If you are a big fan of the Spider-Man franchise and want to wait until it hits the big screen to find out the scoop, stop now−major spoiler alert! If not, keep reading, because the news is flowing. We know who is rumored to play the role of Peter Parker’s M.J. and it is not who you think.
According to several media outlets, Zendaya Coleman, star of Disney’s “Shake it Up!” and “KC Undercover” will make her first big screen debut on July 17, 2017. In Sony’s Marvel Comic remake, staring British actor Tom Holland, Zendaya will play a girl named Michelle. This casting note is leading speculators and fans to believe that the young starlet will play Peter Parker’s beloved MJ. While there are many people that are in support of the young actress playing opposite Holland, there are those that have vocalized extreme displeasure over the casting change, citing that Mary Jane should remain the traditional redhead that she has always been.
Some comments about Coleman possibly playing MJ include:
“Sorry, but MJ is a white redhead. Why can’t we just keep characters the same?” one Spider-Man fan wrote.
“Lord have mercy Marvel do not ruin spiderman by putting Zendaya in it as Mary Jane. Let her play someone else,” another wrote.
“Zendaya No thanks I’ll pass,” stated another.
In response to the comments, James Gunn, a prominent figure at Marvel Studios, took to the internet, posting on Facebook, his two cents about Zendaya’s casting.
“Whatever the case, if we are going to continue to make movies based on the almost all white heroes and supporting characters from the comics of the last century, we’re going to have to get used to them being more reflective of our diverse present world. Perhaps we can be open to the idea that, although some may not initially match how we personally conceive a character, we can be-and often are-happily surprised.”
Although Zenaya’s exact role has not been officially confirmed by Sony or her representatives, we do know that she will have a “key role” in the upcoming film. Whether that will be Mary Jane or someone else, we will just have to wait and see.
