Homecoming Marisa Tomei Is Aunt May!

[Tony Stark]

I think all of the Spider-man films had a good dynamic between the Peter and Aunt May characters. Maguire and Harris were my favorite pairing regarding that dynamic, but I really thought Field and Garfield played well off each other.

I think that dynamic is more important than the age of Aunt May. If Holland and Tomei can match that, I don't think anyone will mind how old Tomei is.

I remember people complaining that Sally Field was too young, and I disagreed then, and while I can see it's more of an issue now, I still don't necessarily have problem with it. Clearly it's a departure from teh "sweet old Aunt May" dynamic of the Early Lee/Ditko/Romita stuff, but again, if the characters are compelling in the film, no one will mind.

 

[Webhead2006]

Joker, again we have no clue direction or take marisa and marvel are doing with may. Same with what are her looks and clothing in the film. Does she work or don't work, what problems and woes does she have. Could she have some sort of condition medically that can affect her. We don't know.

 

[The Joker]

Joker, again we have no clue direction or take marisa and marvel are doing with may. Same with what are her looks and clothing in the film. Does she work or don't work, what problems and woes does she have. Could she have some sort of condition medically that can affect her. We don't know.

Yeah true, I never said otherwise. But we're all basing this discussion on the premise here that they cast a much younger actress because we're getting a younger May, one who is different from the traditional elderly May. That's why people are saying stuff like she won't be fragile health wise, or crying over Ben all the time (as if you have to be old to do that), or worrying about bills because she's too old to work etc. We're all assuming it.

Because they cast someone like Tomei, who doesn't even look like she's in her 50's, I don't see them going that way with her either.

 

[NotSoLongAgo]

How am I getting worked up over it? Have I gotten angry? Posted in huge cap locks letters?

Except being an elderly lady with fragile health, who's too old to work, which is one of the key parts of her character, and has been used in every version of her character because it's an essential part of it; http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=31786823&postcount=569

Do you believe they cast a younger spry looking actress to play such a part?

No, you haven't gotten angry but you've written quite a few posts of how a young aunt may isn't the comic aunt may you know and love. And no obviously they haven't. But if they've cast her to grow into the role like they did for Holland, then maybe at the end of her run she'll run into health issues when Peter is older himself. Maybe she'll have some sort of injury that prevents her from working. Who knows? But for now, I'm sure we can have a grief stricken May who didn't work before and all of a sudden now needs to in order to keep her and Peter on their feet. Imagine her not having a career or an education? What kind of a job could she get? Certainly not something that can support two people in New York alone. That alone can lead into some health issues from stress or whatever. I'm just trying to be optimistic here. A young May has alot of perks from what I can see.

 

[The Joker]

No, you haven't gotten angry but you've written quite a few posts of how a young aunt may isn't the comic aunt may you know and love. And no obviously they haven't. But if they've cast her to grow into the role like they did for Holland, then maybe at the end of her run she'll run into health issues when Peter is older himself. Maybe she'll have some sort of injury that prevents her from working. Who knows? But for now, I'm sure we can have a grief stricken May who didn't work before and all of a sudden now needs to in order to keep her and Peter on their feet. That alone can lead into some health issues. I'm just trying to be optimistic here. A young May has alot of perks from what I can see.

Ok cool, so please don't misinterpret my passion for the subject as being worked up. I'm as calm as a summer breeze

Yeah maybe they will age her, or inflict her with some injury or illness (again not that I am saying either of these things are the defining and only aspects of her character, just one of several key ones). I am as clueless as you and everyone else. Like I said to Webhead we're just talking about this on the basis that they're not going that way, which is the way everyone seems to be talking.

I want to be optimistic and love everything about this movie. I don't want another bad Spidey movie because I didn't care for either of the TASM ones. I am on board with Marvel being involved. That's a gift from the heavens. I love Holland's casting as Spidey. I'm just not sold on Tomei, not as an actress, but as Aunt May.

Btw I just saw this posted on Facebook. It's both stupid and hilarious; http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...arks-sexist-and-ageist-backlash-10376955.html

Even I don't think they're being ageist.

 

[Shikamaru]

How am I getting worked up over it? Have I gotten angry? Posted in huge cap locks letters?

Except being an elderly lady with fragile health, who's too old to work, which is one of the key parts of her character, and has been used in every version of her character because it's an essential part of it; http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=31786823&postcount=569

Do you believe they cast a younger spry looking actress to play such a part?

You just summarized why I find a younger Aunt May to be more realistic. If a legal guardian is physically unfit to work and has that much of a fragile health, I would question if they should even be a legal guardian in the first place. And I'm not even taking into account the naivety aspect, as May in the Lee/Ditko era sometimes felt like she was clueless to the world around her.

