THE INCREDIBLE HULK ( 1996)
Director : David Cronenberg
Producer : Gale Ann Hurd
Screenplay : Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich
Project History
Several Years after the final Incredible Hulk TV movie, Universal Pictures is interested in bringing a more comicbook accurate , blockbuster version, to The Big Screen.
For a while director James Cameron expresses interest but eventually passes on the Project .
However, Cameron's long time producing partner Gale Ann Hurd stays on the project , and eventually woos Roland Emmerich to pen, and direct , a Hulk Film.
However, Emmerich's commitments to Independence Day mean that the director must part ways in terms of taking the directing duties.
However, in the Summer of 1993, The Fly and Scanners director David Cronenberg emerges as a frontrunner due to his ability to balance larger than life horror elements ,with realistic emotions and characters .
Cronenberg is attracted to the Horror , misunderstood Monster, aspect of the project , in addition to the world of grays that Banner and the other characters must operate in.
Cronenberg jumps at the chance of directing the Hulk , and with a screenplay by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin already in place, the film begins shooting in 1994, for a 1996 release date.
Script
Emmerich and Devlin's screenplay , unlike the TV series, follows closely to The Incredible Hulk's comicbook origins , including the teen protagonoist Rick Jones , who serves as a surrogate Son, as the two of them run from the military who want to use the Hulk for their own means.
To that end ,Banner's character is caught between the woman he loves, his coworker Betty Ross, and her father , the relentless Thunderbolt Ross.
However, Banner also faces another foe , in the form of his ambitious co worker, and Bruce's rival , Samuel Sterns , whose also caught in the same Gamma ray accident .
However, instead of the transforming into a monstrous force of nature, Stern turns green, his head grows to an abnormal size, and he becomes the supervillain, The Leader, whose bent on world domination.
Banner also faces the foe of The Hulk himself whom he can't control , and is a violent instrument of chaos .
However, Jones and Brant recognize that , despite the fury and menace of the creature, Bruce's humanity still permeates it's soul.
Ultimately Banner must face The Leader, who plans on taking control of Ross and his Military forces , all the while Ross, wants Hulk taken down.
In the end Hulk faces The Leader in a battle between Brains versus Brawn , with Rick Jones and Betty Brant caught in the crossfire .
Hulk is able to defeat The Leader, but tragically, Betty dies , sacrificing herself to save Bruce and Rick.
The death is a callback to the original Hulk TV series pilot , in which the monster is blamed for the Betty Ross -like character.
Banner visits Betty's grave and vows to help people in her memory.
While burdened with this beast, Bruce does not want Betty's death to be in vain, and vows that one way or another, The Hulk will be a force for good in the world.
Thunderbolt Ross vows to hunt down Banner to the ends of the Earth, while Banner and Jones, now fugitives must flee .
Casting
While visuals effects have come a long way since the original tv series, by 1996, they still hadn't advanced to the point of creating a realistic, fully formed Hulk .
As a result , there would still need to be a different actor for Banner and The Hulk .
For the role of Banner, Cronenberg doesn't want a Leading man type, but instead looks to the castings of his lead actors in Scanners and The Fly.
He wants an everyman who would be a stark contrast to the Green Goliath.
After watching The River Wild , Cronenberg approaches character actor David Strathairn for the role of Bruce Banner.
While Strathairn had been in supporting and bit roles in films going back to the 80s, The Incredible Hulk would be his first starring role.
Strathairn agrees to take on the role originated by the Late Bill Bixby and is cast as the first onscreen Bruce Banner.
For the role of the Hulk , Lou Ferrigno briefly lobbies for the Part , and other high profile wrestlers and Bodybuilders audition for the role.
However, it's Bodybuilder turned actor Ralf Moeller who is cast as The new Hulk .
Standing at 6'5 , Moeller is already an imposing presence before having to Bulk up to his competition weight for the film.
For the role of Betty Ross , several actresses including Demi Moore and Andie MacDowell are considered.
However, it's The Firm and Basic Instinct's Jean Tripplehorn who is cast as Bruce's tragic love interest.
For the role of Rick Jones, Cronenberg has one actor in mind , T2 actor Edward Furlong.
The roles of the films two antagonists Cronenberg casts character actor John Glover as the Megalomaniacal leader due to his abilities to play egotistical, charismatic, bombastic, with a touch of humanity.
For the role of Thunderbolt Ross, Cronenberg cast veteran actor Christopher Plummer .
Reception
When the film hits theaters in August of 1996, it comes in the wake of a massive ad campaign , and a media blitz, which even includes a marathon of the original tv series.
The film turns out to be a big success at the box office in addition to receiving favorable reviews.
Film critics are surprised and welcome the darker tones of the film and Banner's painful transformation into the Hulk brings comparisions to An American Werewolf In London.
Despite the film's more serious tone, the film is a hit with young people , and is praised for taking the material much more seriously than most contemporary comicbook tv and film of the era.
Fans of the comics however, are displeased by the killing of Betty Ross .
