In the entertainment industry, there is often competition between actors, and Spider-Man: Homecoming was no exception. Laura Harrier, who played Liz Toomes in the Marvel film, once thought she had lost her role to Zendaya. Harrier reflected on her journey in an interview, giving a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at her casting experience, her friendship with Zendaya, and Marvel Studios’ groundbreaking decisions.

Laura Harrier initially feared that Zendaya had been cast in her role after completing her screen test for Spider-Man: Homecoming. Speaking to Net-a-Porter, Harrier revealed: “After I did my screen test for Spider-Man before I heard anything, it came out a few weeks later that Zendaya was going to be in it, so I just thought. “I guess I didn’t get the job. I called my agent and they assured me that I was still in the running.

At the time, Zendaya was already a Disney star and a household name with a huge fan base. When news of her involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe broke, fans speculated that she would play Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker’s iconic love interest. However, Zendaya’s role as MJ and Harrier’s portrayal of Liz Toomes added new dynamics to the franchise.

Harrier described Marvel’s decision to cast two women of color in significant roles as groundbreaking. “I thought it was incredible and groundbreaking of Marvel to put us both in these roles and not focus on our Blackness. We were just girls going to school in New York, and that’s what New York City is like; Movies should be too.” Reflect on that. We had the best time making this film and I’m really thankful for them for making it fun.

Although Harrier didn’t return for Spider-Man: Far From Home, she looks back fondly on her time at Marvel and appreciates the industry friendships she developed. “It makes me really grateful for friends like this who have been there the whole time and can relate to this sometimes strange experience that the job brings. Friends I’ve met through work like Zendaya, Yara (Shahidi), Alycia Debnam-Carey – without the good friends I’ve made, this would be much scarier and more difficult.

Now, more than seven years after the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Harrier has continued to establish himself in Hollywood, including starring roles in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix show Hollywood. Zendaya, on the other hand, has reached new heights, starring in critically acclaimed projects like Dune and Euphoria. Their shared experience on Spider-Man reflects not only Marvel’s commitment to diversity, but also the power of friendship in a demanding industry.

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