By contrast, a relatively younger May who is working and struggling to pay the bills is more interesting IMO. For one I think it makes her more relatable and three-dimensional, and two it gives her a better crafted dynamic with Peter, as they both have something in common that they're struggling with together.

Also, you're acting like making May younger is this new concept that came out of nowhere. It's been around for a few years now. It's been used in the Ultimate comics, in Spectacular, in the recent films, and I believe it was also used in the 90's "Chapter One" retellings of the early years. At least two of those takes were successful with it. Even in TASM(2), despite the franchise's poor reception, May herself was never sourced as a problem (in general). Raimi's take seems to be the only exception post-2000's, and even then, she was still more independent than she was in the Lee/Ditko era. Much like Cap being superhuman instead of "peak human", it's one of those ideas that just works better when doing a more updated version of the Spider-Man mythos, IMO.

 

[ernesth100]

Ya know in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon. Aunt May doesn't really look or sound or even act old at all. I remember one episode that showed her entire schedule, none of which is anything a frail old lady would do. I would even go so far as to say that if Marisa Tomei's hair was shorter and grey the resemblence would be fairly similar. So, this is beggining to make me think that they'll take a bit more from the Ultimate Cartoon. Not that I'd have a problem with it. As I've stated I am a fan of the cartoon.

Plus, Ultimate Cartoon Peter kinda looks like Holland.

Spoiler

Same round chin, brown hair and even a similar hairstyle. I'm not saying it is a fact. I'm just saying it as an personal point of view.

 

[The Joker]

You just summarized why I find a younger Aunt May to be more realistic. If a legal guardian is physically unfit to work and has that much of a fragile health, I would question if they should even be a legal guardian in the first place. And I'm not even taking into account the naivety aspect, as May in the Lee/Ditko era sometimes felt like she was clueless to the world around her.

If Peter was a child when he was left in May's care, it would have been unrealistic to leave him in her care. But he'd been living with her for most of his life, along with Ben, and he was 15 when he was left alone with her after Ben died, and she didn't have one foot in the grave, or was helpless to look after Peter or herself. She was just like any elderly person, she was more vulnerable health wise than a younger person was. She had trouble paying her bills.

Second, this whole naivety thing is being blown out of proportion. The only thing she was naive about was Doc Ock. That seemed to played up for comedy purposes. "Oh we mustn't be so harsh on the poor man just because he seems to have some trouble with his arms"

She was quite competent and had all her marbles regarding everything else.

By contrast, a relatively younger May who is working and struggling to pay the bills is more interesting IMO. For one I think it makes her more relatable and three-dimensional, and two it gives her a better crafted dynamic with Peter, as they both have something in common that they're struggling with together.

I disagree. I don't see how that is more interesting. If May is more self sufficient it gives Peter one less thing to worry about. The two of them together struggling to work and pay bills doesn't add anything to their relationship. If anything it takes away from it. And the only versions of May I've seen who have a job are Ultimate and TASM, and neither were shown to be struggling financially. Ultimate May even took Gwen in, too, after her dad died.

Also, you're acting like making May younger is this new concept that came out of nowhere. It's been around for a few years now. It's been used in the Ultimate comics, in Spectacular, in the recent films, and I believe it was also used in the 90's "Chapter One" retellings of the early years. At least two of those takes were successful with it. Even in TASM(2), despite the franchise's poor reception, May herself was never sourced as a problem (in general). Raimi's take seems to be the only exception post-2000's, and even then, she was still more independent than she was in the Lee/Ditko era. Much like Cap being superhuman instead of "peak human", it's one of those ideas that just works better when doing a more updated version of the Spider-Man mythos, IMO.

This younger May is a new concept outside of USM. USM is the only version to do it. Spectacular's was not younger. She was still a grey haired old lady, susceptible to the ills of old age, not working and struggling to pay her bills.

TASM movies hired a 66 year old actress, and a 73 year old Uncle Ben. They were oldies. They never did anything with May at all. Barely anything about her job or life was relevant. She was sidelined because of the boring parents sub plot. Same with Uncle Ben's memory and legacy.

Raimi's version is the spot on version of Aunt May. Elderly, struggling with bills, susceptible to the ills of old age (her hospitalized hysteria after Goblin's attack) sweet, supportive, and still self sufficient enough to be believable as a legal guardian.

 

[ernesth100]

From this point on, I will compare everyone who is casted to the designs on the USM cartoon, I'm getting really suspicious. On another note, good luck to Tomei, I hope she does well in the role. Oh who am I kidding, she won an Oscar for a reason.

 

[PeterBenParker]

As I've said multiple times before, USM will have some sort of influence on this new series. Whether it's straight up designs, stories, concepts, etc. it does not matter -- they will look to that in at least some capacity and that is not a bad thing. Well, unless they make it exactly like said cartoon, then we'll talk.

