Cop Car director Jon Watts talks about landing the gig directing Marvel’s new Spider-Man film
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures surprised many last month when they announced that the new Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man film would be directed by relative newcomer Jon Watts. Watts, whose sophomore feature Cop Car hits theaters soon, spoke today with EW about landing the Spider-Man gig and his plans for the friendly neighborhood webhead.
“I’m not really sure what happened,” Watts said. “I had never been to Sundance before. I was nervous because that was the first time we were showing the movie to an actual crowd… [Marvel] got to see ‘Cop Car’ and they really liked it… Now, I’ve got to make a slightly more expensive version. It’s an opportunity to just have a much bigger canvas instead of just scrapping together any story you can.”
Watts also heaped praise on young star Tom Holland, who will first be wearing the webs in next year’s Captain America: Civil War.
“[Tom] can be a real high school student,” Watts continues. “That’s why people love Spider-Man. He’s the most grounded, relatable of superheroes. And Tom can really do that. He captures that. And he can do a standing back-flip. He’s perfect.”
We’re still not sure how big a role Spidey has in Civil War, but Watts says that cooperation is key in building a large cinematic world.
“I mean, it’s a big universe, so everyone sort of works with each other to make sure that there’s continuity and that it all fits together,” he explains. “It’s really exciting actually. We’re just getting started, working on the script and all that, but it’s going to be a great process.”
Spider-Man will be scripted by Vacation‘s John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein. Beyond Holland, Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei is attached to play Aunt May. She is also expected to first appear in Captain America: Civil War when it hits the big screen May 6, 2016.
Cop Car, meanwhile, stars Kevin Bacon, Shea Whigham, Camryn Manheim, James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Welford. The movie hits theaters on August 7.