However, with a filmgoing audience overwhelmingly unfair with the Betty Ross character, and more familiar with the tragic nature of the original series,
The controversy remains largely debated among comicbook fans , while Cronenberg defends the decision .
With the film being a success into the fall and being a huge seller during the Christmas Holiday season, Universal Pictures quickly Greenlights Plans for a Hulk 2, which aims for a Summer 1999 release date.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1989)
Director : Tim Burton
Project History
After Canon's Spider-Man feature film fails to materialize, the rights for a Spiderman motion Picture move over to MGM and United Artists studios in 1986.
MGM /UA see enormous potential in a Spiderman film given the characters consistent popularity over the past 20 years
All previous Canon scripts are tossed , being deemed insufficient , and Joe Zito , the film's would be director, is sacked .
MGM/ UA want a fresh pair of eyes on the project , including a new screenwriter and director.
For such an off beat property , Producers want a film maker who can balance comedy and the surreal, with the more human, and grounded emotions.
Ivan Rietman is originally the producers first choice, but is locked in developing Ghostbusters 2 .
An out of left field choice is Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and Beetlejuice, director, Tim Burton.
The former Disney artist however, is also being pursued by Warner Brothers to pursue another live action adaptation, Batman.
Producers approach Burton about directing the Spiderman film .
They send over several comics from the Lee and Ditko era, and Lee meets with Burton to discuss the character.
Burton is intrigued by the fact that the character is an alienated, lonely , outcast, who despite having these amazing abilities, is still isolated from a world he wants to be apart of,
and the girl he secretly loves.
He's a popular hero , but unlucky in life and love.
Burton finds himself torn between two compelling heroes , each of whom speak to his sensibilities , and each of whom, he feels he can make his mark on.
However, the creative freedom is the deal breaker.
With Batman, he will nearly be a hired gun under the watchful , and controlling eyes of producers, studio execs, and a public which remembers the 1960s show.
Burton wouldn't nearly have the creative leeway and autonomy on a Batman film than he would with MGM/ UA who were much more willing for Burton to put his own spin on the character.
Ultimately, after much deliberation, he decides to hitch his wagon with MGM/UA and direct, and co write, The Amazing Spiderman.
Stan Lee would serve as a creative consultant , and much of Burton's Beetlejuice production and crew would return for ASM.
The film was set to begin shooting in Los Angeles and New York in the spring of 1988, with a fall 1989 release date in mind .
Screenplay
Burton's Spiderman film would loosely follow Peter Parker's comic book origins, however, Peter wouldn't be a high school student, but instead would be a 21 year old college student,
He lives with his Aunt and Uncle because they cannot afford the additional cost of Peter living at the dorm.
He's lonely, Isolated from his classmates , and Bullied by Star Football player , and rich Kid ,Harry Osborn.
Harry is dating the head cheerleader Gwen Stacy, whom Peter has a crush on , but he's too shy to talk to .
As in the comics, a Peter is bitten by a radioactive Spider on a class field trip , though ,this time it's a field trip to Oscorp Labs , where we first Meet Norman Osborn, Harry's father.
Norman and Peter hit it off well, and Norman is impressed and intrigued by the young Man who stands out among his peers, which draws the Ire of his Son Harry.
As in the comics , Peter is bitten by a radioactive Spider ,he develops powers, tests his limits ,then sees them as a way to make a profit.
However, Peter still wants to remain anonymous , so he develops his iconic Spiderman suit to mask his identity.
He performs feats at college wrestling matches, to go parties, talent shows, anything which will earn him cash and notoriety.
Peter's confidence outside the suit also increases as he's much more comfortable around co-eds.
The new Peter intrigues Gwen and she asks him to help her past some of her science classes .
The two begin to form a friendship and attraction much to the Jealousy and anger of Harry .
When Harry and the Football team confront Peter in the parking lot and try to jump him , he easily trounces them making fools of them in the process.
Peter feels good, and overly confident in defeating his College rival and getting closer to Gwen.
However, as in the comics, tragedy strikes when Uncle Ben is killed at the hands of a burglar that Peter could have stopped .
After Ben's death , He and Aunt May are forced to move out of their Queens homes and into a Manhattan apartment .
Peter gives up being Spiderman , feeling that the suit represents his failure to save his Uncle.
However, The Emergence of the Nightmarish Green Goblin wave of crimes leads Peter to Jump into action and to dawn the Suit again in order to stop the masked villain.
As in the comics , Gwen and Peter's relationship becomes a full blown romance , and helps to ease the pain of his Uncle's Death.
All the while , Harry feels humiliated and defeated as his rival now has his Girlfriend, a young woman he had proposed to and she had rejected.
At the same time Norman Osborn has become a mentor to Peter and promises him a job at Oscorp after he graduates.
Norman is portrayed as he is in the comics : Cold, demanding, and tense with his relationship with son and his wife.
Norman's own creepy fixation on Harry's one time girlfriend ,adds to the tension between father son and his wife.
