Spider-Man fans deem Marisa Tomei, 50, too young to play Aunt May Parker role in Marvel and Sony's latest reboot

Variety announced on Wednesday that Marisa Tomei would be portraying Aunt May Parker in the Jon Watts-directed Spider-Man reboot.

And immediately after the announcement there was a Twitter backlash to the 50-year-old star's casting, with fans claiming she was much too young and 'too sexy' for the role.

One exasperated Twitter user wrote: 'MarisaTomei as Aunt May? Seriously? How old is Spider-Man, five?'

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Controversy: Already fans are striking back against Marisa Tomei's casting as Aunt May Parker, claiming the 50-year-old is too young and sexy to play Spider-Man's aunt (pictured in New York in January) 

Controversy: Already fans are striking back against Marisa Tomei's casting as Aunt May Parker, claiming the 50-year-old is too young and sexy to play Spider-Man's aunt (pictured in New York in January) 

A new direction: Previously the role has been portrayed by Rosemary Harris (L), then 74, in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, and Sally Field (R), then 66, in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man
A new direction: Previously the role has been portrayed by Rosemary Harris (L), then 74, in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, and Sally Field (R), then 66, in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man

A new direction: Previously the role has been portrayed by Rosemary Harris (L), then 74, in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, and Sally Field (R), then 66, in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man

Another wrote: 'Marisa Tomei is playing Aunt May in the Spider-Man movie. Is she THAT old? Tomorrow's announcement: Robert Pattinson is Uncle Ben.' 

Previously, Aunt May has been played by older actresses, with Rosemary Harris, then 74, portraying her in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, and Sally Field, then 66, in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man movies.

Fans were also quick to point out that in the comic books Aunt May is an elderly, grey or white-haired woman - pensioner and widow to Ben Parker - who acts as Spider-Man's moral compass.

Aunt May's first appearance in animation was in the first season of the 1960's Spider-Man series. She appeared in an episode called: 'Horn of the Rhino', which was voiced by Peg Dixon.

Golden years: Aunt May's first appearance in animation was in the first season of the 1960's Spider-Man series - she was originally portrayed as a much older woman

Golden years: Aunt May's first appearance in animation was in the first season of the 1960's Spider-Man series - she was originally portrayed as a much older woman

Others made jokes about how strange it will be to be attracted to Peter Parker's aunt, commenting: 'Marisa Tomei to play Aunt May in new Spiderman reboot. Gonna be so awkward when Aunt May is way hotter than Mary Jane.'

'Marisa Tomei is rumoured to be playing Aunt May in the new Spider-Man film? Finding Aunt May unbelievably hot is gonna be weird,' another Twitter user posted.

However, some fans did embrace the casting, writing: 'Aunt May was usually too old in the comics to be Peter's real aunt (Great-Aunt, yes). Marisa Tomei would be the right age in reality.'   

Into the web! Marisa - pictured at Paris fashion week - is rumored to be debuting alongside Tom Holland's new Spider-Man in a cameo in 2016's Captain America: Civil War

Into the web! Marisa - pictured at Paris fashion week - is rumored to be debuting alongside Tom Holland's new Spider-Man in a cameo in 2016's Captain America: Civil War

The choice indicates the role may be a younger portrayal than usual - May Parker is usually a woman of older years. 

At this stage there is no indication if the part will include suggestions made last year that she will have more of a background in espionage, when there were rumours a whole film was going to be made around the character by Sony.

It’s going to be a busy time for Marisa – it was announced last week that she had won herself a role in the next season of Fox hit Empire.

Co-star: She will be joining Tom, who has been cast as the superhero - he is pictured here at BAFTA Breakthrough Brits lunch in October 2013

Co-star: She will be joining Tom, who has been cast as the superhero - he is pictured here at BAFTA Breakthrough Brits lunch in October 2013

She will be playing Mimi Whiteman, a demanding venture capitalist who becomes involved in the drama surrounding the Lyon family.

There is some indication her character is also a lesbian, with the network describing her as a ‘Forbes list billionairess, Mimi is a lover of hip-hop music, social trends, high-end fashion and beautiful women.' 

The role of Aunt May is a move away from her usual work, which includes the heavy duty drama films The Ides of March, and The Wrestler.

Big plans: The new flick will be directed by Jon Watts - this still is from the 2014 version starring Andrew Garfield

Big plans: The new flick will be directed by Jon Watts - this still is from the 2014 version starring Andrew Garfield

She has also starred in a number of romantic comedies which have included Crazy Stupid Love, and My Cousin Vinny, with the latter winning her an Oscar. 

Her next work will be starring alongside Amy Schumer in Trainwreck, and she is also currently filming The Big Short with Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling. 

Tom is expected to be introduced to audiences as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, where he will make a cameo appearance, and it has also been rumored that his Aunt May (Marisa) may also make her debut in the 

Sony and Marvel are yet to comment on the casting.

 

 

 

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