WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: The SPIDER-MAN Movies
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Quoted By: >>104723708 >>104723787 >>104723844
In honor of SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.
Spider-Man (2002)
>Cannon Pictures began developing the project in 1985, with stuntman Scott Leva set to star and Joseph Zito slated to direct, but both dropped out when budget was continuously slashed due to Cannon’s recent string of box office failures.
>Producer Menahen Golan kept the rights after Cannon went bankrupt and partnered with Carolco Pictures to make the movie under his new production company, 21st century Pictures. James Cameron was slated to direct, with Leonardo Dicaprio eyed to star, but creative differences between Cameron and Golan led to a lengthy legal battle that resulted in 21st Century Pictures going bankrupt.
>Carolco got into another legal battle with both Viacom and Columbia Pictures, who had acquired the home distribution rights from Golan. When the conflict threatened to delay TITANIC, 20th Century Fox sued all parties, and Carolco went bankrupt, while Golan sold the rights to MGM.
>Another legal battle ensued between MGM and Marvel, which ultimately regained the rights and sold them to Sony Pictures, leading to a legal battle between MGM and Sony. Sony ultimately sold MGM the rights to Ian Fleming’s “Thunderball” in exchange for Spider-Man.
>Chris Columbus, Roland Emmerich, Tony Scott, Jan de Bont, Ang Lee, David Fincher, M. Night Shyamalan and Tim Burton were approached to direct before Sam Raimi was hired.
>Freddie Prinze Jr. was Sony's top choice to play Peter, but Raimi was adamantly against it. Wes Bentley, Heath Ledger, Chris Klein, Scott Speedman, Jay Rodan and James Franco auditioned before Tobey Maguire was cast. Franco was later cast as Harry Osborn.
>Kate Hudson was Sony's top choice to play MJ, but declined. Alicia Witt, Mena Suvari, Elisha Cuthbert and Eliza Dushku auditioned before Kirsten Dunst was cast.
>Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich and Robert De Niro were approached for Norman Osborn before Willem Dafoe was cast.
Spider-Man (2002)
>Cannon Pictures began developing the project in 1985, with stuntman Scott Leva set to star and Joseph Zito slated to direct, but both dropped out when budget was continuously slashed due to Cannon’s recent string of box office failures.
>Producer Menahen Golan kept the rights after Cannon went bankrupt and partnered with Carolco Pictures to make the movie under his new production company, 21st century Pictures. James Cameron was slated to direct, with Leonardo Dicaprio eyed to star, but creative differences between Cameron and Golan led to a lengthy legal battle that resulted in 21st Century Pictures going bankrupt.
>Carolco got into another legal battle with both Viacom and Columbia Pictures, who had acquired the home distribution rights from Golan. When the conflict threatened to delay TITANIC, 20th Century Fox sued all parties, and Carolco went bankrupt, while Golan sold the rights to MGM.
>Another legal battle ensued between MGM and Marvel, which ultimately regained the rights and sold them to Sony Pictures, leading to a legal battle between MGM and Sony. Sony ultimately sold MGM the rights to Ian Fleming’s “Thunderball” in exchange for Spider-Man.
>Chris Columbus, Roland Emmerich, Tony Scott, Jan de Bont, Ang Lee, David Fincher, M. Night Shyamalan and Tim Burton were approached to direct before Sam Raimi was hired.
>Freddie Prinze Jr. was Sony's top choice to play Peter, but Raimi was adamantly against it. Wes Bentley, Heath Ledger, Chris Klein, Scott Speedman, Jay Rodan and James Franco auditioned before Tobey Maguire was cast. Franco was later cast as Harry Osborn.
>Kate Hudson was Sony's top choice to play MJ, but declined. Alicia Witt, Mena Suvari, Elisha Cuthbert and Eliza Dushku auditioned before Kirsten Dunst was cast.
>Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich and Robert De Niro were approached for Norman Osborn before Willem Dafoe was cast.
