How to Fix The New Spider-Man!
Until just days ago with the exciting and unexpected merging of Sony Pictures' lacking Spider-Man film franchise with the almighty Marvel Studios, the undefined future of the famous webslinger on the big screen was nearly unknown. Now, with the fan-favorite Andrew Garfield (who led the previous Amazing Spider-Man films with his decent Peter Parker charisma and charm), sadly out of the picture for good, this struggling character seeks a new face and a new home. That new home, the acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe, looks to set the webhead on a fast track to victory, bringing Spider-Man into its growing universe from Avengers to Guardians. In light of this excellent, yet bittersweet, news, here are a few of my suggestions to just how Spidey's new home should deal with the character:
Save Us the Origin Story Rehash:
Whether they're a comic reader or not, it's almost certain that everyone knows Spider-Man's secret. This "secret" isn't actually a secret at all, with it being laid out from early editions on the page to twice on the big screen. Yeah, I'm talking about the origin of Peter Parker's spider-like abilities. Even with its numerous variations, in order to make it appear different, the teenage protagonist is always somehow bitten by a spider, giving him his arachnid powers. Now, with Spidey swinging into the world of the Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's really not that necessary to give us the whole story again. Yes, the occasional montage of him first using his abilities may be humorous and entertaining to see once more, but as for the spider-bite, just infer that most fans know that story. However, with the MCU rumored to have an early high school Peter in their new films, this issue might just have to happen for the story's sake.
Young or Old, Cast the Perfect Parker:
Whether the newly-cast Peter (or whatever other Spidey persona they may use) is a freshman in high school or a freshman in college, this new dive into the world of Marvel's most popular character is a chance for filmmakers to get the perfect actor for the leading role. With past Peter Parker's from Tobey Maguire to Andrew Garfield having their own sets of positives and negatives, I think Marvel Studios could cast another perfect role in their universe, just as they did with Iron Man's Robert Downey Jr. and Captain America's Chris Evans. The latest choices for the webhead being along the lines of Perks of Being a Wallflower's Logan Lerman and Maze Runner's Dylan O'Brien, these two are just scratching the surface of who could play the character (Star Trek's Anton Yelchin being one of my many choices). If Marvel goes the opposite route, using the Spidey persona of Miles Morales, we could have another Human Torch on our hands, with some fans being skeptical of the character's African-American descent. Whichever route the people at Marvel Studios and Sony may go, I think it would be interesting to see what a college or 20-something year-old Peter might look like on-screen, interacting with the rest of the Avengers who are just a few years older.
Bring In the Characters We've Yet to See:
You can't have the famous webslinger without his supporting characters. From his many girlfriends to his numerous deadly archenemies, the Spider-Man world has a vast collection of interesting characters, some that have yet to make their silver screen appearance. As we've seen characters like Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson brought somewhat faithfully to screen, as well as two renditions of Parker's best friend Harry Osborn (both psychotic in their own ways), some characters are being left in the shadows. One character I'd love to see, considered a central member of Spidey's enemy team of the Sinister Six, is Chameleon. A master of disguise and trickery, this character would be an excellent choice for a main villain somewhere down the line in future MCU Spidey films. While there are a number of other great villains from Mysterio to Kraven the Hunter to mention, another essential character to bring to screen would have to be Spidey's seductive partner and girlfriend, Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat. While her character may have been teased in Amazing Spider-Man 2 last year, the character was not as prominent as she should be in Peter's life. I think with a little push in the right direction, she could be one of Spidey's most daring female characters to be brought faithfully to screen. These and many other characters and villains should definitely be somehow integrated into the films, hopefully with Sony's rumored Sinister Six film managing to introduce a few of the main baddies.
Make Him A Supporting Avenger:
One of the most fussed-over and debated topics within the Marvel film-verse has been how and when Marvel's prized character will join up with Iron Man and Captain America in the MCU's Avengers team (Or more currently, if/when he will show up in the Cap sequel Civil War). Now a great possibility now that Spidey is in their clutches, Marvel Studios has the daunting task of bringing in a fan-favorite giant into their world of superpowered misfits. This of course is a daunting task, given the fear that with the webhead's acclaimed entrance, he will unfortunately overshadow some of the lesser-known Avengers. This is why I pose the suggestion to keep the character as a supporting member, not making him into another franchise. While another franchise may be best for the business of money-making, I think one solo film is enough for the character, acting as an introduction before he joins the Avengers officially. While he may be one of my favorite Marvel characters, as he is to many, I think keeping him as sort of a "specialist on the side-lines" will help give the character enough screen-time with the big stars, but still save room for the little guys who also deserve good introductions. In other words, Spidey had a total of 5 big-screen films, so letting him just swing by and kick some ass every once and a while with the team may be enough for him.
