J.K. Simmons Teases More MCU J. Jonah Jameson!

Last year saw the exciting return of J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) to the world of a certain Marvel webslinger in Spider-Man: Far From Home as Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson, whom he had portrayed in Sam Raimi’s original trilogy, and now the 65-year-old Oscar winner has opened up to Entertainment Weekly about the possible future of his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In looking back at his time having to audition for the role, as Sony executives were unsure about Simmons’ box office draw for audiences while other high-profile actors were vying for the role, the star recalled the “nerve-wracking” experience and the “old-school, classic camera test” recreating a notable scene from the 2002 blockbuster hit.

“It included a scene where the Green Goblin breaks through the windows and picks me up by the throat, lifts me up in the air, and is strangling me,” Simmons said. “I’m holding the script pages, reading the scene on the audition, but then at the same time, trying to…” (here he makes a hilariously cartoonish strangling noise) “…pretending I’m being lifted by the neck and choked.“

Simmons became the first actor to reprise his role from a non-MCU connected film in the decades-long franchise with his mid-credits cameo in Far From Home as the hotheaded editor-in-chief of the broadcast news site TheDailyBugle.net and in discussing the future, he’s revealed that he has signed on for sequels in the film, though notes the studio isn’t obligated to use him in any upcoming films.

“I don’t know if I would use the word expect,” Simmons said. “It’s great to have the opportunity, as these things evolve, to be one of the holdovers from the previous version.“

Tom Holland will return for the film as the titular wall crawler, and it remains to be seen what villains he’ll go up against in the trilogy caper. Given the ending of Far From Home however, any number of his rogues gallery are likely eager for a fight. The third installment to the MCU’s Spider-Man films will also feature the return of Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune) as MJ. Holland’s Spider-Man is also set to appear in another Marvel Studios film per the new agreement.

The third Spider-Man film from Marvel Studios is set for a November 5, 2021 release, officially adding another addition to the already crowded Phase 4 release slate. Sony’s upcoming Spidey slate includes Venom: Let There Be Carnage, starring Tom Hardy and directed by Andy Serkis, as well as Jared Leto’s in-the-can Morbius, a Kraven the Hunter film, and a spinoff featuring Silver Sable and Black Cat. Should these films interact with the MCU and Tom Holland, it remains to be seen, but the door seems open.