(Spoiler Alert: Don’t read on if you don’t want to know details about Zendaya’s role in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”)
The Twittersphere is losing it over who Zendaya will be playing in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” with one fan observing that she will “slay the hell out of that role.”
On Thursday, TheWrap exclusively reported that the 19-year-old will be playing long-time Spider-Man love interest Mary Jane Watson.
“Zendaya is going to be Mary Jane in Spider-Man Homecoming. I am a HUGE Spider-Man fan and I think that is AWESOME!” tweeted one user.
“As a sickeningly, obsessive Spider-Man fan, I just want to say I’m unbelievably excited for Zendaya to play Mary Jane!” tweeted another.
Diehard Spidey fans have long speculated about whom the Disney Channel star would portray in Sony’s high-profile reboot of the superhero franchise, starring British actor Tom Holland as a teenage Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man.
At least one recent draft of the script has Zendaya’s character dropping several clues to her identity as Mary Jane, one of the most familiar love interests in the Marvel superhero’s universe. She was played by Kirsten Dunst in Sam Raimi‘s 2002-07 movie trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as the webslinger.
Of course, the occasional hater claimed MJ has to be a white redhead, as she has historically been in the comics.
“Sorry, but MJ is a white red head. Why can’t we just keep characters the same?” wrote one fan.
“Lord have mercy Marvel do not ruin spiderman by putting Zendaya in it as Mary Jane. Let her play someone else,” one fan said.
See the (mostly) positive Twitter reactions below.
I am so excited that @Zendaya will be playing Mary Jane in Spiderman! Yes!
— Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) August 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/MatthewACherry/status/766657033722474497
@Zendaya go get your mary jane character honey, and slay the hell out of that role! #BlackGirlMagic
— Rae (@Leahcar713) August 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheComicHall/status/766662760067313665
Super pleased with the diversity in #SpiderManHomecoming ? (Zendaya as Mary Jane tho ??)
— Esme Pinkman (@Esme87878859) August 19, 2016
Zendaya playing Mary Jane in the new Spider-Man movie. That's ??????
— Ishmael De La People (@TheChuckWatson) August 19, 2016
Zendaya's gonna slay as Mary Jane. #SpiderManHomecoming
— eddie munson my beloved (@rinavi_) August 19, 2016
Ever since I found out zendaya was in SpiderMan I was hoping she would be Mary Jane and I've never felt more blessed
— abs | ia bc college (@strangerthcr) August 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/fkahunter/status/766661080462430208
https://twitter.com/fkahunter/status/766660832277237760
https://twitter.com/trashnewton/status/766660599577088000
I wasnt really that excited for the new spider-man cause its not andrew but zendaya is the new mary jane and IM LIVING
— alex (@bizexuality) August 19, 2016
Dude zendaya playing mary jane in spiderman makes me want to see it so much more now!! I'm so hype for this movie.
— Lois Cass (@CassLois) August 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/JacobBach_/status/766659283148832768
https://twitter.com/mzrnzm/status/766657058238148608
Marvel done fucked up zendaya is not a Mary Jane period
— ibra (@ManLikeIbs) August 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/WestbrookStan/status/766665520427008001
White boys mad at Zendaya playing Mary Jane cause shes black but have no problem protraying Jesus as a white man when he wasn't hmmmm
— hoe (@IcyWristAri) August 19, 2016
Nope. Still looks fuck all like MJ. Sorry, but MJ is a white red head. Why can't we just keep characters the same?
— Matt Blake (@mattblake94) August 19, 2016
I love diversity and all but Hollywood is looking ridiculous right now.
A BLACK MARY JANE!
REALLY!— Frank Okeke (@dveryman) August 19, 2016
Mary Jane Watson is going to be black? ??
— maybe: tama ??? (@_ramenpapi) August 19, 2016