Bring Back J. Jonah Jameson (And Possibly J.K. Simmons):
One of the most memorable parts of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man franchise would have to be J.K. Simmons' incredible take on the gloating and bombastic editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle newspaper, J. Jonah Jameson. Known for his comic-faithful look from his mustache to his cigar, as well as his flamboyant comedic attitude, Simmons was one of the many things I would have loved to see transfer throughout every Spidey film, even into its many reboots. Now, with Marvel Studios and Sony collaborating on this new Spidey introduction, it would be something out of a dream to see Simmons return in the MCU as his legendary character of the past. While it may not be at all possible, given that this reboot intends to cut all ties with the past Spidey franchises and start anew, I think many fans would love to see the character (no matter who plays him) return for more webhead-hunting highjinks.
Take Notes From Netflix's Daredevil:
While the past Spider-Man films have mostly been a mix of humor and minor dark themes, we have yet to see a gritty, high-stakes Spider-Man film done justice. And yes, while that may not be what the character stands for, saving the blood-spilling for comical webs to the mouth, I think the Marvel Studios should take a new direction this time, making the web-slinger a lovable character, but also giving him a darker edge in the process. That's part of the reason why this new project should take some influence from Marvel's Netflix series for Daredevil. A similar vigilante to Spidey, while older and much more grisly, Daredevil starts out on the streets of a crime-struck New York City, defending the ones he loves from harm. I think the same should go for Spider-Man, with a young Peter struggling to survive high school and petty criminals at first, then upgrading to high-risk opponents. Also, with the large-in-size crime boss Kingpin coming to the Netflix show, the new MCU Spidey could tangle with him at first, possibly leading to a fun crossover with the Man Without Fear.
Hire a Well-Versed Director:
With every monumental superhero film, there are the equally monumental people behind it all. One of the most important of these people, while screenwriters may crank out all the jokes and memorable one-liners, is the director. From recent critically-acclaimed directors in the superhero genre, from the dark and methodical Christopher Nolan to the odd-ball of James Gunn, these directors have brought some of the most intriguing (and unknown) comic book characters to the big screen, with their own values of success. Now, with the witty webhead in dire need of a fresh start, the new franchise is seeking the perfect director to helm it. While the character's clouded past has had its ups and downs with its directors, from Sam Raimi's ill-fated third film to Mark Webb's dreary character development, the new MCU Spidey could bring directors with a little more experience in the art of superheroes to the table.
With many memorable choices up for the task of bringing the webhead back to the screen successfully, among the most certified would have to be either Matthew Vaughn, Joss Whedon, Jon Favreau, or Chris Miller and Phil Lord (who's crazed comedy and wit could work wonders for Spidey). An odd collection of talented men, I know, but these five directors without a doubt have the guts to introduce Spidey in a whole new way, with elements of comedy and intense adventure. But who is perfect, you ask? While Whedon is entangled with his Avengers films, and Miller and Lord may be constructing a new Lego Movie sequel, one of my top choices would be the man behind the superhero hit Kick-Ass, Matthew Vaughn. Just recently delivering another violent and raunchy flick with this month's Kingsman: The Secret Service, and in the past bringing the X-Men team into a new light with First Class, Vaughn is a great choice to helm a new Spidey film, able to bring excitement and thrills to the screen, while also giving the audience awesome characters to root for. Another great choice, if Whedon was still busy, is Jon Favreau, who graciously brought an amazing Iron Man origin story to Marvel Studios back in 2008. While he may be out of the directing game right now, it definitely would be interesting to see how the man could pull of the popular web-slinger. Whomever Marvel chooses to helm its next Spidey project, I hope to see new, edgier ideas for the character that Raimi and Webb weren't able to bring to the past films.
Well, those are just a few of my inclined opinions on the newest reincarnation of the famous web-slinger. Whether the fresh start was a good idea or not, or if the Spider-Man character was just not meant to be brought to the big screen, I wish the best for the people at Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, who have the ever-daunting task of competing with their past, and giving this character the film he deserves. From spinning out a new Peter Parker, however young or old he may be, to delivering an edgier and more iconic Spider-Man, this new deal between the blockbusting studios has definitely altered the future of Marvel's superhero universe. Giving way to new surprises and new tales to construct and explore, the future of Spider-Man holds great promise...but with great promise, comes great uncertainty (wait...did I get that right?).
What are your ideas for the new Spider-Man? Do you want him to appear in Civil War next year? Let me know about some of your thoughts on the deal in the comments below. Stay tuned next week for more movie excitement!
