Lin-Manuel Miranda says he turned down MCU villain to save his marriage

Lin-Manuel Miranda says he declined Marvel’s Vulture role to protect his marriage during Hamilton's run

Lin-Manuel Miranda has revealed that he was once offered the role of Vulture in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Homecoming but ultimately declined the opportunity because of the demanding filming schedule and its potential impact on his personal life.

Speaking about the casting process, Miranda said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige personally contacted him and explained the film’s story, including the importance of the villain Adrian Toomes, also known as Vulture. However, when Miranda learned that production would begin immediately after his run in the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton, he decided the timing was not right.

The award-winning writer, composer and actor explained that accepting the role would have meant moving directly from the intense schedule of performing Hamilton into a major Marvel production without any meaningful break. Miranda said he chose to prioritise his marriage and personal well-being, adding that he also believed he would have been miscast in the role.

The part eventually went to Michael Keaton, whose portrayal of Adrian Toomes became one of the most praised villain performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Keaton’s grounded interpretation of the working-class character was widely credited with adding emotional depth to Spider-Man: Homecoming and helping establish the film as one of the franchise’s strongest entries.

Although Miranda never joined the MCU in that role, he has remained connected to the Spider-Man franchise through his collaboration with Andrew Garfield on Tick, Tick... Boom! during the period surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home speculation.

Miranda’s revelation offers fans a fresh look at one of Marvel’s biggest casting "what if" moments and highlights how personal priorities can shape the final casting of blockbuster films.