He is unaware that he is also The Green Goblin , engaging in a wave of crime and constantly in late night battle with The Amazing Spiderman.
Burton takes a page from the controversial The Night Gwen Stacy died Storyline, feeling that it adds to the dark fairy tale aspect of Spiderman.
As in the comics, Norman eventually realizes his surrogate son Peter is Spiderman, and his Son's ex Gwen, becomes fair game.
After a brutal battle with Spiderman he reveals to Gwen that Peter and Spiderman are one in the same .
Before Peter can explain the Goblin kills her with a dagger , in true Tim Burton like fashion.
This sends Peter into a rage unleashing all of his power on the Goblin resulting in the Goblin being impaled by his glider.
It's only then, after removing his mask, that he realizes Norman is the Green Goblin.
In the end , Peter and Harry visit the graves of Gwen and Norman.
The two decide to call a truce because they both loved Gwen and Norman.
However Harry believes that Spiderman killed them and wants revenge.
The film ends with Peter graduating from college , symbolizing the end of his childhood and the beginning of his adulthood .
He's loved and lost , he grown up , and now he must atone for his mistakes and protect those he cares about and those he's never met , as Spiderman.
Casting
For the role Of Spiderman, Tim Burton casts 21 Jump Steet actor Johnny Depp to play the role of Peter Parker.
For the role Gwen Stacy, Burton looks to his Beetlejuice star Winona Ryder to play the ill fated Gwen
Christopher Walken is soon cast as Norman Osborn aka The Green Goblin .
The Legend Of Billie Jean actor Christian Slater is cast as Harry Osborn.
The rest of the cast is filled with veteran character actors including Silva Sidney and Hume Cronyn as Aunt May and Uncle Ben, Diane Salinger as Norman's wife, and Martin Landau as J. Jonah Jameson , editor of the Daily Bugle , who feels Spiderman is a phony.
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1992)
Director : Tim Burton
Project History
With the success of The Amazing Spiderman , MGM/ UA was ready to move forward with a sequel .
Burton however , was not easy to convince .
Burton didn't do sequels at this point in his career, feeling that they were more often than not ,rehashes.
However, the studio wanted his quirky yet emotional take on Spiderman to continue.
With development of a new Spiderman Animated Saturday Morning series, inspired by the first film taking hold, MGM /UA didn't want to go too long before, another Spiderman film.
Once again, MGM/UA promised Burton creative control over the direction of the series , an instead of a sequel, the story would be more akin to MGM/UA's Bond films.
The next film would be a new adventure featuring Spiderman, with a mostly new supporting cast and new villains. Burton liked the idea of telling a new story , and not being bound to retread the same elements of TASM.
Burton agreed , and The Spectacular Spiderman went into development in 1990 with the aim for a Summer 1992 release date.
Script
With the idea of a fresh new Spiderman story, Burton looked back to the Lee -Ditko era of the comics , and wanted to exploit more of the Universal Pictures Monster like- Elements of the old comics.
While Peter went up against a superhuman villain in the first film, Burton wanted Peter to face two Mad Scientists, modeled off Cushing and Lee in the Hammer Horror films.
He felt that Peter facing off against two older mirrors of himself, would be interesting and fun.
Burton wanted to capture the high spirit, and outrageousness ,of the Sci Fi Horror films of the 1950s and 1960s.
As a result , Burton gravitated to Doc Ock and The Vulture, who , in this iteration, are two feuding Mad Scienctist , literally fused to their suits due to an experimental mishap, at the hands of
their employer at Smythe industries Alistair Smythe .
When Smythe uses his henchmen to eliminate , the result is the explosion in which Octavius is fused to his mechanical arms and Toomes is fused and trapped inside his flying suit.
The two crazed scientists are presumed dead in the lab explosion .
However the two crazed scientists plot their revenge and reign of terror on Smythe.
The film version of Alistair Smythe ,would be an amalgamation of Alistair and Spencer Smythe from the original comics run.
Meanwhile ,Peter, now out of college and unemployed ,struggles to pay the rent for both himself and his Aunt.
Peter decides to get a job as a photographer at the Daily Bugle , promises the belligerent Jameson, that he can get exclusive pictures of Spiderman.
The proposition is too enticing for the Editor , though he demands Peter partner up with Reporter Betty Brant , who will conduct an exclusive interview with the "Web Head Phony" .
Betty Brant , is portrayed very much in the vain of Lois Lane, a fast talking , tough as nails reporter, whose been on the Spiderman beat for a few years, and wants to know what makes him tick.
Inevitably, Peter begins to fall for the fast talking and quirky beauty, but she considers him " a kid" and wants a real man , i.e. Spider-Man.
Eventually, Spiderman and The Two scientists cross paths, and it becomes Peter's duty to not only stop the villains, but uncover the truth behind Smythe's role in their revenge.
At the same time, he must prevent Betty from not only getting herself killed, but discovering Spiderman's true identity.
