(Image source: People, Marvel Studios)
More than four months ago, "The Hot Mic," a podcast known for breaking entertainment news, revealed that Anne Hathaway, who recently co-starred with Tom Holland as mother and son in "The Idea of You," was also slated to join a new Spider-Man film starring Holland as a villain. However, "The Hot Mic" didn't know the villain's identity at the time, only recently learning it.
"The Hot Mic" recently disclosed that Hathaway was set to play the villain known as Leper Queen. This character, originating from the "X-Men" comic series, is the leader of the extremist anti-mutant organization, the Sapien League (pictured below). In the comics, Leper Queen was an ordinary civilian until a mutant accidentally infected her unborn child, drastically changing her life. Her child was born with pyrokinetic abilities but soon lost control, burning down their home, injuring its mother, and ultimately killing itself. Leper Queen then vowed revenge against mutants.
(Image source: Marvel Comics)
John Rocha, host of "The Hot Mic," stated that Marvel Studios extended an offer to Hathaway, but she declined, reportedly feeling the role was too small. Marvel then struggled to find another actress to take on the part, ultimately rewriting the character's concept. The studio later cast Tramell Tillman as an official within the Department of Damage Control.
Interestingly, this isn't Hathaway's first brush with a "Spider-Man" film. Nearly two decades ago, she was reportedly eyed to play Black Cat in the planned fourth installment of Tobey Maguire's "Spider-Man" series, a film that ultimately never materialized. Thus, Hathaway has now narrowly missed out on two "Spider-Man" projects.