THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Secret Catwoman Poster Revealed
New Images from THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Josh Brolin Talks MEN IN BLACK 3, GANGSTER SQUAD, OLDBOY, LABOR DAY and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone Talk THE TOMB, THE EXPENDABLES 2, Their Careers and “Male Pattern Badness”
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Set Visit Preview and 4 Awesome New Posters!More SPIDER-MAN Reboot Details: Lower Budget, Higher Drama
by Jackson Bishop Posted:January 20th, 2010 at 11:43 am
|
|
 |
|
Hope your spider-senses are tingling out there because we’ve got more news on the upcoming Spider-Man reboot from Sony/Columbia Pictures. As most of you already know, the short list of filmmakers being pitched around to take up the reigns of the new Spidey franchise, which contained names like Fincher and Cameron (who was spearheading the effort to bring the webbed wonder to the silver screen in the early nineties), was quickly pared down, leaving 500 Days of Summer director, Marc Webb, the man in charge. I’m going to spare you all the joke about it being meant to be… no I won’t; Webb, Spider-Man, get it?! Anyway, now we’ve got a few more details about the story angle and scope that the studio is shooting for with this new take on the world of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, not the least of which being that the new film is rumored to be budgeted in the $80 million range. That’s almost half the budget of the first film back in 2002!
THR hit with the news that the studio is aiming for the relatively low budget of $80 million, also looking to cast the film with unknown actors. This is understandable, as you want the audience to associate the characters with the actors and not the personality of the actor themselves. It’s the reason Christopher Reeve is still Superman in our hearts and minds, it was the first thing anybody ever saw him in. The budget is a bit more troubling as it seems the studio is cutting out the spectacle that audiences have come to expect from a Spider-flick, perhaps wanting to disassociate the new series from Raimi’s films as much as possible. But are they really expecting general audiences to respond after cutting out the main reason Tom, Dick, and Harry go to see these movies? It’s a bit of a craps shoot. Of course now the Spider-Man name is enough to get people in the door. For more on this and a few story details, pull on your spandex and hit the jump.
We’ve also come to learn that Jaimie Vanderbilt’s script will take more inspiration from Brian Michale Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man comics than from Stan Lee’s original 1960′s run which heavily informed Sam Raimi’s first two films. Vanderbilt’s script is said to focus more heavily on the problems a high school aged Peter Parker faces while also dealing with his great power and great responsibility, with the high-flying action taking a back seat to character and drama. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Spider-Man has always been the melodramatic heart of the Marvel universe, and it also explains what Webb will be able to bring to film, with his lack of special effects and action experience.
A few months ago, we reported that Marvel had won the television rights for Spidey back from Sony, and that one of the possible outcomes of this could be a live-action Spider-Man series in a similar vein to the CW’s Smallville, and that almost seems to be what this new movie is becoming. Irony. This approach would make for a great live-action series, one that could really get into the characters over seasons at a time, exploring the complex relationships between Peter and his supporting cast, drawing out the mental break down of Norman Osborn, building up characters like Otto Octavius and Curt Connors before turning them into villains. One gets the impression that Sony would be making a television series if they could, but instead have to keep making films to keep the rights to the property. Ugh, such a waste.
Still, I’m intrigued by the way this reboot is unfolding. I loved 500 Days of Summer and am excited to see what else Marc Webb can do. Also, a more character-driven approach to the Spider-Man story could be a welcome change, especially after the mess that was Spider-Man 3. The lower budget could also mean the audiences will be treated to some more impressive in camera stunts and effects, without the over-reliance on CGI that plagued even Raimi’s good Spider-Man flicks. Put the free-runner guy from the beginning of Casino Royale is a Spider-suit and let him run around on camera, that could be more impressive than any computer creation. With this new tone, maybe we could see a return to the slightly creepy feeling the Spider-Man character used to have in the comics. And maybe we can get an actor who can quip in costume and not sound so devoid of personality. These are all positive things we can get out of a new Spider-Man flick, and I’m hoping we do.