The Climax involves Spiderman having to rescue Betty and Smythe from a device that Ock and Vulture have been working which plans to transform Betty and Smythe in biogenetic freaks of nature as revenge.
Spiderman Battles our two villains while in a race to stop them from succeeding in their experiments .
In the end , the Vulture falls to his death and Doc Ock disappears in the ensuing explosions.
While Spiderman is able to free Betty, Smythe isn't as lucky , and transforms into an inhuman creature who is horrified at his new appearance.
The new Smythe then takes on Spiderman with surprising strength and speed.
The battle between the two is so intense that Smythe accidently takes out the supporting beams of the building they're in and as the building collapses around Smythe,
Spiderman rescues Betty and Swings away.
With Smythe and Vulture dead, and Doc Ock nowhere to be found, Spiderman has saved Betty , though with his mask ripped, his face shows through.
Betty then takes off his mask , and is shocked , but somehow, not surprised it's Peter.
The two of them kiss, and she promises never to tell the "Old blowhard Jameson" that Peter is really Spiderman.
In the end, Betty gets her exclusive interview with Spiderman ,and Peter is hired full time as a Daily Bugle photographer , thus having enough money to support his Aunt May.
The film ends with a wounded Doc Ock hiding in an Abandoned Subway tunnel , where a man in the shadows approaches him , offering a way to pay back Spiderman, and telling him there are others like him ,who have a score to settle with "old Webhead" .
When Doc Ock asks the mystery man to step out of the shadows, it's revealed to be Harry Osborn , with the end line " So , are you in ? Or are you out ? ".
Fade to black.
Casting
With Depp returning in the role of Spiderman, Burton has 4 new roles to cast for the film.
For the role of Doc Ock , Burton gravitas toward veteran actor Dennis Hopper for his over the top portrayals and villainy in several motion pictures.
For the role of the Vulture, he casts Horror Icon Christopher Lee , given that he had him specifically in mind when writing the Vulture role.
For the part of Peter's Girl Friday , Burton goes to an outside the box choice with dramatic actress Jennifer Jason Leigh.
For the role of Smythe , Burton casts Jack Palance , who also had a long history of chewing up the scenery and playing relentless villains.
Landau and Sidney, meanwhile , would return as J. Jonah Jameson and May Parker.
THE WEB OF SPIDERMAN (1995)
Director : Tim Burton
Screenplay : Andrew Kevin Walker
Project History
With Spectacular Spiderman making even more money than Amazing Spiderman, MGM and United Artists greenlit development on a 3rd Spiderman film, titled
The Web Of Spiderman.
While Burton was reluctant to do a second film , Burton was fully on board for a 3rd film after having fun making the second film.
As with the first two , MGM / UA gave Burton the leeway to tell the Spiderman story the way he saw fit.
While diehard fans of the comics strongly disagreed with many of Burton's creative choices , General Audiences enjoyed Burton's films, and were none the wiser to the fidelity to the comics.
This time around Burton hired Andrew Kevin Walker to pen WOS , with a planned release date for Halloween 1995.
Script
Like the first two film, WOS would be a self contained adventure , an another story in the Spiderman anthology.
Once again , Burton wanted to mine the Lee and Ditko era of Spiderman comics for inspiration .
Burton became facisnated with the classic Spiderman villain Mysterio and his illusions and games .
At the same time , Meta Human characters like The Lizard and Sandman also peeked his interest .
Walker proposed the idea that Spiderman would face a Circus troop of freaks and people with extrodinary power, and that these freaks would really be a roaming criminal group.
The group is touted as The Sinister Circus.
Mysterio would be a master of illusions, performing tricks, magic, and mysticism .
The Lizard, would be a man who was half human and half reptile , who is showcased behind a glass case.
The Sandman , would be a circus strongman who could dissolve or hardened like a Mountain of Sand.
The Electro can create lighting, fire, and electricity from his body.
Kraven" The Mad Hunter" , would be touted as the World's greatest Hunter whose captured beasts .
And last but not least, there would be the female acrobat , the Black Cat
Black Cat would be the object of Sandman's affection , though his feelings are unrequited .
As in the comics , Black Cat ends up encountering Spiderman during one of the groups heists and the two are attracted to each other .
Spiderman would eventually confront and foil the plans of the Sinister Circus through out the film , and when Black Cat turns on the team, they use her as bait to lure Spiderman into their deadly and nightmarish funhouse where the members of the Sinister Circus wait to pounce .
Ultimately, the Sandman turns on his fellow travelers for the sake of Black Cat , but dies in the process by being disintegrated by Electro.
In the end, against all the odds, Spiderman defeats the Sinister Circus ,and the remaining members are taken into custody,
While Spiderman and The Black Cat Swing off into the sunset.
CAPTAIN AMERICA ( 1997)
Director : Phillip Noyce
Producer : Jerry Bruckheimer and Joel Silver
Script : Andrew Kevin Walker
Music : John Williams
Project History
With the quite failure of the lower budgeted Captain America film , Touchstone pictures begins production on big budget, proper , Captain America adaptation.
