Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Almost Marvel Adventure: The Vulture That Got Away

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Almost Marvel Adventure

So, here’s the tea: casting actors is a bit like trying to find the right puzzle piece — sometimes it clicks right away, and other times it’s like, “Oops, that’s not it!” It turns out our favorite Hamilton-loving, rap-singing genius, Lin-Manuel Miranda, was once in talks to take a ride on the superhero train, specifically to play a certain villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Can you guess who? Spoiler alert: he was up for the role of the infamous Vulture!

The Vulture Speaks?

Yep, you heard that right. During an interview with the dynamic Josh Horowitz on his Happy Sad Confused podcast, Lin-Manuel opened up about his lifelong love for comics and how he grew up being a massive Spider-Man fan (who isn’t, right?). It got us all curious about this mysterious Marvel role he turned down back in 2016, around the time he was wrapping up his run in Hamilton.

A Call from Kevin Feige

In a twist of fate, it turns out that not only was Lin-Manuel offered a role, but he was handpicked by none other than Kevin Feige himself! Can we just take a moment to fanboy over that? Miranda shared that Feige called him up, spilling the entire plot over the phone. Picture this: Lin-Manuel’s enthusiasm just skyrocketed when he heard all the juicy details. He even asked Feige when filming would start, but then came the shocking news — they needed him to hit the ground running right after his final bow in Hamilton.

The Decision Dilemma

After some serious soul-searching (and probably some frantic pacing), Lin decided to pass on the role. Why? Well, he jokingly said, “I’d really like to stay married!” We can’t argue with that logic, considering the grueling schedule of a Broadway star. It’s not every day you get to choose between superhero fame and marital bliss!

Michael Keaton vs. Miranda

Despite Horowitz’s playful suggestion that he could have rocked the role of Mr. Harrington (Peter Parker’s quirky science teacher), Miranda just chuckled and surrendered to the truth: “I would have been so miscast!” In a gracious nod to the current Vulture, he acknowledged that Michael Keaton absolutely nailed it, declaring, “They found exactly who they needed” for the part.

What Could Have Been

Now, imagine if Lin had actually donned those villainous wings. Sure, he’s a lyrical wizard and a decent actor, but the idea of him as a serious and intimidating Vulture is a bit of a comedy sketch waiting to happen. Fans had a field day as they cooked up wild reimaginings of scenes featuring Miranda, from rap battles with Spider-Man to some hilariously awkward villain monologues.

A Silver Lining

In the end, while Miranda may not have been soaring through the skies as Vulture, he still managed to leave a little spark of his genius behind the scenes of Spider-Man: Homecoming. He shared that Feige reassured him that his excitement over the story was proof they were on the right track. “When I told you that over the phone, that’s when I knew the movie was going to work because of your reaction,” Feige said. That’s a pretty legendary footnote in history if you ask me!

Conclusion: More Than One Way to Shine

So, while Lin-Manuel Miranda may not have joined the Marvel ranks as a villain, he definitely contributed to the magic of Homecoming in his unique way. After all, there’s always more than one way to be in the room where it happens!