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Genre: Action/Superhero/Comic Book Adaptation.
Studio: MGM.
Production Company: Lightstorm Entertainment.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It: Unknown.
Who's Making It: James Cameron (Director, Screenwriter,
[Producer?]); based upon the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man.
Premise: Peter Parker, a gifted high school student, is bitten by a spider
that he subjected to radiation. The spider's bite produces an unusual
side-effect for young Peter, resulting in spider-like strength and agility
proportional to a human physique, as well as a mysterious sixth sense.
Deciding to fight crime, Peter fashions a costume and constructs various
devices to aid him in his adventures. (Further plot details remain
shrouded until active development begins on the project.)
Release Date: Unknown. Has been pushed back numerous times.
Active development cannot occur until legal procedings have been
concluded.
Developments:
March, 1997... MGM has aquired the rights to the Spider-Man film
from Carolco.
Comments: If you were to ask James Cameron which comic book
superhero was his all-time favorite, chances are you'd get this answer:
Spider-Man. Cameron first began to voice his interest in bringing the
web-slinger to the silver screen during development of Terminator 2:
Judgement Day. Once that film was released, Cameron went about
trying to secure the rights to the property through Carolco, the same
production company that had financed T2 (to the tune of over $100
million dollars). Although T2 went on to worldwide success (over twice
the amount of its cost was made back), the bottom line was that Carolco
was in poor financial shape. As creditors started making noise and the
entertainment industry watched for the fire sale of assets, Cameron was
trying to forge ahead pre-production of the project. With a name like
James Cameron tied to the project, all the legal red tape would be a
small matter.
Meanwhile, at comic conventions and in press release kits, news of the
soon-to-be Spider-Man movie spread like wildfire. Fans were already
casting the principal leads (Charlie Sheen or Keanu Reeves as Peter?
Schwarzennegger as Doc Octopus or Nicholson as the Green Goblin?)
Annoucements were made in the Hollywood trade papers of the project.
Even promotional keychains were made, with a swinging Spidey zipping
through the air on one of his web-lines, the type reading
"SPIDER-MAN. A JAMES CAMERON FILM. COMING IN 1993".
Unfortunately, that was not to be.
As Carolco floundered about, the legal mess intensified. The property
could be the saving grace of the company, and it wasn't about to release
its number one property without a fight. 21st Century Films entered the
fray, filing suit that it had the film rights to the superhero. Then came two
other law suits from companies who claimed to own the television and
video agreements to the property. Lawsuit upon lawsuit upon lawsuit...
While all this was happening, Cameron was finishing up work on his first
Spider-Man screenplay. The focus of the movie was on a young Peter
trying to adjust to superpowers and the huge responsibility he feels now
burdened with, as well as his on-screen nemesis, the Green Goblin. Stan
Lee, one of the creators of the character, apparently loved the
screenplay. But the court cases were still appending for the property's
rights, and with his hands tied up, Cameron put the screenplay to the side
and began work on his next film, True Lies. By the time he could be
expected to have that picture wrapped up, the legal mess should be all
resolved.
Of course, that didn't happen. By the time True Lies was released in the
summer of 1994, the Spider-Man issue was still being decided upon. It
was to a point that even the people who had been following the case
from the start couldn't tell you the short version of who was suing who,
for what, and why. There was no short version.
As 1996 begins, the Spider-Man project has been on the backburner
for James Cameron for almost six years. And again, the director isn't
sitting around waiting for the parties involved to sort things out.
Cameron's next flick, Titanic, is scheduled for principal photography this
spring. Whether or not the True Believers will get to see the adventures
of that other hero who darts through the sky wearing red and blue
spandex before the close of this century remains to be seen.
Rumors: Rather than list off six years of rumors, let's just keep it short
and to the point, shall we?
Rumored to have been considered for:
Spider-Man: Charlie Sheen (who wants the role), Corey Nemic
(Parker Lewis Can't Lose), Michael Biehn (ALIENS, The
Terminator), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead, Army of
Darkness).
Who Do We Want?:
John Cusack. He's funny, he can work at developing the
physique, and he can pull off Peter's nerdy side just fine.
Rumored to have been considered for the villain:
The Green Goblin: Jack Nicholson. (Ok, we can see that.)
Doctor Octopus: Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Yup; can see that
too.)
Venom: Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Here we disagree. Any
Venom effect is going to be major CGI work; and it would be
better to cast an actor with appropriate psychological menance, as
well as someone who acts just plain nuts.)
Can the Screenplay Can Be Bought?:
A good question; we're not sure. Rumors persist that people have
a copy of the screenplay/treatment, but to date we've yet to lay
our eyes upon a copy.
