Producers of 'Spider-Man' did not know who Zendaya was when she auditioned for the film, though she was famous

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains details about Challengers.

Selome Hailu When Justin Kuritzkes began writing what later became the hottest love triangle of the year, there was no star power involved. Though he was already an accomplished playwright and novelist (and the husband of Celine Song, the writer-director who provided last year’s buzziest love triangle with “Past Lives”), “Challengers” was Kuritzkes’ first screenplay and began as a document on his computer that no one was paying him to finish. But in 2021, “Challengers” appeared on the Black List, an annual roundup of the most popular unproduced scripts in Hollywood, which helped him sell it to producers Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor.

Robert Downey Jr. has expressed interest in reprising his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Which presents a problem, since he died at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director “Deadpool and Wolverine” is set to be one of the biggest films of the summer, and fan theories are already flying around the internet regarding what Marvel could have in store for what looks like a bonkers trip across a multiverse populated by characters previously owned by 20th Century Fox and now owned by Disney. Whatever goes down in the sequel, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, prior knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will not be a mandatory requirement in order to enjoy it. That’s according to the film’s director, Shawn Levy.

It’s been two and a half years since the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home and the movie continues to be one of the most successful films of all time. The film is currently the third highest-grossing movie of all time with a domestic total of $814 million and it’s safe to say that the lead actors took home a lot of money for the film!

EXCLUSIVE: The ancient Scottish town of St Andrews was hit with a heavy bout of  Spidey fever this past weekend as the third annual Sands International Film Festival opened, pulling in an eclectic set of films, filmmakers, and speakers alongside one popular guest of honor. 

Tom Holland has confirmed that he is definitely returning for a fourth instalment in his run of Spider-Man films.The actor has portrayed the superhero in three lead entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date (2017’s Homecoming, 2019’s Far From Home and 2021’s No Way Home), as well as appearing in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.And now, during an appearance at the Sands International Film Festival in St. Andrews, Scotland, Holland has said that he will be returning in the next MCU Spider-Man movie.“The simple answer is that I’ll always want to do Spider-Man films,” Holland said. “I owe my life and career to Spider-Man.

Spider-Man fans will love this news.

Zendaya and Tom Holland had a lucky break the last time they got in trouble with the law!

Tom Holland and his brother Harry Holland were pictured arriving at the opening night of the Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews. The Scottish film festival is set to take place over three days.

The USC School of Cinematic Arts has announced that Miky Lee will deliver the 20024 Commencement address.

Apple is turning the story of the Hollywood con queen into a documentary series.

Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy wanted to show spoiler-free footage at CinemaCon on Thursday, and perhaps it is, but, boy was it hysterical. In the nine minutes shown of the Marvel tentpole, Ryan Reynolds is adjusting to normal life, content to aim for the middle, because you never miss.

The final trailer for the upcoming A24 film Civil War just debuted online, and tickets are still available on Fandango for opening weekend!

“The View” co-hosts and show staff were forced to flee their studio before Wednesday morning’s show after a grease fire broke out at “The Tamron Hall Show,” which shoots in the studio next door.No one was injured in the blaze, and “The View” (11 a.m./Ch. 7) carried on as usual once the dust (and smoke) settled.“Tamron Hall,” meanwhile, sent its audience home and aired a repeat in its 10 a.m.

Zendaya landed her big breakout film when she was cast opposite Tom Holland in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. However, producer Amy Pascal said neither she nor Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige knew who the star was when she auditioned for the role of MJ.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Zendaya was already a big star when she was cast as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” By that point in her career she had already amassed a huge following as the star of two Disney Channel hits, “Shake It Up” and “K.C. Undercover,” plus popped up in Beyonce’s “Lemonade” film and was a runner-up on “Dancing With the Stars.” None of that apparently registered for “Spider-Man” producer Amy Pascal. “To be honest with you, neither [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige nor I knew who she was,” Pascal admitted in Vogue magazine as part of its Zendaya cover story.

Will Iron Man return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? The verdict is still out. Since Iron Man’s tragic death in "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), Robert Downey Jr., who played the character over a span of 11 years, has been asked time and time again if he’d return to the role if the opportunity presented itself. Very shortly after his character’s departure from the MCU, Downey appeared on "The Joe Rogan Experience," where Rogan took the opportunity to ask the actor if he would ever return to the role he played for so long.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Robert Downey Jr. is not closing the door on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he kicked off in 2008 with “Iron Man” and headlined for 11 years through 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” Iron Man met his demise in that tentpole, but that has never stopped rumors from circulating that Marvel is trying to bring Downey back into the fold, especially now that the MCU has hit a box office rough patch with 2023 flops such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “The Marvels.” Certainly, Downey’s return as Iron Man could restore Marvel to its blockbuster glory days. Speaking to Esquire magazine after his Oscar win for “Oppenheimer” last month, Downey was asked if he would ever return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that he is officially an Academy Award winner.

Brent Lang Executive Editor It’s going to take a live action version of “Moana” a little longer to swim to shore than Disney first expected. The film, originally slated to open in 2025, has been pushed back to July 10, 2026. That news came as part of a deluge of Disney release date announcements and shifting debuts.