7) Liz Allen Is Peter’s Love Interest
Despite evidence to the contrary (more on that later), it looks like Homecoming will give Peter a new love interest that we haven’t met before. The trailer introduces us to Laura Harrier as Liz Allen, who Peter seems to idolize and is later seen calling Peter to check on his safety – which suggests that the pair will grow closer over the course of the movie.
Liz Allen is a long-running figure in Spidey lore, debuting in Amazing Fantasy #15 with Peter Parker. In the comics, Liz begins as the popular girl at school and the girlfriend of Flash Thompson. She does later develop feelings for Peter, but by that time he’s dating Daily Bugle secretary Betty Brant.
This is the first time that Liz has been portrayed in live-action, though elements of her character were blended with Mary Jane and Gwen in the previous movies. Interestingly, Laura Harrier’s Liz looks to be partly inspired by the version in the Spectacular Spider-Man animated series. The usual Caucasian character was also portrayed as African-American in the show and became Peter’s girlfriend.
In Liz’s introductory scene, you can also briefly glimpse Angourie Rice, who’s rumoured to be playing Betty Brant. Clearly, this iteration will no longer be the Bugle secretary and has been aged down to make her a classmate of Peter’s.
