Poor Marc Webb.
After Sam Raimi and Sony couldn’t manage to just hug it out during pre-production on Spider-Man 4, Raimi bowed out and Sony got to appoint a new martyr director.
“This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity. Sam Raimi’s virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to ‘take over’ from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man.”
(More on Techland: James Cameron Almost Saved Spidey 18 Years Ago)
So Webb, the man who brought us 500 Days of Summer and, most importantly, Jesse McCartney: Up Close, is taking the reigns for a new Spidey? I’m worried it’s still a bit too soon. Hate him or love him, Toby Maguire is Spider-Man. Will the film franchise’s fan base really respond to some other guy in the spider suit? Guess we’ll wait and see.
And assuming there’s still a plan of placing Peter Parker back in high school, ugh, I’m wondering if we (and when I say “we,” I mean “they”) really learned anything at all from the X-Men Origins: Wolverine fiasco of 2009? And they, at least, used the same actor. Spider-Man needs a vacation, Sony.
What about – oh, I don’t know – a new, original story? Just a thought.
(More on Techland: How To Kill A Superhero Franchise In 20 Easy Steps: Spider-Man Edition)