Homecoming The Zendaya is Mary Jane thread

[QWoods]

I'll be fine if she's Felicia or MJ. I'd still want the platinum blonde hair for BC even if she has dark roots. Zendaya can pull it off.

 

[Kurenai]

I think deep down we all know she's playing MJ. I think Marvel want to make a complete statement, not just in terms of trying to make a great Spidey film, but politically.

But do we really, half of me thinks she is, but the other half think she's part of Marvel's plan to set this movie a part from the other spider-man movie i.e she's a new character.

Also if she's not a new character then I don't think Tony is either, is what I'm now thinking.

 

[SpideyJJ]

I'm thinking she's going to be like the Rachel Dawes of the high school trilogy i.e a new character who they make the main love interest for high school, but for whatever reason won't work out between them. Then maybe we get MJ in college

 

[harryoscop]

I'm thinking she's going to be like the Rachel Dawes of the high school trilogy i.e a new character who they make the main love interest for high school, but for whatever reason won't work out between them. Then maybe we get MJ in college

Which would be both inherently & completely unnecessary.

 

[Kurenai]

Posting more Galore Photoshoot things.

Spoiler

And to the woman who inspired the photoshoot.

Cindy Crawford.

 

[PeterBenParker]

 

[Baneis8feettall]

It would be disappointing if she is MJ but they don't have model aspect of the character. Like modest girl next door type of MJ.

It screams MJ to me when she has such photos for covers... or at least Felicia Hardy.

 

[Kurenai]

It was interesting that the dailybeast article that had that small interview with Jon Watts said that Zendaya's character was Peter Parker's love interest.

I don't know if that was an error or if Jon implied something, but it is interesting that once again, this is conflicting with previous reports, only instead of the lead thing, it's the love interest thing.

I do wonder though if Laura Harrier is Sally Avril and Z is Liz Allen, despite TheWrap breaking the news about Laura's casting and saying that Laura had a significant role. And despite Jon taking inspiration from the Ultimate comics and Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, which had no Sally Avril, we don't know what he's taking from those iterations and what he's adding.

At the same time if Mary Jane is not in this movie or is only in this movie for a little bit, it would still make sense for Laura to be Liz, b/c I don't think the movie will have the time to give Sally Avril and her brief heroism attention which would be the only reason Laura would have a significant role if she was Sally.

I think it's safe to say that Laura is Liz, and Tony might be Flash more than anything else, less bully and more *****ie, and not really dating Liz either.

And while more evidence seems to be piling up that points to Z being MJ, I don't think Marvel is that ballsy tbh lol. I also think Marvel wouldn't be able to handle the fallout, not only from people who didn't piece the puzzles together, but from the fact that they probably wouldn't ask Z to change her hair red b/c she's biracial and so no redheaded MJ for fans.

 

[harryoscop]

Tony as Flash kinda makes sense when you think about bullies of today. (I should know first-hand)

Btw, I think Marvel will be strong enough for the backlash. After all, they're currently headlining the highest grossing franchise in THE WORLD right now.

 

[RLAAMJR.]

I'll be fine if she's Felicia or MJ. I'd still want the platinum blonde hair for BC even if she has dark roots. Zendaya can pull it off.

If she'd be Black Cat, people would be calling her Storm.

 

[Dark Raven]

What if Zendaya is Michelle, but at the end of the movie she ends up in the witness protection programme and has to change her name to Mary Jane and change her appearance? Maybe she dyes her hair red and changes her clothing style to become unrecognisable. So Mary Jane Watson isn't even her real name in the MCU and her red hair etc is all a facade.

Or if she's trying to become an actress, Mary Jane Watson is just a stage name and the red hair is her moviestar image but not her real self.

Or if not that, she does a Sandy from Grease transformation from demure and innocent Michelle to sexy leather-clad bombshell MJ. She could say to Peter at the end "tell me about it... stud... I mean tiger!"

 

[BatsDC]

I like the idea of her being Debra Whitman

 

[harryoscop]

Yep:

 

[Fincher]

What if Zendaya is Michelle, but at the end of the movie she ends up in the witness protection programme and has to change her name to Mary Jane and change her appearance? Maybe she dyes her hair red and changes her clothing style to become unrecognisable. So Mary Jane Watson isn't even her real name in the MCU and her red hair etc is all a facade.

People in the Witness Protection Program move somewhere else. They don't just change their name and their fashion sense.

 

[Spider-Fan83]

here's a theory I don't think has been mentioned yet...

what if she a young version, Mariah Crawford (pre Dr. obviously), and their setting her up to be involved in a Kraven storyline in a future sequel (to become Calypso later on)

with rumors that she'll have a bigger role in sequels, it all depends how far out they've already planned out the story for sequels

 

[Kurenai]

I've been neglecting this particular thread.

Now in LA, and in less than 72 hours is at an event, here is Zendaya at the Kids Choice Awards Sports.

 

[Kurenai]

Reposting my response from the MJ thread cause it's relevant.

Yeah I wasn't sure first because we only got 2 pics of her on set and who knows maybe she was wearing a wig. Plus her make-up wasn't done.

But there were new set pictures yesterday and she still wasn't a redhead so.

Idk how I missed this, but not to be that person, but the style is not indicative of whether or not Zendaya is MJ or not.

