As we’ve been talking about around The Movie Blog for a few months, it does indeed look like Spider-Man 3 will be the last time Tobey Maguire suits up as Spidy. Personally, I think that’s a good thing for him. I’ve enjoyed the job he’s done playing the role, and it’s obviously been good for him… but he’s spent the last 6 years just being Spider-Man really, and he’s probably ready for new things. I say… Good for him.
But don’t think for a moment the departure of Maguire means the end of Spider-Man (although I think they should take a 6 or 7 year break from the franchise). As long as there is money to be made… the studio will keep making them. The good folks over at Filmwad has the following quote from Avi Arad:
“No, never conclusions. This story has been going on a long time and it will continue going. There’s some issues that will come not to an end but to a conclusion, but Peter Parker’s story will continue forward. He’s still young. The love story will always be the ruling thing in his life. It’s always about the girl so, no, it’s just number three.”
I’ve said this a thousand times and I’ll say it again. A movie is a byproduct of the collective talents of hundreds of people… not just one. No 1 director, or actor or editor or cameraman or grip or hairstylist or caterer does it themselves.. therefore none of them are irreplaceable. Spider-Man can move on without Maguire (and probably Raimi too) and has the potential to do just fine… maybe even better.
Why do so many people always assume that just because one person dose something well, or great, it means that NO ONE ELSE ALIVE could have done it as well or even better? That’s pretty naive thinking.
How could you tell if McGuire was bored? He has no personality. He always seems like he’s on lithium.
I say bring it on! Comics change up creative teams and styles all the time… why not comic book movies? The Spider-man flicks have been my favorite comics-to-movie adaptation so far, and I’m fine with the idea of them changing it up.
Not that I’d be opposed to Raimi and Co. coming on for a few more, but if their hearts aren’t in it (as it seems to be the case with McGuire and Dunst anyway), why not bring in fresh horses who WANT to play the part? McGuire’s boredom with the role would definitely show on-screen at some point, I’d think.
Besides, at some point the actors are all going to age. Who really wants a 35-year-old Spider-Man? The best Spidey stories have always been when he was younger, and part of the reason the comics are stale now, I think, is that they’ve aged Parker too much. A world-weary Spider-Man just isn’t as much fun as he used to be.
I think the studios have learned their lesson after Batman & Robin, Superman III & IV, etc. They naively assumed that those franchises were bulletproof and got sloppy.
Knowing that the bar has been set so high by Raimi and Co. and that fanboys will heavily scrutinize the next installment, I highly doubt that Sony would be dense enough to totally drop the ball.*
(*But hey, it could happen with even the best of intentions!)
Hey Stuart,
You just sorta proved my point.
Harry Potter changed directors every time.
Batman Begins.
You asked: “Would Spider-Man really have the same impact and draw if you replaced the cast AND brought in a new director with a different style to Raimi?” The simple answer is… we don’t know. Maybe. To say “Yes” or “No” is pure specualtion.
You also said this: “the only movie series with any real consistancy after the main cast and crew leave has been the Bond”
I have to ask… can you name other series that changed cast and crew mid series? I really can’t think of any others off the top of my head at the moment.
For the record, I never once mentioned changing entire casts AND crew. My point has always been that no individual is irreplaceable, be it director or cast member. But franchises like batman or superman show that CAN be done as well.
–
Why do so many people always assume that just because one person dose something well, or great, it means that NO ONE ELSE ALIVE could have done it as well or even better? That’s pretty naive thinking.
–
It’s also pretty consistant with anecdotal evidence, that’s why.
Come on John, the only movie series with any real consistancy after the main cast and crew leave has been the Bond series, and even that’s slid on and off the rails in 40 years.
Would Spider-Man really have the same impact and draw if you replaced the cast AND brought in a new director with a different style to Raimi?
It’s the only real example I can think of, where you replace, director, writer and stars and still have people come see the movie, applaud the movie and not see the series slide in to either Batman & Robin style awfulness or a Hellraiser style DVD-only graveyard.
