Late last year, we got word on a late addition to the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with Severance and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning actor Tramell Tillman set to join the ensemble in an undisclosed role.
No details on Tillman's part were shared at the time, but rumors soon began to circulate that his mysterious character actually had closer ties to the X-Men in the comics.
As we now know, Tillman played relatively obscure X-Men villain William Metzger in Brand New Day, but the character was reimagined as the seemingly benevolent head of the Department of Damage Control.
During a new interview with GQ, Tillman was finally able to discuss his role.
“It was a little frustrating," the actor admitted, "because everything was shrouded in secrecy. So I wasn’t even sure specifically how the character would fit into the world of the movie, and I’m pretty sure they had to play their cards very close to the chest because they weren’t sure if I was going to accept it."
Metzger's villainous turn late in the movie aside, Sony/Marvel clearly didn't want the character's association with mutants to give any more fuel to the speculation that Sadie Sink was playing Jean Grey.
“So we’re kind of playing this back-and-forth game where I’m asking Destin, ‘Well, what can you tell me? And Destin would say, ‘It’s this and that, but I can’t say anything more than that.’ But he told me it was a pivotal role, and that’s about it. So this was a leap of faith. Do I want to jump at this opportunity or do I want to hold off and wait for another potential opportunity from Marvel?”
We have heard that Tillman has signed on for at least one more MCU appearance, so there's a chance Metzger will factor into the X-Men reboot.
Following the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day begins a brand new chapter for Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult and living alone after erasing himself and the memories of him from those he loves. In a New York that no longer knows his name, he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to protecting his city as Spider-Man full-time.
But as the demands on him grow, he is put under increasing pressure. This triggers an unexpected physical change that threatens his existence, while a strange wave of crime emerges - and gives rise to one of the most dangerous threats he has ever faced.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Rachel O'Connor. The cast includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now in theaters, and on track to gross $2 billion at the worldwide box office.