Spider-Man: Homecoming – Michael Keaton Describes Vulture’s Crew

Once Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — getting recruited by Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War — we weren’t too sure how big of a role the MCU would play in his upcoming solo film. However, based on the trailers, we know Stark will watch over the young superhero, becoming his mentor, and Captain America will even show up for a humorous cameo. But the real juicy MCU connection is how the Vulture and his villainous crew were born from the ashes of the New York destruction that happened in Joss Whedon’s The Avengers (2012).

We’ll learn in Homecoming that Adrian Toomes (a.k.a. Vulture) runs a salvage company, and when he witnessed the Battle of New York, he saw the mess that was left behind as a gold mine. Knowing the clean-up would be a big job, he hires a bunch of people and purchases extra trucks. However, a day into the clean-up, Damage Control shows up and sends his company packing.

That sets the blue collar businessman on a villainous path, which is understandable and quite clever, and before he leave the clean-up sight, he makes sure to take some of the remnants of Chitauri technology. After that, he has the Tinkerer (Michael Chernus) use the alien’s advanced technology to make weapons for himself, his ally the Shocker (Bokeem Woodbine), and to sell to other criminals.

“I think it’s an assembly of people he’s needed, just hired ’em on, and others that have loyalty,” Keaton told /Film. “They’re his boys, and they are like-minded. They are just his boys, you know? I really like the relationship with the Tinkerer – with [Michael Chernus]’s character – it’s great. He’s real funny, so we goof around a lot and make up very, very funny backstories. But they’re funny, but then you think, ‘Well, that’s probably their relationship. They probably get on each other’s nerves sometimes.’ I have a lot of the ideas, and then I just say, ‘Go make that. Go make that for me. I want to have a thing that does all this stuff. Just go make that stuff for me.’ And he’s great. I’m having a lot of fun in that relationship.”

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming.Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

The cast features Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Tyne Daly, Bokeem Woodbine, Logan Marshall-Green, and Marisa Tomei.

The film is being directed by Jon Watts (Cop Car), based on a screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley (Vacation reboot) and Jon Watts & Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers.

MORE: Tom Holland Wants To Take On Venom / Uncle Ben’s Role Revealed / Spider-Man Has His Own JARVIS

Spider-Man: Homecoming will be released on July 7, 2017.

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