As “Spider-Man: Homecoming” gets ready to film later this summer, the casting announcements are coming almost daily for the highly anticipated Sony/Marvel film. Deadline reports that Kenneth Choi, fresh off of playing Judge Lance Ito in the FX hit “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” has joined the cast as a school principal.
This announcement is a unique one. With this casting, Choi joins Alfre Woodard as the only actors to pull double duty as two separate characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (she’s also going to appear in “Luke Cage”). Previously, Kenneth Choi was featured as one of the Howling Commandos in “Captain America: The First Avenger” and in an episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
The anticipation is high for the upcoming Spider-Man sequel after the character’s appearance in the blockbuster “Captain America: Civil War.” Tom Holland’s teenage Spider-man is seen as the highlight of the picture for many audiences. Additionally, 14-year-old Michael Barbieri has joined the cast according to Heroic Hollywood. Barbieri’s career is on the rise thanks to his performance in Ira Sachs‘ acclaimed Sundance picture, “Little Men” and a role in “The Dark Tower” opposite Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.
Lastly, Vincent D’Onofrio has revealed that his Spider-Man related character Kingpin will not appear in ‘Homecoming.’ This is not a surprise. Marvel chief Kevin Feige has no oversight over the Netflix series and as such, you can bet he’s going to be reluctant to include those casting choices in his films (don’t be surprised if he recasts entirely if/when he chooses to introduce those heroes).
Choi and Barbieri join Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Marisa Tomei as May Parker, Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Michael Keaton as villain The Vulture, Zendaya, Laura Harrier and Tony Revolori in what’s surely going to be one of the biggest films of next summer. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” will be released July 7, 2017.