Even I breathed a sign of relief when I found out that the main cast of Harry Potter were staying on. Replacing cast mid series, when you’ve got something invested in them through three or four movies is a HUGE gamble. HUGE.
Sure it might work, but the odds are stacked firmly in it’s favour through historical evidence.
sure jackson didn’t create middle earth but those FILMS were his vision…not tolkiens john…..he had to adapt the shit out of them to make decent films because if those books were filmed word for word they would have been some of the most boring films ever made….
As for villians,
Bring on Electro.
Bring on the Lizard.
Bring on the Shocker.
Bring on Carnage.
Bring on the Black Cat.
Bring on Kraven.
Hell, bring on the Hobgoblin.
Spidey has plenty of enemies left.
Unlike the aforementioned DC “menage ‘a trois”
Priceless, Nord.
I’d also love to see Cameron do, but that’s a pipe dream.
Cameron has moved on and will be wrapped up for the next 15 years with Avatar and the Battle Angel trilogy he wants to do. I really dont think Spidey is anywhere near his plate anymore.
I’m ready to be rid of Maguire anyway. He’s too emo.
I love the Spiderman movies, but Tobey was always the thing I had a problem with. Jake Gyllenhaal was the one I wanted from the beginning, so I sincerely hope he gets the job.
If Maguire wants to leave… it’s fine by me.
The same goes for Raimi.
I think Sam did a fine job, but he’s not the only guy out there that could do a fine job. I’m ready for a change in feel and look. Raimi had his trilogy, let someone else take a crack at it.
ZINGER!!!
I don’t know how she gets so much cock, anyway. Do they put a bag on her head while they screw?
They can easily replace Maguire with Jake Gyllenhaal
nobody will visually tell the difference, Kirsten Dunst wasn’t able to.
Go ahead and replace Toby and drunkst (kirsten)
They need to replace not one, but both of them
I agree with the above poster. I too would like to see an “older” version of spidey and drunkst. Instead of a 20 something spidey I’d like to see a thirty something spidey.
PERFECTLY put Kevin
@Frank Mackey
If Raimi left I wouldn’t mind it if someone like Cameron came back up to the plate. He is credited, after all, for the organic web shooters.
Since Sandman is used in three…I wonder if Cameron comes on…will the Villian be Electro? (Electro was the 2nd villian in Cameron’s treatment) Also, I think Electro could also be tweaked to include being, in addition to controlling/manip’ing electric currents, that he could also have some tech/cyberspace skills as well, kind of like what Deathlok has.
But I would like to see Lizard or Kraven myself.
I see your point John, but Lucas still had influence on Empire and Return even though he didnt direct.
Saying that, I still agree with you that different directors can come in or different actors and do a great job.
Its just a natural reaction to change though. Nobody likes change especially when they are comfortable. Most fans are VERY comfortable with Jacksons LOTR and Raimis Spidey, so the first instinct toward change is “Oh no this is gonna suck!”
Even if we have that reaction, it is always wise to hold out on judging untill there is something to judge.
Darren, now you’re just palying with words. The whole point is that Lucas didn’t direct it. It was another director, and it turned out just fine.
“They did do Empire Strikes back without Lucas.”
Go ahead, John, tell us again that “they” did Empire (or Return Of The Jedi, for that matter, without Lucas.
Who is “they”?
The studio? No. Fox only distributed the Star Wars films.
You’re not an idiot, John. Lucas may not have directed, but to say Lucasfilm “did it” without Lucas is very strange.
Before Raimi and Maguire got their hands on Spidy, there was talk about James Cameron and Leonardo Dicaprio doing a version. I don’t think Leo will do it, but I’d love to see Cameron take a shot at it. The last thing I’d want is for someone to try to copy what Raimi has done and We know Cameron would definitely bring his own vision to the project.
TJMackey
You just proved my point Nord. They did do Empire Strikes back without Lucas.
