Spider-Man is officially coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe! That’s something we’ve known since February, when Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures agreed a deal to bring the Webbed Wonder over to join the likes of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America on screen in the biggest movie franchise of all-time.
Of course, that means Spider-Man’s supporting characters will be coming along too and, rather excitingly, that will no doubt include the wonderful Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson.
Played so brilliantly by J.K. Simmons in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, his are big boots to fill for whoever takes on the role in the MCU.
This article will take a look at five men who we think could be up to the task.
Craig T. Nelson
If there are two things that J. Jonah Jameson needs to be, it’s angry and funny – Craig T. Nelson can do both effortlessly. In fact, very few actors can do angry quite as entertainingly as he can. Therefore, he would be great in the role of the Daily Bugle’s volatile editor.
Nelson, whose impressive body of film and television credits include the likes of Coach, Poltergeist, Stir Crazy, My Name is Earl, The Devil’s Advocate, Parenthood and the superhero movie The Incredibles, has great screen presence and can convey comedic authority as well as anyone (look to his roles in Coach and Stir Crazy for some great examples of that) and a veteran like him would not be intimidated by having to follow J.K. Simmons into the role.
While it’s unlikely that all fans would be happy with anyone other than Simmons in the role, somebody of Nelson’s ilk would be the kind of actor who wouldn’t immediately make everyone turn their noses up.
Gary Oldman
Let’s face it, Gary Oldman can do anything. The Dark Knight Trilogy actor is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood today and, although he has a reputation for taking on pretty much any role he’s offered (regardless of the movie’s quality), he tends to pull off his own personal performances in them all.
Half the time in Oldman’s work, you wouldn’t even know it was him if you hadn’t already been informed – his range is that great. He has played everything from a disabled, deformed paedophile (Mason Verger in Hannibal) to a Jamaican pimp (Drexl Spivey in True Romance).
Moreover, he has acted in comic book movies before (the aforementioned Dark Knight Trilogy as Jim Gordon) and he can definitely pull off a moustache!
Movie fans would likely put their trust in Oldman to do a decent job as J. Jonah Jameson and seeing him get into character as the angry editor would be a joy to behold.
Eugene Levy
How’s this for a left field choice? Think about it though – Eugene Levy does comedy as well as anyone (does anyone in the world not find Noah Levenstein from the American Pie movies funny?) and he really does have the looks to pull J. Jonah Jameson off (just add moustache!). The only thing he’d need to do is prove he can convey Jameson’s almost unrivalled anger – and then he’s a ready-made Daily Bugle editor!
Levy’s casting in the role would undoubtedly raise eyebrows. Some people would be excited about his potential to do a great job and some people would undoubtedly be appalled – but he could definitely pull it off! He’s known for portraying unconventional characters – and that’s exactly what J. Jonah Jameson is – and his past work includes productions as varied as National Lampoon's Vacation, Like Mike, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Astro Boy and the Canadian sitcom Package Deal.
Ron Perlman
Ron Perlman – already probably best known to modern movie audiences for his role in another comic book movie in Hellboy (as well as his role as Reinhardt in Blade 2 – a previous Marvel offering) – is an ideal fit for J. Jonah Jameson on the face of it. He’s rough, he’s gruff, he’s got similar hair, rocks the necessary facial hair and he smokes a mean cigar. Aside from J.K. Simmons himself, he’s probably the closest thing to being perfect for the role.
Perlman always plays tough, intimidating and no-nonsense characters – look no further than the aforementioned Hellboy and Reinhardt, as well as the likes of Vincent in Beauty and the Beast, the Reman Viceroy in Star Trek: Nemesis, Corin in Conan the Barbarian and Hannibal Chau in Pacific Rim for examples of that – and he has voiced several more comic book characters in Marvel and DC cartoons. He is more than ready for the role.
J.K. Simmons
Come on, admit it, the only guy you really want to see portraying J. Jonah Jameson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the man who portrayed him in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy – J.K. Simmons.
Simmons was absolutely awesome in the role – arguably the most perfect comic book movie casting of all time – and absolutely nobody would complain if he was cast again. Simmons’ star has never shone brighter, as his performance in 2014’s Whiplash won him the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor and re-casting him would be a real coup.
Of course, the MCU takes place in a different universe to the Raimi Spider-Man movies and, therefore, this new Jameson would essentially be a different character, but seeing Simmons play him exactly the same as he did before would be fine by pretty much everyone.
He was hilarious and had every single one of Jameson’s comic book traits down to a T. Get it done, Marvel Studios!
What do you think? Do you like any of these ideas? Should another actor play J. Jonah James? Have your say below.