Something interesting, the cast recently took a pic where they modeled after The Breakfast Club, Zendaya replicated Allison Reynolds pose, b/c of that pic I can kind respond to this more differently then if I had seen this when it was posted.

Anyway, Zendaya's character style is very similar to the character Allison who also wore long skirts, wore layers, baggy clothing, and had messy hair etc.

Allison also got a makeover, if this is essentially a high school movie and it's also inspired by John Hughes, there's a 90% chance there's a makeover involved, you have to wonder if Zendaya's character is getting a makeover for homecoming.

But how is MJ similar to Allison, despite them not having similar personalities...

In the Breakfast Club, Claire aka 'the princess' i.e the character pose Laura was copying in that cast pic, gave Allison a makeover; in the movie both Allison and Claire had bonded. Who's to say Jon is not gonna do something similar and show the friendship between MJ and Liz forming instead of it automatically being there... Who's to say Liz would not have a hand in the obvious makeover and transformation of Zendaya's character.

Something else, Allison's parents ignored her b/c of their own problems, and I can totally see Jon Watts doing a similar route with MJ by having her parents be at each other's throats arguing, especially if he doesn't want to touch on the whole "abusive father" storyline from 616, I mean since his inspiration is coming from 'Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane', he could adapt the bit where MJ is feeling neglected b/c her mom always works and doesn't spend time with her and her father is not around.

Allison was also a compulsive liar, and while MJ is not, 616!MJ did have the party girl facade, and a facade is nothing but a lie, a defense mechanism, which was what Allison's compulsive lying was.

Now if Zendaya is MJ, why would they style her like this; well in 'Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane' MJ went goth b/c of a breakup, I wouldn't exactly say that Zendaya looks goth in that pic, and I don't see Jon following that storyline, but I can see Jon making this style the result of her home situation, or maybe she doesn't care how she looks, the fact that MJ is at this school of science and technology has me believing they're pulling 1610!MJ aka Brainy Jane into this instead of stylish 616!MJ, which would also make sense considering Jon Watts said the Ultimate version is his inspiration, so either options or both could be resulting in this style.

So while 90% of me doesn't believe Zendaya is MJ, the styling of the character can't be the sole reason why she's not MJ.

And you should never use Zendaya's lack of red hair as proof she's not MJ, there was always a 99℅ chance she was never gonna be a redhead if she was MJ in the first place (90% at the least), Hollywood and people in general don't even think non-white people can be natural redheads in the first place.

I think I'm gonna post this in the Michelle thread.

Also Stefanie Scott is always an A+ fancast for MJ.

 

[The Infernal]

Yep:

It would be interesting to see her in the movie. My only exposure to her was the cartoon and the comic hasn't used her much over the years as far as I know.

 

[PeterBenParker]

Nice theory, Kurenai.

 

[X Knight]

given what I've seen of Zendaya's character's "look," I'd actually be more offended if she's MJ and they changed the character's looks and backstory and personality to match Kurenai's theory than if they simply race changed the character.

I mean, when you have someone who looks like this:

and then you make her look like this:

that's just........stupid!! not to mention a waste of Zendaya's beauty. The 1st image above is far closer to MJ than the bottom image.

that would represent a total change of the character, not just merely a race change.

I don't care if they are going for the "Brainy Jany" approach from the Ultimate comics. MJ in Ultimate was still smoking hot and beautiful in addition to being smart.

 

[Dark Raven]

What if she shows up at the looking like traditional MJ after changing her name from Michelle and undergoing a makeover and then says to Peter the iconic line: "Tell me about it... stud!"

 

[BarryAllen]

What if they set up Zendaya as MJ in high school looking like how she does in the set photos, and then they build up to college where MJ becomes a lot more social and outgoing and more like comic MJ? Peter would overlook and dismiss her in high school and then in college he'd be surprised by how she changed.

 

[Dark Raven]

What if Michelle gets some style lessons from Aunt May on how to doll herself up to attract Peter? Maybe she will be May's pet project to turn the frumpy science geek into a hot chick and learn how to have the guys chasing after her. They can even have scenes of her trying out different catch phrases to see what works before she settles on "tiger":

Face it panda, you've just hit the jackpot.

Face it hippo, you've just hit the jackpot.

Face it walrus, you've just hit the jackpot.

Face it rhino, you've just hit the jackpot.

Face it vulture, you've just hit the jackpot.

Face it armadillo, you've just hit the jackpot.

That can be Michelle's story arc in these movies until she finally changes her name to Mary Jane and becomes the MJ we all know.

 

[Mike Murdock]

Yep:

Is that Felicity Smoak?

 

[X Knight]

What if they set up Zendaya as MJ in high school looking like how she does in the set photos, and then they build up to college where MJ becomes a lot more social and outgoing and more like comic MJ? Peter would overlook and dismiss her in high school and then in college he'd be surprised by how she changed.

I mean, technically, they could do that.

but that would be really changing the character - to the point where it's essentially a different character, imo. She'd be MJINO ( MJ In Name Only ).

add to that the fact they changed her race, you'd then have a MJ who doesn't look or behave like traditional MJ.

so, a double (negative) change.

as others here who are fine with the race change said previously, getting the character's personality and "spirit" right is most important.

Making MJ start out as a shy, awkward, withdrawn, conservative, frumpy, plain HS student who transforms into stunning, outgoing, super model socialite in college is so totally NOT the character of traditional ( or Ultimate ) MJ.