Save Us the Origin Story Rehash:
Whether they're a comic reader or not, it's almost certain that everyone knows Spider-Man's secret. This "secret" isn't actually a secret at all, with it being laid out from early editions on the page to twice on the big screen. Yeah, I'm talking about the origin of Peter Parker's spider-like abilities. Even with its numerous variations, in order to make it appear different, the teenage protagonist is always somehow bitten by a spider, giving him his arachnid powers. Now, with Spidey swinging into the world of the Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's really not that necessary to give us the whole story again. Yes, the occasional montage of him first using his abilities may be humorous and entertaining to see once more, but as for the spider-bite, just infer that most fans know that story. However, with the MCU rumored to have an early high school Peter in their new films, this issue might just have to happen for the story's sake.
Young or Old, Cast the Perfect Parker:
Whether the newly-cast Peter (or whatever other Spidey persona they may use) is a freshman in high school or a freshman in college, this new dive into the world of Marvel's most popular character is a chance for filmmakers to get the perfect actor for the leading role. With past Peter Parker's from Tobey Maguire to Andrew Garfield having their own sets of positives and negatives, I think Marvel Studios could cast another perfect role in their universe, just as they did with Iron Man's Robert Downey Jr. and Captain America's Chris Evans. The latest choices for the webhead being along the lines of Perks of Being a Wallflower's Logan Lerman and Maze Runner's Dylan O'Brien, these two are just scratching the surface of who could play the character (Star Trek's Anton Yelchin being one of my many choices). If Marvel goes the opposite route, using the Spidey persona of Miles Morales, we could have another Human Torch on our hands, with some fans being skeptical of the character's African-American descent. Whichever route the people at Marvel Studios and Sony may go, I think it would be interesting to see what a college or 20-something year-old Peter might look like on-screen, interacting with the rest of the Avengers who are just a few years older.
 |
| If not Lerman or O'Brien, Freddie Highmore would make an excellent Peter Parker |
Bring In the Characters We've Yet to See:
You can't have the famous webslinger without his supporting characters. From his many girlfriends to his numerous deadly archenemies, the Spider-Man world has a vast collection of interesting characters, some that have yet to make their silver screen appearance. As we've seen characters like Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson brought somewhat faithfully to screen, as well as two renditions of Parker's best friend Harry Osborn (both psychotic in their own ways), some characters are being left in the shadows. One character I'd love to see, considered a central member of Spidey's enemy team of the Sinister Six, is Chameleon. A master of disguise and trickery, this character would be an excellent choice for a main villain somewhere down the line in future MCU Spidey films. While there are a number of other great villains from Mysterio to Kraven the Hunter to mention, another essential character to bring to screen would have to be Spidey's seductive partner and girlfriend, Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat. While her character may have been teased in Amazing Spider-Man 2 last year, the character was not as prominent as she should be in Peter's life. I think with a little push in the right direction, she could be one of Spidey's most daring female characters to be brought faithfully to screen. These and many other characters and villains should definitely be somehow integrated into the films, hopefully with Sony's rumored Sinister Six film managing to introduce a few of the main baddies.
 |
| I'd also like to see the return of Norman Osborn and Mary Jane at some point |
Make Him A Supporting Avenger:
One of the most fussed-over and debated topics within the Marvel film-verse has been how and when Marvel's prized character will join up with Iron Man and Captain America in the MCU's Avengers team (Or more currently, if/when he will show up in the Cap sequel Civil War). Now a great possibility now that Spidey is in their clutches, Marvel Studios has the daunting task of bringing in a fan-favorite giant into their world of superpowered misfits. This of course is a daunting task, given the fear that with the webhead's acclaimed entrance, he will unfortunately overshadow some of the lesser-known Avengers. This is why I pose the suggestion to keep the character as a supporting member, not making him into another franchise. While another franchise may be best for the business of money-making, I think one solo film is enough for the character, acting as an introduction before he joins the Avengers officially. While he may be one of my favorite Marvel characters, as he is to many, I think keeping him as sort of a "specialist on the side-lines" will help give the character enough screen-time with the big stars, but still save room for the little guys who also deserve good introductions. In other words, Spidey had a total of 5 big-screen films, so letting him just swing by and kick some ass every once and a while with the team may be enough for him.