 

[ernesth100]

I think they'll use the USM cartoon Concepts(like the character and villain looks). But the general overall plot and personality of the characters will be more fsithful to the comics.

Oh and about Sally Field and Rosemary Harris Aunt May. Well, I think they both did good. My hand leans more towards Rosemary as she feels a bit more like what I'd expect Aunt May to be like IRL. But those are in the past, this is Marvels adaption. It's Marvel turn to make their own version of the woman that raised Peter. And if you don't like, no offense, but it's not changing or going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[PeterBenParker]

I think they'll use the USM cartoon Concepts(like the character and villain looks). But the general overall plot and personality of the characters will be more fsithful to the comics.

Definitely agree, there. If anything, that'll probably be the only things they use from the cartoon.

The suit is something I'd love to see 100% adapted from it, as it's a beautiful suit. And I quite like Ock's design, despite it seeming a tad drastic of a change.

 

[Webhead2006]

I don't think the usm be used at all. It just doesn't work for whst the mcu is. Again if any USM is used it be the original bendis comic. Along with classic stuff. As Kevin keeps talking classic.

 

[PeterBenParker]

I don't think the usm be used at all. It just doesn't work for whst the mcu is. Again if any USM is used it be the original bendis comic. Along with classic stuff. As Kevin keeps talking classic.

I doubt that. TAS was used in the Raimi trilogy, SSM was used in TASM series, etc.

We'll be seeing some of the USM cartoon in the new series, that's undeniable.

 

[Webhead2006]

I just don't see it. As besides peter being young and in hs. There is nothing else from that show that could be used. As again the mcu as a present doesn't fit it. And like I said I hardly see feige mention usm toon when talking about soidey. It's mostly been classic 616. Again if any USM is used o feel it be some aspects from the comic not the show.

 

[The Joker]

I doubt that. TAS was used in the Raimi trilogy

What was used from TAS?

 

[Webhead2006]

Ys I dont see tas in raimi films. It was pretty much his love of Lee dikto stuff.

 

[ernesth100]

I'm willing to bet money the USM cartoon will be used in some way. But I'll have to wait until more cast is revealed and some plot points as well as the costume. Right now it's more of a hunch.

But we are getting far off topic of Marisa Tomei playing Aunt May. Anyone think she'll appear in Civil War since they casted her so soon? Even be it a flashback?

 

[Andrew Lucas]

It's because of racism, sexism, homophobia that we don't have as many women, non-whites and gays. There needs to be a moderate rebalance which we are seeing now imo. If they made Peter black in a new continuity, I wouldn't give a ****.

Doesn't matter. A balance should be a well done one, not a forced one.

I would, that's just a bad move.

Absolutely
I am all in for changing minor character's race if they fit the role (like Vondie Curtis Hall for Ben Urich), even the villain if its a talented actor (Jamie Foxx for Electro), I could even look past Michael B Jordon's 'Human Torch' so far since he wasn't so iconic to start with

But I don't want them to change the iconic superhero's race just to score some brownie points, I need my Spider-man, Batman, Superman, Captain America, Wolverine to be white, the same way I want Storm, Falcon, War Machine, Black Panther to be black, its not being racist, I am not even White

I remember when Cumberbatch was cast as Doctor Strange, most of us at the forums were thrilled to land such a talented actor, some were saying it was predictable (an understandable criticism) but once I started seeing news reports I was amused to see most reports to the tune of 'Another boring white Male cast as a superhero' 'Marvel are just against non-white superheroes', they kept on saying how they should have cast a Black/Latino guy for Doctor Strange completely disregarding how he is White in the comics to begin with and the actor is actually quite talented, that for me is racist, when you look past an actor's credentials and only see his colour

Basically.

Though, I can accept a black Spider-Man, white War Machine and etc, as long as they aren't the initial character, this case, Rhodes and Parker.

 

[NotSoLongAgo]

I'm willing to bet money the USM cartoon will be used in some way. But I'll have to wait until more cast is revealed and some plot points as well as the costume. Right now it's more of a hunch.

But we are getting far off topic of Marisa Tomei playing Aunt May. Anyone think she'll appear in Civil War since they casted her so soon? Even be it a flashback?

For the USM cartoon I'm hoping that it's not used as inspiration. I'd rather they draw on their own concepts than even use some from the cartoons. Or hope that they have enough sense to draw from TSSM in making the supporting cast actually relevant aside from the love interest. Which is wasn't just a SSM concept to begin with so yeah. Please, don't get inspiration from USM Feige There's no point!

