Director Jon Watts says he wanted to bring the iconic character from the comics into the film in a way audiences weren’t expecting. “Mysterio is a fascinating villain in the comics, so depicting him here as a hero is definitely something we haven’t seen before. The idea of Spider-Man, Mysterio, and Nick Fury teaming up to take on this global menace was really exciting to us.”
Mysterio, who as the character himself explains in the film, is from an Earth that exists in a dimension parallel to ours. “It was incredibly important to us to bring an actor of Jake’s intelligence, who carries wit and depth, to the role,” says producer Amy Pascal. “As much as we talked about Mysterio in a practical way – like how his powers would work in the movie – when Jake got involved, he brought a new level of humanity, unpredictability, and humor to the character. There’s always a desire to bring actors we all love from other films into this world, and Jake’s a great example of the kind of character an actor of his caliber can bring to life.”
Watts adds: “We needed someone who could easily slip into the role of a Super Hero and, possibly, the world’s next lead Avenger. We knew Jake could carry that weighty responsibility.”
“I wanted to create a character that you won’t forget,” Gyllenhaal says. “Beck encompasses all the things I love as an actor.”
In true Super Hero style, Mysterio is not only willing, but eager to bring down the Elemental Creatures. “Beck insists on it,” says Gyllenhaal. “He sees their arrival on Earth as being tied his, so in Beck’s view they’re his responsibility.”
Gyllenhaal was equally intrigued by the burgeoning relationship between Peter Parker and Beck, who’s not a mentor, like Tony Stark was, but a friend who understands what Peter is going through. Still, Mysterio prods him to accept the challenge awaiting them both. “Beck empathizes with Peter’s reluctance to enter the fray, but points out that the task, no matter what the danger, comes with being a Super Hero,” he says.
Watts concludes that he wanted to depict Beck as a friend and a “cool uncle” to Peter. “Beck, who feels like a stranger in a strange land, sees Peter as a potential ally and teammate. At the same time, Beck realizes that Peter is also a dorky teen who’d rather be on this big field trip and vacation than save the world.”
In Philippine cinemas July 3, Spider-Man: Far From Home is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Use the hashtag #SpiderManFarFromHome
About Spider-Man™: Far From Home
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
Directed by Jon Watts. Screenplay by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal.
Tom Holland is joined in the cast by Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, JB Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr with Marisa Tomei and Jake Gyllenhaal.