Patriot Games director Phillip Noyce is tapped to direct with the plan of featuring a big name in the lead role .
With Andrew Kevin Walker penning the script and John Williams serving as the film's composer , the film begins pre production in 1995, with a Summer 1997 , release date .
Script
Producers had made the decision that they didn't want an origin film , retreading the transformation of Steve Rogers and a Captain America fighting in WW2.
The low budget, straight to video film had already treaded that ground, and producers didn't want to basically remake that film.
Instead , the film would begin with Captain America operating in the modern day , with his WW2 origins , his freezing in ice, and return to the late 20th century, all serving as his backstory.
The film would deal with the 70 year old Steve Rogers contemplating the life he's missed , and his desire to retire , amid an America , and World at Peace.
With the Cold War over , and the threat of global Armageddon a distant memory, Rogers feels it's time to pass on the shield.
When Rogers retires, the search for a new Captain America begins , led by SHIELD's current director Valentine Allegra De Francesca.
Nick Fury has already retired and lives in Wyoming , off the grid in this version.
Eventually , after an expensive screening process , Francesca chooses Gulf War veteran ,and former NFL star, John Walker as The US Agent , while retiring the title Captain America
However, as Steve watches from the sidelines, he soon discovers, through Sharon Carter, that this new " Captain America " , is being used to in Black Ops missions to , assassinate foreign leaders,
topple foreign governments, and used as an instrument of intimidation , dominance ,and fear .
Those senior members of SHEILD like Peggy Carter, who protest the actions of US Agent , are discredited or end up dying under mysterious circumstances .
When Rogers becomes a very public critic of the US Agent , he's placed on SHIELD'S hit list .
Ultimately, Steve Rogers reclaims the Captain America mantle, in order to protect the Country from Francesca's authoritarian machinations, and he must face The US Agent, a super solider more brutal, and cunning, than any villain he's ever faced.
The thriller , which evokes f politically thrillers of the 90s like In The Line Of Fire and Clear And Present Danger , is very much grounded in reality.
Set in a universe without other superheroes, the film , like most superhero films of the era, is a standalone as opposed to a shared universe film .
In the end Captain America and The US Agent face off in battle in the nation's capital , with Captain America victorious .
While John Walker faces court material , his is poisoned, and dies in the middle of the proceedings.
With Walker as one of the few remaining witnesses to testify to Francesca's plans, she is demoted , but not placed into custody.
She knows where all the bodies are buried , and bringing her down , could trigger investigations ,and revelations, which could shatter America's faith in it's institutions.
Roger's is outraged by the coverup, and once and for all ,gives up the Captain America, mantle to become Nomad .
As he walks away, he vows to Francesca that he will be watching her, and that he will always be there to stop her .
The Cast
Captain America / Steve Rogers : Brad Pitt
Valentine Allegra De Francesca : Linda Fiorentino
Sharon Carter : Laura Linney
US Agent / John Walker : Eric Bruskotter
Nick Fury : Charlton Heston
Peggy Carter : Anne Bancroft
The President Of The United States : Fred Thompson
THE UNCANNY X MEN ( 1999)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon
Project History
Plans for an X Men film date back to as far as the late 1980s and early 90s.
At one point, James Cameron is attached to produce a film based on The Marvel Comics property , but those plans fall by the wayside.
The popularity of the Fox Network's X Men Animated Series give momentum to a proposed X Men film.
However, the failure of the low budget Generation X project , would serve as a speed bump in adapting the popular IP.
At the same time, Fox studios still see's potential in an X Men film , though , the mandate is to tell a smaller, cheaper, and character driven story.
Kevin Williamson of Scream and Dawson's Creek fame is a filmmaker the studio approaches to write and direct what they hope will be a much smaller,
X Men film.
After some research, Williamson is quite taken with the themes of alienation and isolation , but is more drawn to the original Lee run of the comic as opposed
to the more recent adult oriented X Men stories.
Williamson, despite being in high demand , takes on the position as director of the Uncanny X Men, while Joss Whedon, pens the script.
The film goes into production in the spring of 1998 for a Halloween 1999 release date.
Script
With Fox Studios contemplating larger plans for a solo Wolverine film, and Williamson's attraction to the original Uncanny X Men 1960s storylines,
the creative team makes a surprising decision ,in focusing on the original five team members , as opposed to the more popular recent line up.
The move dove tails into Williamson's preference of focusing on a few teen characters, and their struggles with being a mutant, than to focus on several adult heroes ,and the more global scale of the conflict .
Williamson feels that if this first , "toe in the water experiment" succeeds, they can introduce the rest of the X Men in future sequels.
If the " experiment " fails , the next creative team can start fresh with the more recent lineup.
The film would center on a troubled teenage Jean Grey, coming to terms with her powers , and being sent to a school of gifted youngsters led by Controversial mutant leader Charles Xavier.
Once she arrives ,she would meet the arrogant and Wealthy Warren, The teen prodigy and genius Hank, the class clown Bobby, and the mysterious loner of the group, Scott.
