When it was announced that a fourth Sam Raimi Spider-Man movie had been dropped in favor of rebooting the franchise, many fans were shocked; even more so when the movie was released - with the new cast, costume and directorial approach. yet despite fans concerns and feelings the studios have returned with not only the forthcoming sequel, due for release May 2nd, with a third movie in the works, but also news of Venom and Sinister Six movies also being planned.
Speaking recently at the SXSW in Austin, Texas the director had the following to say about some fans fear that the sequel has too many villains...
“It’s about writing. We’re aware of those movies and the complaints people had. The main villain is Electro. Every other villain emerges around that. We were careful to make sure the stories entertained. You had to make sure to create obstacles that were difficult to overcome. We wanted to make the physical and emotional obstacles difficult. Rhino is in it for four minutes so it’s a legitimate comparison, but when you see the movie, I’m confident.”
Webb talked about the special effects in the first movie and the forthcoming sequel...
“In the first movie I was a little too reserved with the CGI, quite frankly, because I didn’t want it to look too weird or awkward. There was a moment deep in the production process where a giant lizard smashes through a wall and I was like, ‘This is not grounded.’ And I made a decision that in the next movie I would embrace the spectacle and not be beholden to smallness. Not to reject the emotional stuff but I wanted it to be big and express and command that feeling you had as a kid reading the comics—that color and that bravado. I think in the second movie we’ve really maintained the grounded, emotional texture and combined it with spectacle.”
The director also mentioned how he came to direct the first movie...
“It was the stupidest idea I had ever heard. Sony chief Amy Pascal brought it up to me and I thought it was crazy! But of course I was a Spider-Man fan, but more of Peter Parker. It was a tricky time. I had just finished 500 Days of Summer. I didn’t know what to do next. And those movies, which are really sacred to people, weren’t that old. They gave me a script I didn’t like. And Amy said, ‘You can’t turn down Spider-Man.’ And she was right. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. But to build that up, it was an adventure. Not only being a fan of Spider-Man is one thing but I was really curious about the process and work with people who were up-and-coming like Andrew Garfield but also Sally Field. The opportunities were extraordinary. I’d wake up every day and think about what I’d done right in a past life.”
Thanks to the Playlist for the news!
