After revealing that he was supposed to play the Marvel villain known as Vulture in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, John Leguizamo took to social media to add to his story and how the role ultimately went to Michael Keaton.
On Monday (February 13), Leguizamo posted on his Instagram account: “It’s true but I was used as a pawn to close Keaton, but I should have said ‘no’ because we had agreed to terms! And I had a leg to sue but I ain’t litigious.”
Apparently, Keaton was Sony’s first choice to play Vulture, but the deal to land him in the role was taking too long to lock in, so the studio started making other plans and turned to Leguizamo.
“We had negotiated, and I was about to play him, and they said that Michael Keaton wanted it back and they asked me if I would give it up,” Leguizamo said. “I said, ‘Well, OK, I guess.’ They said, ‘No, we’ll work with you again, we’re gonna…’ That’s what happened there.”
When the studio came back to Leguizamo with another role, Leguizamo didn’t bite because the part wasn’t big enough. “They offered me something tiny,” Leguizamo said. “I went, ‘Nuh-uh.’”
We can only imagine what Leguizamo could’ve done with the role of Vulture, especially since he’s had his fair share of experience playing the antagonist in movies throughout his career, including in 1993’s Carlito’s Way, 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, 1997’s Spawn, and 2022’s Violent Night.
At this point, we’ll just say someone owes John Leguizamo a superhero movie and set a reminder until it happens.