All the while Xavier would help the troubled girl hone her skills and unlock the past that haunts her.
She would train to become the Jean Grey fans recognize and throughout the film , we would see the 5 coalesce into becoming the X men.
The threat of the film, in another surprising move, would not be Magneto .
Instead, Whedon wants to tackle Mr. Sinister , given the characters connections to Scott and Jean's childhood.
The two characters would bond , both feeling like outsiders , even from their group.
At the end Scott and Jean would form a budding relationship
Whedon viewed the character as a Freddy Kruger of sorts, haunting the daydreams and nightmares of Scott and Jean, while pointing to a hidden connect between all three individuals.
In the climax the X Men would face Mr. Sinister in battle, the truth would be revealed , and Sinister would be vanquished by Jean.
With Xavier's Student finally able to work together as a team , and their future as a family unit looking promising, Xavier knows there are clouds on the horizon as we get a tease of Magneto's Helmet in a far off location.
MAN WITHOUT FEAR ( 1992)
Director : Martin Scorsese
Screenplay : Nicholas Pileggi
Project History
With the critical and commercial success of Goodfellas , director Martin Scorsese is looking for a follow up project when he's altered to the Marvel Comics character Daredevil.
Scorsese dismisses the suggestion out of hand of even looking at the comics character , let alone spending time and money adapting it into a feature film.
However, when Stan Lee and even Frank Miller, meet with the direct and explains the character , his interest is peaked .
Scorsese believes in films either being cinema or not being cinema.
However, he feels there is a way of telling the story of a man struggling with themes of good and evil , law and order, religion and sin, in a compelling way without being tights and spandex.
At the same time, the idea of a defense attorney , meeting out his own brand of justice against those who would otherwise be his clients , presented an interesting quandary , in addition to being a former alter boy and his deep Catholic faith.
If Scorsese were to take on the Daredevil project, he would do it his way and not be beholden to the larger Marvel comics universe .
20th Century Fox studios was more than willing to put up the money for a Daredevil film.
Scorsese went to former crime reporter and Goodfellas screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi to pen the script , for the film , which would be titled Man Without Fear .
Scorsese planned to shoot the film exclusively in New York, with an eye toward a 1992 release date.
Screenplay
Like his film Goodfellas, Scorsese and Pileggi's planned for the film to be a biopic or sorts about Matt Murdock , beginning with his accident, his father's murder, then moving to his adulthood as he takes on the mantle of Daredevil and battles the mob, his inner demons, his feelings for his secretary Karen , and his nemesis The Owl .
With the Kingpin taking center stage in the Incredible Hulk Tv movie , and the rights to characters like Bullseye in question, Scorsese instead uses the Owl to take the spot of Fisk.
At the same time , the script features staples of Daredevil comics such as Foggy Nelson, Ben Urich, and Stick.
The film would feature a voice over narrative of Matt Murdock , used to effect in films like Goodfellas .
Project History
Since the late 1970s tv movie, plans were underway to develop a big screen adaptation of Doctor Strange .
With the success of Ghostbusters, Director Ivan Reitman was Columbia Pictures only choice to direct a feature film adaptation of the Marvel Comics character.
The studio felt that Reitman's ability to balance humor with genuine scares and bizarre imagery made him a perfect fit for the world of the Sorcerer Supreme.
Reitman agreed to helm the project after finishing his legal Dramedy Legal Eagles .
With plans for a 2nd Ghostbusters film vast approaching , Reitman moved quickly to work on Doctor Strange, which would film largely in New York .
Shooting for the film began in the Spring of 1986 for a Halloween 1987 release date.
Script
The film would follow the origins of Stephen Strange , his transformation into the Master Of The Mystic arts , and his Battle with his equally Powerful Baron Mordo, who is bent on being the last remaining , and most powerful, sorcerer .
Caught in between Mordo and Strange is Strange's estranged ex fiancée Christine Palmer , whom Mordo has also fallen for .
The goal of the film, like Ghostbusters , is to blend surreal and frightening moments , with humor , while remaining grounded in reality.
The script would also feature mainstays of the Doctor Strange comic such as Wong and the Ancient one , who would serve as foil's to the arrogant Stephen Strange .
The film would culminate in a battle of magic in Times Square on New Years eve , which results in Mordo being banished to an unknown realm , and Strange become Manhattan's sole guardian and protector on a mission to mentor more successors to face the forces of evil , should they rise again.
Casting
While Reitman briefly considers Harold Ramis for the role of Stephen Strange, Reitman ultimately casts Jeff Goldblum as the sorcerer Supreme, feeling he could pull of the Arrogant and off beat nature of Strange, while still being funny and likeable.
For the role of Baron Mordo , Frank Langella is cast , due to his charisma and commanding screen presence.
Reitman feels that Goldblum and Langella are mirror images of each other in many ways and serve as interesting contrasts and believable rivals.
