Zendaya's 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Role Revealed (Exclusive)

Spoiler alert: Don’t read on if you don’t want to know details about Zendaya’s role in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”

Zendaya will be playing long-time Spider-Man love interest Mary Jane Watson in next summer’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” two individuals with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

Diehard Spidey fans have long speculated about whom the 19-year-old 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.

Also Read: All 43 Marvel Movies Ranked From Worst to Best (Photos)

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 — and played by Kirsten Dunst in Sam Raimi‘s 2002-07 movie trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as the webslinger.

Zendaya, the star of the Disney Channel series “Shake It Up!” and “K.C. Undercover,” was cast back in March to play a “key role” as a character named Michelle.

At the time, no further details were provided about her character or whether it would the romantic lead opposite Holland — who made a sensational big-screen debut as Spidey earlier this year in Disney/Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War.”

Also Read: First Look at Poster for 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (Photo)

Given how secretive superhero movie castings can sometimes be, pseudonyms are often used. Marion Cotillard‘s role in “The Dark Knight Rises” comes to mind.

Sony declined to comment. Representatives for Marvel and Zendaya did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Sony and Marvel have made it clear that director Jon Watts’ reboot — with a script by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Jon Watts & Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers — will focus on a high school-aged Peter Parker.

Also Read: The 25 Greatest Comic Book Movie Roles Ever (Videos)

The cast also includes Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Tyne Daly, Bokeem Woodbine, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” produced by Produced by Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige, will be released on July 7, 2017.

Zendaya is repped by CAA and Monster Talent Management.

All 12 Superheroes in 'Captain America: Civil War,' Ranked (Photos)

We ranked all the enhanced humans in "Captain America: Civil War." There's 12 of 'em, which is more people than I know in real life. If you want jokes about how susceptible to peer pressure the Winter Soldier is, you're in the right place.

If you want a real discussion of who these armies of superheroes then click on our Who's Who explainer.
12. War Machine
Not nearly as much fun as when he was called Iron Patriot in "Iron Man 3," probably because he has to spend most of this movie standing in political solidarity with Tony Stark instead of constantly busting his balls.
Marvel
11. Iron Man
Tony Stark doesn't have kids, but he's definitely treating the rest of the Avengers like they're his rebellious preteen offspring here. Come on, Tony, lighten up.
Marvel
10. Vision
What a goofball, walking through walls when he should be using doors. He kind of spends the whole movie being an overprotective dad to Scarlet Witch, though. Not cool, robot man.
Marvel
9. Hawkeye
Actually a dad, Hawkeye disappointed his kids by skipping out on the family vacation to participate in the superhero royal rumble. At least he acknowledges it.
Marvel
8. Winter Soldier
Doesn't really know what's going on, is constantly being emo, and is susceptible to peer pressure in a big way. Sounds like somebody needs to have a talk with him.
Marvel
7. Scarlet Witch
Accidentally blows up a building to kick off the central conflict of "Civil War." Whoops. As always, teenagers have to learn important life lessons the hard way. She's not really a teenager this is just a metaphor.
Marvel
6. Captain America
Remember that time Captain America was totally wrong about something? Oh wait, that never happened ever. And yet 117 different countries are giving him a hard time here. Sure, let's trust Tony "my bad dreams almost made me destroy the world" Stark instead.
Marvel
5. Black Widow
She's Captain America's BFF, or is she? She's #TeamIronMan, or is she? Honestly, "I'm not sure which side to go with here" is probably the right call for most of these secondary folks. She could be nicer to Falcon's robot bird, though.
Marvel
4. Falcon
He's got a remote control robot bird to play with this time, and it's awesome. I retroactively like "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" less now because of its lack of the robot bird.
Marvel
3. Black Panther
He's a superhero who's super pissed off and manages to hold his own both in combat and as a screen presence against all these other people we've had around for a bunch of movies. No small feat, that.
Marvel
2. Spider-Man
Does not take this superhero melee seriously at all. On the other hand, he is actually a child so we can give him a pass. Also, he's really funny. If he wasn't behind on his homework, he might have had a shot at the top spot.
Marvel
1. Ant-Man
Just pops up in the middle of this super dramatic movie and just refuses to say anything with a serious tone. And yet he manages to play probably the most key role of any member of #TeamCap during the big showdown. He's the best and there's really no debating this.
Marvel

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Marvel’s “Civil War” has so many superheroes in it that they can’t all be cool

We ranked all the enhanced humans in "Captain America: Civil War." There's 12 of 'em, which is more people than I know in real life. If you want jokes about how susceptible to peer pressure the Winter Soldier is, you're in the right place.

If you want a real discussion of who these armies of superheroes then click on our Who's Who explainer.

View In Gallery

All 12 Superheroes in 'Captain America: Civil War,' Ranked (Photos)

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