Spider-Man Homecoming casts its first official villain

Sony is yet to confirm whether Michael Keaton will be playing The Vulture

(Getty Images)

Next year will see Tom Holland take centre stage in his own Spider-Man film and, with production in full swing, casting details have been rife over the past few weeks.

Joining Holland in the film will be his Captain America: Civil War co-stars Robert Downey. Jr (Iron Man) and Marisa Tomei (Aunt May) alongside a whole new crop of faces including Disney Channel star Zendaya, Fargo's Bokeem Woodbine and Michael Keaton who may or may not be playing renowned Marvel villain The Vulture.

Up until this point, Sony and Marvel have remained quiet about which bad guys will be appearing in Spider-Man: Homecoming - but the first has now been confirmed.

According to Deadline, Michael Chernus will be playing The Tinkerer.

The character's real name is Phineas Mason, a creation gifted with an almost superhuman ability to invent sophisticated gadgets and suits he then supplies to other villains. Think some kind of Marvel arms dealer. The Tinkerer will no doubt be assisting Keaton's character (whoever he may be playing).

Chernus' list of credits includes Captain Phillips and Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. He will next be seen starring in Netflix film The Most Hated Woman in America alongside Melissa Leo and Peter Fonda.

Spider-Man: Homecoming - the first look of which was debuted at last month's Comic-Con 2016 - will be released 7 July 2017.