As for Tomei, I was thinking that as well. It kind of makes sense but only if Holland still has more to film. I don't expect that any other character will be announced so it could well be because of CW.

 

[Webhead2006]

Like I said no where has feige even quoted usm toon. He been more classic talk. Again it probably won't be basis on mcu spidey. As mcu guys have no connection to usm toon. It more then likely will be taking the best stuff from classic 616, while using the usm comics modena zed teen life and maybe some characteristics for some characters. While also throwing in mcu little twists on things.

 

[Dark Raven]

Though, I can accept a black Spider-Man, white War Machine and etc, as long as they aren't the initial character, this case, Rhodes and Parker.

A white War Machine seems kind of redundant, since Rhodes was originally the black Iron Man. A white War Machine would then just be Tony Stark. Didn't he wear the WM armour once in the comics?

As for May in Civil War, I hope she does have a cameo. There are bound to be many other civilians in the movie, so having her in a brief walk on part won't overcrowd the movie since she's not a superhero herself.

 

[Shikamaru]

If Peter was a child when he was left in May's care, it would have been unrealistic to leave him in her care. But he'd been living with her for most of his life, along with Ben, and he was 15 when he was left alone with her after Ben died, and she didn't have one foot in the grave, or was helpless to look after Peter or herself. She was just like any elderly person, she was more vulnerable health wise than a younger person was. She had trouble paying her bills.

Second, this whole naivety thing is being blown out of proportion. The only thing she was naive about was Doc Ock. That seemed to played up for comedy purposes. "Oh we mustn't be so harsh on the poor man just because he seems to have some trouble with his arms"

She was quite competent and had all her marbles regarding everything else.

First, assuming an aunt and uncle have the capacity to raise a child (and want to)why would it be unrealistic to leave Peter in her care to begin with? Relatives have legally adopted other relatives before. If anything, it's the first people adoptive agencies would contact.

Second, you stated Aunt May should be "too old to work". My assertion she wouldn't realistically be able to take care of him was a direct response to that. If that was true, it would open up another can of worms. Realistically speaking she'd be unfit as a legal guardian, or be on welfare or there'd be other similar legal-related situations.

Third, comedy or not, the Doc Ock thing comes off as nothing short of silly. The way comedy works is by pointing out the absurdity that exists in reality. Maybe it was funny in the 60's, but today it makes her seem like a senile old woman.

Fourth, it's not just in the Annual. As a character, I would argue she often came off as too detached from the world. This is the same person who tried setting up Peter with MJ because "he needs to think about his future/love life" while Peter was publicly dating Betty. There's issues where Peter directly tells her that and she still can't comprehend it.

I disagree. I don't see how that is more interesting. If May is more self sufficient it gives Peter one less thing to worry about. The two of them together struggling to work and pay bills doesn't add anything to their relationship. If anything it takes away from it. And the only versions of May I've seen who have a job are Ultimate and TASM, and neither were shown to be struggling financially. Ultimate May even took Gwen in, too, after her dad died.

Huh...I wrote a whole response to this but it's gone. I'll rewrite it when I get home (at school and laptop's dying).

This younger May is a new concept outside of USM. USM is the only version to do it. Spectacular's was not younger. She was still a grey haired old lady, susceptible to the ills of old age, not working and struggling to pay her bills.

TASM movies hired a 66 year old actress, and a 73 year old Uncle Ben. They were oldies. They never did anything with May at all. Barely anything about her job or life was relevant. She was sidelined because of the boring parents sub plot. Same with Uncle Ben's memory and legacy.

Raimi's version is the spot on version of Aunt May. Elderly, struggling with bills, susceptible to the ills of old age (her hospitalized hysteria after Goblin's attack) sweet, supportive, and still self sufficient enough to be believable as a legal guardian.

By "younger", I'm referring to her being early 50's min. Your definition of "older" would only be true if having grey hair and heart problems is what constitute as an "old" Aunt May. All the versions I brought up were relatively younger (50's-ish), but they weren't 65+ looking like the older versions. And while Spectacular May did have a heart attack, that doesn't mean she was that old. It's common even for a 50-year old woman. My mom had to be rushed to the hospital one morning and she's not even 50. Not to mention the situation was understandable (seeing Times Square be wrecked by 6 villains up close).

 

[Andrew Lucas]

A white War Machine seems kind of redundant, since Rhodes was originally the black Iron Man. A white War Machine would then just be Tony Stark. Didn't he wear the WM armour once in the comics?

As for May in Civil War, I hope she does have a cameo. There are bound to be many other civilians in the movie, so having her in a brief walk on part won't overcrowd the movie since she's not a superhero herself.

You understood what I meant.

 

[Webhead2006]

But ya we are getting off topic on aunt may and marisa. This talk should be moved to general thread or one of the others.