For the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, JustFocus caught up with Jon Watts, the film's director, and actors Tom Holland and Zendaya. Discover the details and secrets of filming exclusively.
Tom Holland as Spider-Man
JustFocus: In the same way that Spider-Man struggles to juggle his superhero life and his teenage life, do you have time to enjoy a "normal" life despite your acting career?
Tom Holland: I'm very fortunate to enjoy my normal life in circumstances that are not at all. I've always made great friends and met some fantastic actors that I've had the chance to work with.
JF: In the film, Peter Parker seems to be happy and amazed like a child at Disney Land, did you get that same impression when you arrived on set?
T.H. : I felt like I was at Disney Land until I put on a thong! More seriously, it's a reflection of my life: I grew up in Kingston, I had a normal childhood, my life is not as crazy as Peter Parker but I was lucky enough to be passionate about this universe and this film.
JF: You play Spider-Man after Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, what distinguishes you from these actors for this role?
T.H. : The major difference is that I am younger. We've seen the millionaire, the soldier, the scientist, but this is the first time we've seen the 15-year-old kid who is given superpowers. The other difference is in the title, Homecoming. Peter Parker returns to his parents after his holidays and it is also Spider-Man who returns to Marvel and he has for the first time a goal: to become an Avenger. I loved it and I can't wait for fans to discover this part of Spider-Man.
JF: Do you think Spider-Man will one day, when he gets older, take responsibility, get married, find a job?
Jon Bernthal: Yes, that would be nice.
T.H. : No, I want to order pizzas!
J.B. : Peter Parker's passage through high school is the story of his evolution, it is an opportunity to take the time to meet him and see him grow up as in the comics. He makes mistakes and we have to tell ourselves that it does not matter. That's what growing up is all about.
T.H. : Adolescence is the most interesting part. It's special to see such responsibilities on the shoulders of a 15-year-old kid.
JF: How does it feel to be the young, modern, funny Spider-Man?
T.H. : Young, modern and funny? Thank you very much! You know, I just won the world record for Marvel's youngest superhero, I had to pose with my prize. It's a privilege for me because I'm a fan of these films. I remember going to see Iron Man in the movies, and now Robert Downey Jr is my college, it's crazy. The modern part is very interesting, like the fact that Spider-Man films himself for YouTube. That's what all the kids do now, we live through our phones – me first – I wish it wasn't the case but when something happens, everyone takes videos. This shows that Spider-Man has entered a modern age. And for the funny side, I think I'm just as funny as he is!
Zendaya as Michelle
You lead feminist fights for women's education among others, Michelle Obama has asked you to participate in programs. Your character in the film is a character who is passionate, who loves to immerse himself in books. Is it important for you to choose this role in relation to your convictions?
Michelle is a very powerful feminist. Even if she only comes from time to time, she does not speak often but everything she says is very powerful. She is probably smarter than others and she does not know how to create social bonds and always arrives at strange times. She has no friends but dreams of being friends with Peter. As soon as she tries to say what she thinks, we do not understand her because she is very complex. You don't know what's going on in your head and when you understand it, it's very confusing.I remember the first meeting with Jon Bernthal, we chose every book, every poem, every T-shirt: everything she wears, everything she says and everything she does makes sense.
Jon Watts, director of Spider-Man: Homecoming
JF: How to approach the creation of the6th Spider Man in a few years?
Jon Watts: The secret is not to think about what has already been done to give a new impression. Two things are signs of renewal: Tom Holland who is young and, for the first time, Spider-Man is one of the many Marvel superheroes. This is the perspective of the origin of Spider-Man: to be the young superhero who belongs to the Avengers.
JF: What remains of the influence of Breakfast Club that you talked about a lot at the beginning of production? Can we imagine that Spider-Man: Homecoming will be the Breakfast Club of the 2000 generations?
J.W. : I was very inspired by John Hughes and his characters. There is an honesty in the way they express themselves, even if they are still in school or college. I wanted to make a film about this rite of passage. That's how Spider-Man came about, I was inspired by that honesty.
JF: How do you distinguish yourself from what was done by Sam Raimi and Marc Webb?
T.W. : For me it's a very different universe, a fundamental change because the hero is very young, more crazy. Tom is able to play a 15-year-old kid very easily. I wanted to capture his excitement, his fears about this world, the way he handles good and evil at this age.
