Here’s Why Spider-Man: Homecoming Changed Up Flash Thompson

It goes without saying that characters from comic books typically undergo some changes in their journey from the printed page to the big screen, but one character in Spider-Man: Homecoming will see a huge renovation.

In the original Spider-Man comics from Marvel, Flash Thompson was an imposing bully, a jock, a meathead. He’d constantly torment Peter Parker in the halls of Midtown High School, ridiculing his brainy classmate for his “puny” size.

But in Marvel Studios latest movie the character will be similar to Peter — a skinny, brainy student attending the Midtown Science and Technology School, only a lot meaner. Flash is played by actor Tony Revolori, who spoke about why his incarnation of the character is much more relevant in today’s youth culture.

“We made it so that way, Flash is Peter’s equal,” Revolori said to Hello Giggles. “He’s just as smart. They all go to this school and sure, maybe Flash’s dad pays for him to go there, but regardless, he is a smart kid. And I think by that fact we didn’t want to make it… You can’t be smart and a jock and be this physical a-hole.”

In the original Spider-Man movie with Tobey Maguire, Flash was played by a young Joe Manganiello who fits the image presented in the comics more accurately than Revolori does.

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Revolori said he hopes the film makes Flash relatable and doesn’t portray him as a stereotypical bully.

“I [want] to make sure people know where [Flash is] coming from,” Revolori said. “Why he is the way he is. He’s cocky because of money, but he’s also not the best so he hates Peter for the fact that it comes so easy to him.”

That sounds a lot more like the bullies of today, considering how social media plays a huge role in kids’ lives and interactions.

“I don’t want to be a physical bully or anything like that because that’s not really what happens now,” Revolori said. “It’s all about the social comments on social media and everything. And so how do you bring that online bully to real life?”

We’ll find out just how Flash makes Peter’s life a living hell when Spider-Man: Homecoming premieres this Friday.

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Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine — distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.

Filming for Spider-Man: Homecoming began in June 2016 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Georgia. There were also on location shoots in an Atlanta high school, a hotel, and Atlanta’s West End. Some filming did take place in New York City, where the film wrapped production in October 2016.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is directed by Jon Watts, from a screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, Watts and Christopher Ford, and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Spider-Man: Homecoming stars Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr.