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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has given fans the opportunity to see some of their favorite heroes and villains on the big screen. One of those characters that they’ve seen a lot in recent years is Spider-Man.
With one of the richest stories in all of Marvel Comics, Spider-Man has a whole litany of friends, foes, and side characters to tap into. One of those characters is Flash Thompson, a frequent opponent of Peter Parker and admirer of Spider-Man.
A report recently confirmed that actor Tony Revolori, who played Thompson in the first two MCU Spider-Man films, will return for the third. Here’s how his Flash Thompson differs from the traditional portrayal of the character in a truly clever and inventive way.
Portrayal of Flash Thompson in Marvel Comics
While there are several versions of Thompson in the pages of Marvel Comics, he’s often described as a somewhat obnoxious jock and a childhood foil to Parker. He is a football player with a seemingly perfect life on the outside, masking a troubled family life.
According to the official Marvel Comics website, Thompson turns to bullying after his alcoholic father does the same at home with his family.
Thompson’s contempt for Parker is matched only by his enthusiasm and admiration for Spider-Man. It’s an interesting juxtaposition – he intimidates the same man he really admires a lot. Thompson ends up warming up with Parker and the two eventually become friends after high school.
How Flash Thompson was portrayed in previous Spider-Man movies
RELATED: Flash Thompson May Have Bigger Role in ‘Spider-Man 3’ & Fans Believe He’ll Become a Hero
Some fans may remember a baby-faced Joe Manganiello trying to beat Parker from Tobey Maguire in the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man. This version was as one-dimensional as it gets. Unlike the comics, this one never really received a redemption arc.
According to the Spider-Man Wiki, Manganiello’s version of Thompson is abandoned by Mary-Jane Watson upon graduation from high school.
the Amazing Spider-Man series saw a similar treatment of Thompson with a slight twist. According to Amazing Spider-Man wiki, In this series, he serves as an athletic bully who continually mocks Parker while singing the praises of Spider-Man. The only change is that he’s trying to show a little remorse. He tries to offer his condolences for the death of Parker’s Uncle Ben, although Parker misinterprets this at first and initiates a physical altercation with Thompson.
Now that Spider-Man is part of the MCU, it has given Marvel filmmakers the opportunity to totally reinvent the character. This is exactly what they did while staying true to the spirit of the original.
Flash Thompson’s portrayal in the MCU and why it’s changed
In the MCU, Thompson is expertly portrayed by Revolori. He adds humor to the role while serving as an antagonist to Parker.
A recent Reddit thread pointed out that Deadline is reporting that Revolori is returning for the third Spider-Man movie in the MCU. A Redditor pointed out how Revolori’s genius took on Thompson. The poster pointed out that although it is different from previous iterations of Flash, it works because:
“Modern-day bullying isn’t so much physically overwhelming anymore – it has almost completely turned into online harassment.”
In short, Thompson has changed with the very nature of bullying. He is no longer a muscular jock who seeks to plunge Parker into oblivion. Now he’s an insecure rich kid with what seems like a less than ideal life at home that belittles Parker.
In an age where a lot of the harassment has moved online, Revolori’s take on the character is a refreshing change of pace. The MCU is a fantasy world, but what makes it work is that it’s very grounded in a cohesive reality. Each character has an explanation of why they are the way they are. Revolori’s Thompson makes sense as our society has evolved.
Now that Thompson knows Parker is Spider-Man, that should make for an interesting character arc going forward.
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