behave as much like a teenager as possible.
If you were to take a 15-year-old and give him superpowers, he would have the time of his life,” Holland said. “And when I made this movie, I had the time of my life and it really comes across on screen.
When it was first announced that Robert Downey Jr. would be reprising his role as Iron Man in Spider-Mans newest solo film, fans across social media derisively referred to the movie as Iron Man 4. While I wouldnt go THAT far, I will say that the interaction between Peter Parker and Tony Stark added a layer of humanity to the movie.
I think the relationship is even more important from (the audience) point of view,” Holland said. “He really cares about Peter and doesnt want him on the Avengers because he doesnt want the responsibility of something happening to him, and thats in the back of his conscience. Its more than just me saying Im powerful enough to be an Avenger.’ Its him saying, Well, youre not ready to be an Avenger.’ It’s a back and forth, big brother, little brother, Dad, Son type of thing.”
You dont have to posses a comic book collection the size of Texas to know basic information about Spider-Man because the character is so ingrained in American popular culture. We all know that he does whatever a spider can.
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That goes double for acrobatics and agility. Holland was perfect for his role as Peter Parker in more ways than one, with his background in gymnastics perhaps being the attribute that helped push him past other actors in contention for the role.
I dont think you can master hanging upside down,” he said. “Its not something Ive been prepared for. But my gymnastics background has been so helpful with this role because we were able to do things with Peter Parker that they probably havent ever been able to do in the past. With that said, sometimes they would overestimate my skill set. John would be like Can you just bounce from that wall to that wall? And Im like No, John. Im not THAT good.
Ive seen the film twice already and I cant wait for the rest of the world to see it too, just so I can have someone to talk to about it.
Stay tuned for more of our exclusive coverage of Spider-Man: Homecoming, including our outtakes from discussions with Robert Downey Jr, Michael Keaton, and the rest of the stellar cast, including our one-on-one with actor Tony Revolori, who plays Parker’s high school nemesis Flash, but from an appropriately and realistically modern standpoint.
Until then, excelsior!
