John Leguizamo is looking back on his would-be superhero debut in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and claims that he could have been entangled in a web of a lawsuit against studio Sony over his casting process.
Leguizamo had previously confirmed in 2023 that after Michael Keaton originally turned down the role of Vulture, Leguizamo was about to film in the role. However, Keaton later returned and was cast in the part.
Leguizamo told Business Insider that any other actor “would have sued” the studio for that. “We went through a huge negotiation period, and we had agreed on terms,” he said. “I hadn’t signed a contract, but we had agreed. I think those are suable terms.”
Leguizamo added that he would be open to making joining a different superhero franchise after that experience, perhaps even in the DC. “I would if I was offered The Riddler or some part like that,” he said. “I would go back to other franchises. I mean, if you make it up to me. But then they offered me some tiny scientist in the movie. I was like, ‘No thank you. Thank you, but no.’”
Other roles that Leguizamo almost had? Apparently Stanley Tucci’s part of Nigel in “The Devil Wears Prada,” which he regrets turning down, “Happy Feet,” and a supporting role in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
Leguizamo admitted that he felt “dissed” that “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” leads Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie each had a $20 million salary while he would be paid on scale. “I felt dissed, and they probably weren’t dissing me, but I felt dissed,” he said.
The “Tin Soldier” actor told Comicbook.com in 2023 that while Keaton and Sony were negotiating in May 2016, he was set to play the role.
“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 explained. “I said, ‘Well, OK, I guess.’ They said, ‘No, we’ll work with you again, we’re gonna…’ That’s what happened there. They offered me something tiny. I went, ‘Nuh uh.’”
