J.B. Smoove, pictured at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, January 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Image: AFP/Kelly Nyland via AFP Relaxnews
With Tom Holland returning as Spider-Man himself and Jake Gyllenhaal predicted to become bubble-helmeted villain Mysterio, J.B. Smoove is now being linked to “Spider-Man: Far From Home” but his purpose is as yet unknown.
Smoove, best known as a stand-up comedian and comic actor, played a recurring character for three seasons of hit sitcom “Curb Your Enthusiasm” before joining the main cast in 2017’s comeback season nine.
His involvement in “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is timed to fit in with the tenth season of “Curb…” and though Sony Pictures would not confirm the “Spider-Man” casting news, Deadline‘s sources indicated he was being brought in for a leading role.
The June 2017 release “Spider-Man: Homecoming” leapt from a $175 million production budget to claim $880 million in worldwide box office revenue, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of the year and Sony’s second highest grosser behind fifth placed “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” on $961 million.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” is set for a July 2019 launch, following the May 2019 release of an untitled ensemble Avengers film, itself a direct sequel to April 2018’s seemingly apocalyptic “Avengers: Infinity War”, providing an opportunity to resolve crucial story threads before Spider-Man heads off on a solo movie adventure. JB