Looking ahead to Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you will see that Marvel Studios has a Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel scheduled for a July 2019 release. It is said that the follow-up film will be a more global adventure than its predecessor. And now we may have an idea of who Spidey may be fighting. According to various reports, Jake Gyllenhaal is in talks to play Mysterio. Michael Keaton is also rumored to return, leading to the speculation that we may see the Sinister Six. More on the story below.

THR says Gyllenhaal is in talks with Marvel to play the classic Mysterio, a villain known to use advanced smoke and mirrors technology to trick Spider-Man.

Of course, the idea of seeing Spider-Man in a Homecoming sequel is hard to believe considering that he did not feel so good in Avengers: Infinity War. That being said, having Mysterio join a long line of Spider-Man cinematic villains is great.

For one thing, it would be the first time that the villain has appeared on the big screen. There were rumors that Bruce Campbell was to play him in the cancelled Spider-Man 4. But that never panned out. However, after Sony made a deal to share Spider-Man with Marvel, the studio had plans to build a Spider-Man-less universe, with Mysterio being one of the characters getting his own spinoff. Now it looks like plans for that have been scrapped as well.

We still don’t know much about the sequel itself. One of the things that Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige confirmed was that Spider-Man would appear in England. Which would make it the second time that the character has appeared outside of New York in the films. Filming is set to begin in July.

As for Mysterio, the character is one of many in a long line of classic Spider-Man rogues. The most notable person to take on that persona is Quentin Beck, an entertainment special effects expert, and stuntman. He is also highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and when used with his holographic projectors, gas to stun Spider-Man’s sense, and robots minions, it made Mysterio a formidable opponent.

With the help of the Tinkerer, Beck used his special effects illusions to become a high-class criminal. And, of course, he did it with some flair. Using an alien disguise – green suit, purple cape, and a fishbowl for a head – Mysterio had many run-ins with the Webslinger, most of which ended with him being thrown in jail. Beck was also a part of the Sinister Six, where his plan was to use robots to bring down Spider-Man.

Speaking of the Sinister Six, Variety is reporting that Michael Keaton is in talks to reprise his role of the Vulture from Spider-Man: Homecoming. You add Michael Mando‘s Mac Gargan – who eventually becomes Scorpion – and Bokeem Woodbine‘s Shocker, and you are only two villains away from a Sinister Six. But that is just pure speculation. Who knows if they are planning that? But it is important to note that Sony did try to get a Sinister Six movie off the ground.

Tom Holland will reprise his character in the sequel, as will Zendaya, and Marisa Tomei.

The untitled Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel is scheduled to be released on July 5, 2019.

[Source: THR | Variety]