Please Like Collider on Facebook
|
|
|
|
Related Links
- Sony Sets May 2, 2014 Release Date for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2
- Denis Leary to Play George Stacy in SPIDER-MAN Reboot
- Mary Jane Watson WILL NOT Appear in the Upcoming SPIDER-MAN Reboot
- SPIDER-MAN Reboot Shortlist Includes Jamie Bell, Alden Ehrenrich, Frank Dillane, Andrew Garfield, and Josh Hutcherson
- Screenwriter James Vanderbilt Interview – Talks THE LOSERS, ZODIAC, MURDER MYSTERY, and I Try to Ask About Marc Webb’s SPIDER-MAN…
Concerned about the lower budget but this is still pretty good news. I really wanted a new Raimi controlled Spider-man but when the studio wouldn't give him the freedom and he walked, this is what I wanted. A reboot modeled after the incredibly well-done Ultimate Spider-man directed by an up and coming directed that has proven his ability to tell a character driven story. Could this film be bad? Of course but as long as Sony keeps saying Ultimate Spider-man, every time this movie comes up, instead of gritty or teenage angst, Ill be happy.
Thanks for being open to the positive here. I'm stunned at the widespread reaction to this thing, certain that a lower budget and a high school setting means the project is doomed. I, for one, am encouraged by the idea of a character-centered superhero story (although Lord knows why Sony would want to do that – SUPERMAN RETURNS remains the only major superhero film that focused almost entirely on character, and though I still see it as a resounding success, audiences at large were bored stiff).
And for the record, HELLBOY II had a reported budget of $72 million, and that was twice as impressive in terms of special effects, visuals, action, etc. than SPIDER-MAN.
they should base the reboot off of SPECTACULAR SPIDERMAN TV show.
Have you read Ultimate Spider-man? Its pretty similar in tone and story to Spectacular Spider-man. There are some differences but the similarities are pretty strong. Both are really good examples of how to do Spider-man in high school the right way.
It can't be good if you guys are comparing it to Smallville.. it just can't.
Lets face it 80 million is a big enough budget to make any movie good, just look at District 9 that movie was amazing (and had awesome effects) with what was it 25 million?
You don't need a ginormous budget to make a good action flick, just a little bit of ingenuity and the ability to cast quality actors who don't demand $15 million a flick.
nope never bother to read spider-man, but if there pretty similar then i should pick it up. any other aweseom spiderman storys out there that you can recommend me?
I agree with !_! They should look to the excellent Spectacular Spiderman animated series for inspiration. Make Peter a smart and sarcastic badass, let Gwen Stacy be his main love interest, explore the troubled sides of Harry and Dr. Connors and cast a hot firecracker as Mary Jane who should be mentioned throughout the movie by Aunt May but appears only at the end with her famous 'Face it Tiger…' line!
OMG! GUYS! DOES THE HIGH DRAMA LINE SOUND LIKE SUPERMAN RETURNS???? FUCK NOOOO!!!
I like Spider-man Blue (small trade by Loeb and Sale) and whats going on currently with Amazing Spider-man but there aren't a lot of complete stories that I would recommend. There are a few trades here and there that are good but for a ton of great stories I would first pick up Ultimate Spider-Man (Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1) and Ultimate Spider-Man (Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2). These two books collect the first 27 issues(the first four trades) of Ultimate Spider-man and if you like these you can continue to get the whole run in trades up through issue #133, the final issue before the relaunch. This is really seen as a classic run by both critics and fans and like I said is very similar to Spectacular Spider-man but not too similar to make it not worth picking up.
Hm, this kinda pisses me off… as in, huge disappointment.
I was expecting it finally to be another 3 films by Raimi and most of the original cast and crew.
I at least wanted Tobey to be back…
I like this might be a bit more dramatic and raw in the action, but it shouldn't have changed too much from at least the first two films.