When Will the Movie Come Out?:
Hopefully before the major event in Cameron's Strange Days
screenplay actually occurs.
Scoop Feedback:
April 16, 1996... Rae Sanchini, President of Cameron's Lightstorm
Entertainment voiced his opinion on the legal entanglement of the project.
"Spider-Man should be made. It's a movie that the audience would want
to see. It's very very frustrating for us." The simple fact that Sanchini's
comment got press coverage may show that the rights to the character
are so hopelessly lost in litigation that the only thing that may give the
project a go-ahead is for one (or all) of the legal parties to drop charges
and settle out-of-court. Since this is the dream project for Cameron, and
a probable summer blockbuster in-the-making, chances may be very
slim indeed. [Scoop forwarded by Christian; originally reported in
Entertainment Weekly.]
April 17, 1996... Overheard through the grape vine: Stan Lee,
co-creator of Spider-Man, has expressed his choice for Peter Parker.
Christopher Daniel Barnes, who incidentally voices the character for the
animated series (and can be seen as Grag Brady in the Brady Bunch
movies), would be his first choice. [Scoop handed in anonymously.]
May 8, 1996... A rumor reaches us that Cameron may be considering
cult-fav actor Bruce Campbell for the role of Spidey. The source goes
on to say that Cameron was presented the idea by someone suggesting
Campbell for the role, to which the director has considered the idea, but
choosing to not voice his thoughts on the matter to the public. [Scoop
reported anonymously.]
May 27, 1996... Apparently Cameron's script deals with a teenage
Spiderman coping with his newfound powers and superhero status.
[Scoop info provided by '94188526vsh'.]
July 24, 1996... A sharp-eyed reader catches the Platinum magazine
interview with James Cameron; in it, the director speaks of his
un-produced Spider-Man script. The character is to be played by a 17
or 18-year-old, so rumors of Bruce Campbell are...just rumors. As well,
a heavy teenage angst angle is evident throughout the script - the world
of power is at his fingertips to Peter Parker. As Cameron eloquently
sums it, "What if you were 17 years old and could do what the fuck
you wanted, anytime you wanted?" [Scoop submitted by 'shape';
originally appeared in Platinum magazine.]
August 4, 1996... This reader bought a copy of a screenplay back in
'94, but couldn't remember the name of the screenwriter. He did recall
that the Peter Parker in this version wore ripped jeans and a leather
jacket, and his main villain was Doctor Octopus. [Scoop brought to our
attention by 'cornloaf'.]
November 4, 1996... This person said they bought the Cameron
Spider-Man movie script. In it, Peter Parker is a college senior and Dr.
Octopus is one of his mentors. The story chronicles how Dr. Octopus
and Spider-Man came to be and how Spidey tries to stop Doctor
Octopus' plan of 'destroying this universe' in order to bring about a new
one. [Scoop sent in by 'thalvar'.]
December 1, 1996... Former Turner Entertainment president, Scott M.
Sassa has become Chairman and CEO of Marvel Entertainment with
over 81% ownership. One of his first projects is to produce a
Spider-Man movie when theatrical rights revert back to Marvel next
year. Does that mean Spider-Man is almost in development? [Scoo
info submitted by our friendly neighborhood Christian-Man.]
December 3, 1996... This scooper says that the November 4th
scooper's Spider-Man script wasn't written by Cameron. "His script
more likely fits the description of the drafts for the eighties
Spiderman film Cannon was trying to develop.I am almost 99%
certain that it is not the Cameron script." [Scoop sent in by
'spiderman'.]
December 9, 1996... In a British magazine interview, Stan Lee said that
the proposed script features two villains. Lee also said that he would
"love" to see Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of the parts. [Scoop sent in
by 'spiderman'; originally appeared in Empire magazine.]
January 21, 1997... We have no way of verifying this one, kiddies, but
we're presenting it anyway for your enjoyment. Allegedly sent to us by
someone(s) from inside Lightstorm Entertainment, it makes interesting
reading (along with the new Amazing Spider-Man, too)...
"We love your page her and have decided to throw you a scoop. You
just have to decide which parts are true and which parts are not.
Jim will have his dream come true. He has reached an unofficial
deal with new CEO of Marvel, Scott M. Sassa, that, in short, says
Jim will get the rights when they revert back to Marvel in late 97.
Production has been slated for Fall 98 for a Memorial Day open in
'99. Work on CGI and second unit stuff will begin in January '98.