 |
| Let him battle wits with Stark and Rogers, but don't make him all the rage |
Bring Back J. Jonah Jameson (And Possibly J.K. Simmons):
One of the most memorable parts of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man franchise would have to be J.K. Simmons' incredible take on the gloating and bombastic editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle newspaper, J. Jonah Jameson. Known for his comic-faithful look from his mustache to his cigar, as well as his flamboyant comedic attitude, Simmons was one of the many things I would have loved to see transfer throughout every Spidey film, even into its many reboots. Now, with Marvel Studios and Sony collaborating on this new Spidey introduction, it would be something out of a dream to see Simmons return in the MCU as his legendary character of the past. While it may not be at all possible, given that this reboot intends to cut all ties with the past Spidey franchises and start anew, I think many fans would love to see the character (no matter who plays him) return for more webhead-hunting highjinks.
 |
| The Daily Bugle plays a huge part in Spidey's life, and we've missed it, and J.J.J, greatly |
Take Notes From Netflix's Daredevil:
While the past Spider-Man films have mostly been a mix of humor and minor dark themes, we have yet to see a gritty, high-stakes Spider-Man film done justice. And yes, while that may not be what the character stands for, saving the blood-spilling for comical webs to the mouth, I think the Marvel Studios should take a new direction this time, making the web-slinger a lovable character, but also giving him a darker edge in the process. That's part of the reason why this new project should take some influence from Marvel's Netflix series for Daredevil. A similar vigilante to Spidey, while older and much more grisly, Daredevil starts out on the streets of a crime-struck New York City, defending the ones he loves from harm. I think the same should go for Spider-Man, with a young Peter struggling to survive high school and petty criminals at first, then upgrading to high-risk opponents. Also, with the large-in-size crime boss Kingpin coming to the Netflix show, the new MCU Spidey could tangle with him at first, possibly leading to a fun crossover with the Man Without Fear.
 |
| Teasing the new Spidey in Netflix's Daredevil is a great way to introduce the character |
Hire a Well-Versed Director:
With every monumental superhero film, there are the equally monumental people behind it all. One of the most important of these people, while screenwriters may crank out all the jokes and memorable one-liners, is the director. From recent critically-acclaimed directors in the superhero genre, from the dark and methodical Christopher Nolan to the odd-ball of James Gunn, these directors have brought some of the most intriguing (and unknown) comic book characters to the big screen, with their own values of success. Now, with the witty webhead in dire need of a fresh start, the new franchise is seeking the perfect director to helm it. While the character's clouded past has had its ups and downs with its directors, from Sam Raimi's ill-fated third film to Mark Webb's dreary character development, the new MCU Spidey could bring directors with a little more experience in the art of superheroes to the table.
With many memorable choices up for the task of bringing the webhead back to the screen successfully, among the most certified would have to be either Matthew Vaughn, Joss Whedon, Jon Favreau, or Chris Miller and Phil Lord (who's crazed comedy and wit could work wonders for Spidey). An odd collection of talented men, I know, but these five directors without a doubt have the guts to introduce Spidey in a whole new way, with elements of comedy and intense adventure. But who is perfect, you ask? While Whedon is entangled with his Avengers films, and Miller and Lord may be constructing a new Lego Movie sequel, one of my top choices would be the man behind the superhero hit Kick-Ass, Matthew Vaughn. Just recently delivering another violent and raunchy flick with this month's Kingsman: The Secret Service, and in the past bringing the X-Men team into a new light with First Class, Vaughn is a great choice to helm a new Spidey film, able to bring excitement and thrills to the screen, while also giving the audience awesome characters to root for. Another great choice, if Whedon was still busy, is Jon Favreau, who graciously brought an amazing Iron Man origin story to Marvel Studios back in 2008. While he may be out of the directing game right now, it definitely would be interesting to see how the man could pull of the popular web-slinger. Whomever Marvel chooses to helm its next Spidey project, I hope to see new, edgier ideas for the character that Raimi and Webb weren't able to bring to the past films.
 |
| If Whedon and Vaughn are all booked, why not get the man who started it all, Sam Raimi? |
Well, those are just a few of my inclined opinions on the newest reincarnation of the famous web-slinger. Whether the fresh start was a good idea or not, or if the Spider-Man character was just not meant to be brought to the big screen, I wish the best for the people at Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, who have the ever-daunting task of competing with their past, and giving this character the film he deserves. From spinning out a new Peter Parker, however young or old he may be, to delivering an edgier and more iconic Spider-Man, this new deal between the blockbusting studios has definitely altered the future of Marvel's superhero universe. Giving way to new surprises and new tales to construct and explore, the future of Spider-Man holds great promise...but with great promise, comes great uncertainty (wait...did I get that right?).
What are your ideas for the new Spider-Man? Do you want him to appear in Civil War next year? Let me know about some of your thoughts on the deal in the comments below. Stay tuned next week for more movie excitement!
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