Borrowed from elsewhere in the Marvel
Universe are Cobie Smulders as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent
Maria Hill and a snarling Samuel L. Jackson as
Nick Fury. Spider-Man gets to play this time
with a pair of high-tech eyeglasses that are an
advanced tactical intelligence system, much like
he interacted last time with his suit’s computer,
Karen. (Alas, no cameo this time from Stan Lee,
the Marvel icon who died in 2018).
Jake Gyllenhaal, who has proven to be an actor
of tremendous range, is a newcomer to the
superhero genre but proves a comfortable fit
despite being asked to wear one of Marvel’s
oddest costumes. As Mysterio, he dons a huge
cape, Roman Empire breastplate, giant gauntlets
and a big glass bubble over his face like an
upside-down goldfish bowl. But as Will Smith
might say, Gyllenhaal makes this look good.