For the role of Christine Palmer, Reitman casts Mary Steenburgen , whose humanity, and vulnerability, grounds the project in a sense of reality, amidst the over the top nature of the subject matter.
The cast is rounded out by veteran character actors Keye Luke as The Ancient One and Roy Chiao as Wong.
THE AVENGERS (1998)
Director : Wolfgang Peterson
Screenplay : Michael France
Project History
In a world in which the rights to several Marvel Comics characters are scattered over several studios , the prospects of pulling off an Avengers film seem dim.
However , the newly formed Dreamworks studio wants an IP to compete with the rejuvenated Bond and Batman franchises.
With several of Marvels smaller heroes belonging to Dreamworks , plans to bring the heroes together in a cinematic adventure do not seem far fetched,
While the film wouldn't be a universe hopping, and expansive adventure, it would hopefully lay the ground work for a franchise.
Director Wolfgang Peterson , of The Never Ending Story, is tapped to helm the film , which would hopefully serve as a launching pad for introducing other characters.
The plan is to release the film in the summer of 1998, and to keep the film on time and under budget.
Script
With Iron Man being developed by New Line Cinema, Hulk firmly over at Universe Studios, and Thor and Black Panther at other studios,
many of the big gun Avengers team members, could not , and would not, appear in the film.
The script would be hobbled by having to use less popular, and largely unknown characters, to the general audience.
Characters like Spiderman were certainly off the table , and the Avenger's leader Captain America ,was not an option either.
Instead, the screenwriter elevated Antman and Wasp , the superhero couple , to team leaders , with characters such as Black Widow, Falcon, and Hawkeye , as under their command.
This limited the type of threats which they could face , which , ironically, ensured the film would remain under budget and would not require the effects to bring villains like Thanos,
Loki, or Galactus to life.
While the heroes would dawn semi accurate comicbook costumes, they would be more akin to the IMF force of Cruise's Mission Impossible film,
than a team of Superpowered Gods.
Consequently, the threat would be the machinations of the SPECTRE like organization HYDRA , and their acquisition of the Ultron computer virus , created by Hank Pym.
This virus would be used at the direction of HYDRA Commander Strucker , and would corrupt the Western militaries defense computer systems , and set about a chain reaction, which would lead to misunderstandings. and world war .
The Avenger's would be formed to infiltrate HYDRA's compound, extract Strucker, and get him to stop the count down.
In essence, the film would be a " man on a mission " type film, common of the 80s and 90s, with more of a slick, spy like adventure, than a Superhero film like Batman Forever.
Hank and Janet would be the bickering lovebirds who worried about getting their kids to school on time, as much as they worried about getting in, and out of secret missions.
Clint would be the grizzled veteran who would receive many of the films laugh lines .
Natasha would represent the Russian Federation , though the rest of the team would be unsure of her motives.
And Sam Wilson would be the young , idealistic solider, excited to be on the mission with the pros .
Unlike the comics, Ultron would never materialize into a cyborg , but would remain the name of a computer virus, as a means of keeping the costs of the film down.
Characters like the Red Skull and Zemo remain absent in the script, with Strucker taking on the role as The Hydra Big bad.
The Cast
Antman / Hank Pym : Bill Pullman
The Wasp / Janet Van Dien : Linda Hamilton
Baron Strucker : Steven Berkoff
The Falcon / Sam Wilson : Morris Chestnut
Hawkeye / Clint Barton : Fred Ward
Black Widow / Natasha Romanoff : Izabella Scorupco
THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 3 ( 2017)
Director : Marc Webb
Producer : Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal
Script : James Vanderbilt , Markus and McFeely
Music : Hans Zimmer
Project History
With the ASM 2 underperforming finically and critically, and Sony Studios at risk of going under , The Amazing Spiderman 3 is at real risk of being cancelled .
However , in the studios darkest hour , a deal is reached between Marvel Studios and Sony , to share the Spiderman character by incorporating him into the larger MCU.
It would be an unprecendented deal between the two studios, which would mean that Kevin Feige would have creative control over the characters MCU appearances ,yet Sony would have creative approval over final decisions.
A key sticking point, is whether or not the character will be rebooted for the MCU ,or whether or not ASM version will be incorporated into the MCU.
While there's a strong case for simply introducing a new Peter Parker, Pascal and Sony fight to keep Andrew Garfield's Spiderman in the MCU.
Kevin Feige, in a surprising move , agrees.
He wants an established Spiderman , to stand along side of Iron Man, Cap and the rest of the Avengers.
He does not want to start from scratch.
Hence , an ASM3 would happen , however, this time around, Feige would be at the wheel without Sony's mandates and ideas , and without being accountable to Avi Arad.
Feige vowed to do it the right way this time around , and with Sony studios having little choice , they agreed to hand Feige the reigns.
Feige would ask Marc Webb to continue, assuring him that his trilogy would get a proper conclusion .
Despite the response to ASM 2 , Webb agrees to return to the directors chair one last time .