Digital Domain will, of course, be the effects house and rumor is
that the film will be the first to use photorealistic digital actors for
Spidy doubles. Speaking of Peter Parker, while in Canada Jim was
introduced to unknown Canadian actor Martin Garrow (I'm not
sure if that's the way you spell it.) They both share a love for Spidey
and hit it off immediately. Jim callled legal for an actors contract
for a mid '98 film with a the working title `Web of Truths'. Martin
has flown down here and has already been scanned into the
computers (thanks to Cyberware) for the D.D. team to star doing
tests. Just thought you'd like to know."
We always like to know. Now we have the headache of trying to figure
out which parts, if any, are true. Y'know...you could throw us a baseball
cap or t-shirt with the Lightstorm logo emblazened on it...now that
would certainly help our crack team of truthsayers... [Scoop sent in by
'Inside Lightstorm'. Almost sounds like a high-budget dirty movie
title.]
And three days before the last scoop, we receive this email...Martin,
Martin...if you're lying, we'll track you down.
"Friend from inside Lightstorm has mentioned that Cameron has
made a commitment with unknown Canadian actor Martin Gero to
play Peter Parker. Cameron met Gero through a friend and it was
'casting at first sight'. Also, production date for film said to have
been set for fall '98, after Marvel regains Theatrical Rights this
year." Hey, Jim, if you're out there, could you do us a wee favor? I
know you're busy with Titanic and all but - we need a phone call, man.
Hey - we're Canadian too - the bond of hockey must be shared between
us, right? I mean, right?? [Evil scoop that taunts us slung-in by
'Spiderman'.]
February 4, 1997... The rights to Spidey may be slooooowly emerging
from all that legal webbing. MGM could be close to aquiring the rights to
distribute the property. If all four parties involved (Carolco Pictures,
MGM, Canal Plus and Marvel Entertainment) agree upon the particulars,
the movie could be back on-track. [Scoops sent in by Christian and
Joe Hanna.]
March 23, 1997... It has been legally arbitrated that MGM be given the
rights for the Spidey film. In an effort to appease MGM's $12.3 million
dollar claim against bankrupt Carolco, the studio that greenlighted such
blockbusters as Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct decided to furnish
MGM with a $2 million payment, a 6-month option on the sequel rights
to the Basic Instinct property, and direct transfer of their Spider-Man
film rights. What this means for Cameron, who has a exclusive deal with
Twentieth Century Fox, is unclear. [Information sent in by Robbie
Banks, Richard Slick, Zak Chase, 'Maverick' and 'H.B.'.]
June 24-29, 1997... Could Jeff Goldblum be in the running for the
Norman Osborne/Green Goblin role? [Dropped by anonymously;
thanks to the many Spidey fans who's spider senses were tingling
when we referred to Norman as 'Mr. Osgood'!]
July 1, 1997... This anonymous writer tells us that the Goldblum rumor is
nothing more than fan speculation. [Scoop sent in anonymously.]
September 2, 1997... Reports are continuing to come in from radio
listeners who've heard their favorite stations mention that Jason Patric
(Speed 2: Cruise Control) is suiting up to play Spiderman. Well, it ain't
true; these radio stations report Internet rumors all the time as hard fact
and we see the results in email. Nothing has been announced, and
considering that any involvement from Cameron (or even MGM, for that
matter) has been released to the press, the Patric rumor is false. [With a
nod to a few dozen scoopers...]
December 23, 1997... Last week James Cameron went on the Howard
Stern show to promote his new film, Titanic. Cameron said that he
doesn't have a definite next film ready to roll, and that he is totally burned
out from the extended post-production work on Titanic. During their
conversation, Stern asked the director what's happening with his dream
project, and Cameron gave him the latest: Spider-Man is still strung up
in legal issues, but he'd direct it "tomorrow" if he could. But Jim also let a
big fanboy rumor go: he said if he could film the show right now, he'd
consider Leonardo DiCaprio for the role. Quote the director: "He's got
moves, man." [Web-slingin' action sent in by 'pbrann', 'kskincy',
rpouria', ZENtertainment, 'JeffD202', John K., Dave, 'Jhockett',
'warriner', 'Betty Grant', anonymously; and to 'Shifter' for the
Cameron quote!]
We followed-up on what may be the thought behind Cameron
dreamcasting DiCaprio for the role from one of our undercover sources:
"After Titanic's hellish shoot, monstrous budget, war with two
studios, and troubles with ungrateful actors (Kate Winslet, in
particular), Cameron wants to go the safe route-that is, stick with
actors who are comfortable working with him and keep the studio
happy with a bankable name. Nothings been signed yet between
actor and director, but you can count on seeing them work together
on this one once the rights are obtained." [Thanks to our
anonymous, 'Mysterio'-like source.]
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