I don't know if I'll even watch the next one for the first year or two when it's out…
But I loved the mix of most things, the story, the dramatic parts and even a bit of humor in the first two.
And the action was great too, except for that there was a little bit too much of a full CGI-Spider-Man sometimes, it just looked too software-ish while it shouldn't have been like that.
Anyway… thumb down on this…
Oh, and also, it's a mistake not basing it on Stan Lee's comics and making a TV-series too.
Would make it way too cheesy and what not… unless they do it a bit more serious…
But they'll probably just milk out it's hyping success again, and I mean “just because”, even when it's not even really that good.
Ugh… *disappointed*…
Actually, I forgot to mention, the worst part is that it will be a reboot specifically.
I mean, I don't want to go back watching how Peter Parker acquaints with his abilities.
I just want it to move on, it's freaking reboot after reboot.
It's not like these first 3 films were so bad that they had to be rebooted, all there was needed was some improvement here and there.
No, the studios just insist that when all other franchises reboot, theirs has to reboot too, just out of principle.
Just a continuation would have been great, but nooo, must be a reboot so that it “cleans its slate” in the viewers eyes and it would supposedly be better.
'Incredible Hulk' wasn't… sure 'Hulk' was a disappointment to many and the studios, but it's not the same case with with 'Spider-Man'-franchise.
All it needed was a “come-back” of sorts, not just overhaul the dam franchise once again…
Anyway, that Webb-director also said in an interview on this website somewhere that “He's not trying to like take over from Raimi, which wouldn't even be possible, and arrogant too.” .
Ahm, and just making it your own thing, just the way you like it, isn't arrogant?
Ah well, fine, keep messing up fine franchises, all comic-films will become cliché blockbusters that aren't original anymore.
Yeah, they'll be so “great” just because “they're so dramatic” and what not.
You know, I'm no fanboy of special-effects or anything like that, but you can take dramatizing and things like that too serious too…
you mentioned unknown actors…I have this fantasy about somehow miracuously breaking my way into the industry. just dye my hair red and you could have a MJ on your hands…any ideas on how i might get my name in for casting?!
Erm, if you live in the area where they are doing casting calls you can just show up and audition. Chances are for Spiderman they will be looking for someone with some experience (just not necessarily famous), if your in LA/NY or the surrounding area there are plenty of resources to use to get some acting creds. the simplest of them would be to find yourself an agent who can find you auditions, you can also go to film schools and find plenty of student directors looking for actors for their short films, etc which would be good experience.
It is definitely a process that more often than not takes an extended period of time; but with some dedication and a little bit of talent you might find yourself a paid acting job somewhere down the line (and a lot of luck you could be famous and rich for it).
Have comic-book films ever been original? I mean… they are based off of comic-books, that is like a double-negative. And since this isn't math that doesn't make a positive.
you mentioned unknown actors…I have this fantasy about somehow miracuously breaking my way into the industry. just dye my hair red and you could have a MJ on your hands…any ideas on how i might get my name in for casting?!
Erm, if you live in the area where they are doing casting calls you can just show up and audition. Chances are for Spiderman they will be looking for someone with some experience (just not necessarily famous), if your in LA/NY or the surrounding area there are plenty of resources to use to get some acting creds. the simplest of them would be to find yourself an agent who can find you auditions, you can also go to film schools and find plenty of student directors looking for actors for their short films, etc which would be good experience.
It is definitely a process that more often than not takes an extended period of time; but with some dedication and a little bit of talent you might find yourself a paid acting job somewhere down the line (and a lot of luck you could be famous and rich for it).
Have comic-book films ever been original? I mean… they are based off of comic-books, that is like a double-negative. And since this isn't math that doesn't make a positive.
I for one am totally turned off by the new costume. The trailer had convinced me not to bother seeing this and pretending it was never made. An insult to apocryphal fans everywhere.