Plus… it ISN’T JACKSON’S VISION. Lucas created Star Wars. Jackson didn’t create Lord of the Rings. JRR created it. It’s JRR’s vision.
And yes.. I say you CAN do Indy 4 without Lucas or Spileberg too. It may not be a great idea… but it is POSSIBLE that it could be done just fine or even better without them.
John,
Did you see my question above?
Sorry for nagging, just don’t want to miss a show.
Chris
Also, Spider Man without Toby or Sam is completely different than LoTR without Jackson.
Thats like saying do a Star Wars sequel without George, or Indiana Jones without Spielburg, or even Godfather without Coppolla. These director all have the same thing in common with Jackson, their vision.
Of course you can do magnum without Selleck, A Team without Mr. T, its completely different as I said, apples and oranges.
Nord
As stated above, and there is already ground work for Lizard and Carnage (Carnage being a direct link to Venom)
Lets not forget Bruce Campbell as Mysterio….
Spidey has PLENTY of storylines to continue the franchise, dont confuse him with Superman and his menage a tois partners Lex and ZOD.
Nord
I would like to see a older more mature Spiderman now.
Hey I just had a thought, a “Dark Night” 45 year old, but still buff. Angry at a constant flood of crime. Crooks not being held long in jail. His instincts more predatary with experience, and former Venom infection. Spiderman retooled, or a reboot if you will.
The Lizard, Rhino, Electro, chameleon and Carnage are all still out there.
I like the Spidey movies but I never got the hype about them being the greatest Superhero movies ever.
I think this would be a good oppertunitiy for the franchise to let Tobey walk, recast the parts and take a break for a while and let Sam Raimi make the call when he wants to revisit the story (if he is indeed on board with making more).
Who would the villain even be in Spider-Man 4? This isn’t a shot at Spidey, but honestly all of his best and recognizable villains will have already been used in the films by this point. It’s already become repetition to use the Goblins, and Doc Ock, Sandman, and Venom will have been used as well. I SUPPOSE Carnage could be incorporated in (as a bit of a revamp of Venom just like Hobgoblin is a revamp of the Green Goblin), but who else is there?
The Vulture? That’s a second-tier villain.
I suppose they could do a more serious take on the character, like Batman Begins, and thereby get away with using a second-rate villain (like Scarecrow was for BB–YES Scarecrow is 2nd rate and isn’t HALF as well-known or interesting as the other Batman movie villains. Ra’s al Ghul–while my favorite Bat Villain–is second-rate as far as popularity goes as well, but again the quality of Batman Begins allows for this).
you got that right nord! i love apple computers, but when it comes to the fruits themselves, i much prefer oranges. go figure!
kristina, i thought the first spidey movie was passable too. but i thought the second one was much better, and am looking forward to the next one.
No Nord, it’s wasn’t a shot at JUST that. (And it’s not apples or oranges either)
ONLY Tom Selleck can be Magnum PI
ONLY Mr.T can be in A-Team
ONLY Peter Jackson can direct The Hobbit
ONLY Ian Mackellen can play Magneto
ect.
ect.
ect.
This issue has come up on The Movie Blog dozens of times.
And there is a massive difference between SHOULD and CAN. I’ve always said in the perfect world I’d rather see Jackson direct The Hobbit. I’d go so far as to say he SHOULD direct it. BUT…
That’s a HUGE difference from saying he’s the only human being alive on the planet earth who could possibley do it right. THAT… is naive.
Well, I have to say, the last coment was obviously a shot at people who believe Peter Jackson should be the only person to direct The Hobbit.
Apples and oranges my friend.
Nord
I’m going to be honest. I’m sick of the Spidey movies. I watch them once in theaters, consider them passable, but don’t buy them on TV or long to watch them more than once. Going to see the new Spiderman flick is like getting my physical done every year: Not exactly looking forward to it, but inevitably it must be done.
John,
Where’s the audio from Friday’s Now In LA show? Missed it and really want to catch up!