Lin-Manuel Miranda almost played a major Spider-Man villain

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day swinging into theaters on July 31st, the superhero movie world is buzzing with Spider-Fever. Fans are eager for new adventures, but the focus often drifts to the unexpected connections that link these cinematic universes. Among the fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia from past projects is a story about missed opportunities and the magic of casting—specifically, an encounter between Broadway royalty and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What if you knew that one of the greatest creative forces in modern theater nearly landed a major role in the MCU? The answer involves Lin-Manuel Miranda and the villain known as The Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Miranda admitted that he was offered the chance to play Adrian Toomes, aka The Vulture, by Marvel Studios. However, his schedule—dominated by his celebrated tenure on the Broadway sensation Hamilton—made taking on the role impossible.

When discussing the opportunity with some podcast hosts, Miranda explained the predicament. He had to weigh his commitment to the massive theatrical demands of filming against his obligations in the theater world. He reportedly felt he could not commit to the schedule and wanted to prioritize his current commitments, noting that while the offer was flattering, it simply didn’t align with his current life goals.

“It was Vulture,” Miranda recalled. “And Kevin Feige told me the entire plot over the phone…I really was the canary in the coal mine, and I said, ‘When does it shoot?’ and he said, ‘Basically, the moment you step off stage on “Hamilton.” And I went, ‘Well, I really like these movies, but I’d really like to stay married, so I cannot do this.’ And, god, that would have been terrible…No, Michael Keaton was PERFECT, like they found exactly who they needed.”

The casting saga for The Vulture didn’t end with Miranda declining; it ended with another actor stepping into the shoes. John Leguizamo also nearly played the role in Spider-Man: Homecoming. He felt he was simply a pawn in negotiations to secure Michael Keaton’s involvement. Though there were discussions and exchanges, ultimately, Michael Keaton delivered a memorable performance as Adrian Toomes, soaring through the skies with wings of steel.

It turns out that sometimes the greatest stories are not the ones we see on screen, but the unexpected paths that actors take, and the brilliant decisions made behind the scenes to shape our favorite cinematic narratives.