Ever since Zendaya was reported joining the "Spider-Man: Homecoming" movie, it has been speculated that she is secretly playing to role of Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's long time love in the graphic novels. But after months of online discussion among hardcore fans, Zendaya finally went out in public and denied that she is Mary Jane.
In a report from ET Online, Zendaya categorically stated that she is not M.J. and will be playing the role of Michelle, instead. "Well, I'm not Mary Jane unfortunately, but I am in the movie which is exciting. My character's name is Michelle, if that's what everybody wants to think. I'm gonna let people think whatever they want to think", she said.
The persistent denial of Zendaya that she is not Mary Jane could be true. But during interviews, her continuous winking at the camera casts doubt as to the veracity of her confirmation, as observed by Screen Rant. These small gestures cast doubt as to the truth of this confirmation, plust the fact that this is not the first time that a high profile Hollywood film tried to keep under wraps the casting of an important role.
If it is true that Zendaya is playing Michelle in "Spider-Man: Homecoming", it would still be good news. She will be playing Peter Parker's friend, instead of his one and only high school love. But Screen Rant insinuated that this continued denial of Zendaya, if she is playing Mary Jane all along, may have an adverse effect as to the film's box office appeal.
It cited "Star Trek Into Darkness" which kept in secret the inclusion of Benedict Cumberbatch who played the role of Kahn. The constant denial and secrecy did not do the film good and that admitting the casting could have been better.