Jon Watts Addresses Spider-Man: Homecoming Casting Rumor

As one of the biggest superhero movies currently in development – a status that was all but cemented after Tom Holland’s brilliant debut as Spidey in Captain America: Civil War – Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming has attracted a flurry of rumors ever since the studio first issued the green light.

And as the director appointed to guide said spinoff into theaters, Jon Watts is no stranger to wading through speculation that is, more often than not, largely unfounded. But one rumor in particular piqued the filmmaker’s attention – and it involves Michael Barbieri, who fans believe is set to star as Ganke, a close Asian friend to Morales in the Ultimate Spider-Man comic series.

According to Watts, however, that’s a rumor that is entirely off base:

What The–?! Michael Barbieri was never playing Ganke… no idea how that rumor started… Ok, back to work!!!

— Jon Watts (@jnwtts) June 16, 2016

Instead, it seems The Dark Tower actor will play a friend of Peter Parker’s. That title role in question will, of course, be brought to life by Tom Holland, headlining a cast that also features Marissa Tomei, Zendaya, Robert Downey Jr., Captain America: The First Avenger star Kenneth Choi and, after much deliberation, Michael Keaton.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is being aligned as Marvel’s primetime summer release of 2017, when Jon Watts will offer up a new spin on Peter Parker on July 7, 2017.