In ‘Spiderman: Far From Home’, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio will be like a ‘cool uncle’ to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, says director

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Spider-Man (Tom Holland) will team up with Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal) in 'Spider-Man: Far From Home'.

Everyone’s favourite wall-climbing, web-shooting superhero returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The 23rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the sequel to 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming sees Tom Holland reprise his role as Peter Parker, otherwise known as your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

The film is directed by Jon Watts and features a star-studded cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Following the death of Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame, Peter is in mourning over the loss of his beloved mentor. He hopes a backpacking trip around Europe will take his mind off all things superhero, but it isn’t long before duty calls once more.

Far From Home is even more fun than our previous film … but at the same time the stakes are higher and it’s more emotional. With this film, we’re going bigger, but there’s always a character or story-based reason for the heightened scale and stakes. It’s bigger and better in every way possible,” says Holland.

Since Spider-Man was introduced to comic fans in the Amazing Fantasy #15 comic in 1962, at least 17 actors have played the character on the big screen. However, producer Amy Pascal says Holland still manages to put his own spin on the character.

“Tom inhabits the character in a unique way,” she explains. “He’s brilliant, emotional, and funny. Tom loves playing Spider-Man – he’s not only a wonderful artist, he’s a true fan of the character and its world.”

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In previous adaptations, Spider-Man has been eager to grow up and become an adult. This time around, he’s more reluctant to let go of his youth, even when he knows he has a destiny to fulfil.

“Peter definitely wants to be a regular teenager again,” Holland confirms. “He can’t wait to take a break and go on holiday with his friends. But he soon realises what deep down he always knew that, no matter where Peter finds himself, he belongs in the Spider-Man suit.”

The film also introduces a new character, Quentin Beck aka Mysterio (Gyllenhaal), who shares a common enemy with Peter.

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“I wanted to create a character that you won’t forget,” Gyllenhaal says. “Beck encompasses all the things I love as an actor.”

“It was incredibly important to us to bring an actor of Jake’s intelligence, wit, and depth to the role,” says 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 humour to the character.”

While Beck doesn’t necessarily replace Tony Stark or become Peter’s new mentor, Director John Watts says he becomes a “cool uncle” to Peter over the course of the film.

“Beck empathises with Peter’s reluctance to enter the fray, but points out that danger … comes with being a superhero,” he says. “With Beck, Peter thinks he’s found somebody who understands and cares about him as a person.”

Edited by Charlotte Ames-Ettridge

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