While discussing whether or not he would once again play the character of Flash Thompson from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Zack Snyder's Justice League star Joe Manganiello revealed he was actually offered a new role in a Marvel film a couple of years ago. However, he ultimately turned it down.
Manganiello -- who plays the DC Extended Universe's Slade Wilson/Deathstroke -- portrayed high school bully Flash Thompson in 2002's Spider-Man, subsequently reprising the role for a brief cameo in 2007's Spider-Man 3. With Spider-Man 2 alum Alfred Molina confirmed to be reprising his role as Doctor Octopus for Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: No Way Home, and multiple other actors from Spidey's on-screen past rumored for comebacks as well, Manganiello was asked if he would be up to cameo as Flash during an interview at Justice Con.
"I think it depends on what it consists of," Manganiello said. "With Sony doing Sinister Six and putting together their mega-verse, and also with the X-Men coming over to Disney, the possibility of Secret Wars surfacing at some point in the future, I just think there are so many amazing characters in Marvel... and I will say that I was actually offered a part in a Marvel film a few years ago."
He continued, "I grew up on Marvel comics, so if I was going to join the universe, I really want it to be the right role. And I think sometimes you have to hold out for that right one. So... a little cameo as Flash Thompson, I don't know. I'd rather do something more substantive... somebody that can stick around for a while, or at least have a really great role in one of the movies."
While Manganiello says he was offered this new Marvel part "a few years ago," he did not say exactly how long ago it was, nor did he specifically state if it was a Marvel Studios project, or perhaps a Sony spinoff -- though the former seems more likely. He also declined to reveal which role he was offered, as he did not want to step on the toes of the person who ultimately got the part. "I know it's in vogue for people to dig up their screen test footage for parts they didn't get... I've never been a fan of that," he said.
At any rate, this strongly implies the actor was offered a new character, as opposed to a Flash Thompson reprisal. (That didn't stop the live chat from calling for Manganiello to take on Flash's Agent Venom persona, mind you.) Notably, multiple actors from past Marvel adaptations have gone on to play entirely different characters in Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Chris Evans, Michael B. Jordan and Jon Favreau.
Zack Snyder's Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Ray Porter as Darkseid, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. The film is currently available on HBO Max.
Source: YouTube