The Marvel Studios ,and Sony led ASM3 ,would begin filming in 2016 for a May 2017 release date.
Screenplay
The 3rd film would pick up a couple of years after ASM 2 , with Peter in college , while spending most of his time as Spiderman.
He avoids emotionally attachments ,and has not moved on from Gwen .
Mary Jane, who was originally intended to be introduced in ASM 2, would see her introduction in this film as a college Student in need of Peter's tutoring.
Peter would be conflicted about his developing feelings for MJ, and Peter would have to face the choice of living alone, or making another Attempt at Happiness.
It was also decided that the third film would finally unravel the involving Parker's and the Osborns.
It would turn out that the Parkers were secretly helping SHEILD and Nick Fury to stop OSCORP, who had secretly been developing biological agents and tech for HYDRA .
It would turn out that Norman Osborn had longtime ties to HYDRA and had built his empire with HYDRA's financial backing and support.
In essence, he was indebted to the group , all the while claiming to be a patriot.
The presumed dead Nick Fury would act as a supporting character and guide to Peter through the complex web of espionage , intrigue, and mystery.
Peter would finally face the very Much Alive Norman Osborn , who had fully transformed into the Green Goblin , who would be leading his team known as the Sinister Six, who would consist of Hydra Members , who Spiderman would have to do Battle with .
Originally the Sinister Six would have their own spin off film , but it was decided to include the Sinister Six as villains for ASM 3 , thus incorporating those characters into the larger Marvel Universe as Well.
While the incorporating process would not be easy , and present its own challenges from a continuity standpoint, Feige wanted to hit the ground running, and with an already built in back story,
the task of bringing both worlds together was a bit easier .
In the end Peter would defeat the Sinister Six, make a new friend and ally in Nick Fury, redeem his parents names, and begin a new chapter with Mary Jane, in the MCU.
Project History
Boyz N The Hood Director John Singleton has wants to bring The Black Panther character to the big screen in the mid 1990s .
Though there have been various scripts in development, the project has not gotten off the ground.
With Wesley Snipes now attached , movement on the project accelerates .
Snipes and Singleton know they have a short widow before they loose the rights to the character , and both are deeply committed to doing the character justice .
Unlike many Marvel related movies of the era, this film was to be a serious and big budgeted adaptation , as opposed to a low rent TV movie.
Production begins for the film which shoots in Los Angeles and New York in 1994, for a 1995 release date.
Screenplay
The film would focus on a failed assassination attempt on T'Challa on a visit to the UN , and his attempt to flee from the would be assassins.
Along the way he would encounter nightclub singer Monica Lynne , who would serve as the film's love interest.
Meanwhile , in Wakanda , it would turn out that T'Challa's Brother White Wolf was behind the assassination attempt, with the aid of the CIA.
The goal was to displace T'Challa as the ruler of Wakanda, order for the White Wolf to assume the throne and be a leader who would open up Wakanda's resources to the US.
The film would deal with themes of colonialism and exploitation, and would be one of the first examples of a truly political Superhero film.
Casting
With Wesley Snipes already in place , the role of Monica Lynne , the love interest needed to be filled.
While actresses as varied as Vanessa Williams, Jada Pinkett, Vivica A Fox, and Halle Berry were all considered , Singleton reached for the fences and got Whitney Houston, fresh of of her box office smash The Bodyguard.
Houston would also provide songs for the films soundtrack in addition to a musical number in the film.
For the role of the White Wolf, Singleton wanted a lesser known actor who could convey an elegance and charm to be the adoptive brother of T' Challa.
Ultimately, Singleton chose lesser known Danish actor Viggo Mortensen to fill out the role of White Wolf .
For the roles of T'Chaka and Ramonda, Singleton reached for the fences again and was able to get veteran actors Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll as the parents of the Black Panther.
For the role of the villainous CIA operative working hand in hand with White Wolf, Singleton cast American Gigolo and Predator actor Bill Duke.
THE UNCANNY X MEN ( 1999)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon View attachment 75202
Project History
Plans for an X Men film date back to as far as the late 1980s and early 90s.
At one point, James Cameron is attached to produce a film based on The Marvel Comics property , but those plans fall by the wayside.
The popularity of the Fox Network's X Men Animated Series give momentum to a proposed X Men film.
However, the failure of the low budget Generation X project , would serve as a speed bump in adapting the popular IP.
At the same time, Fox studios still see's potential in an X Men film , though , the mandate is to tell a smaller, cheaper, and character driven story.
Kevin Williamson of Scream and Dawson's Creek fame is a filmmaker the studio approaches to write and direct what they hope will be a much smaller,
X Men film.
After some research, Williamson is quite taken with the themes of alienation and isolation , but is more drawn to the original Lee run of the comic as opposed
to the more recent adult oriented X Men stories.
Williamson, despite being in high demand , takes on the position as director of the Uncanny X Men, while Joss Whedon, pens the script.
The film goes into production in the spring of 1998 for a Halloween 1999 release date.
Script
With Fox Studios contemplating larger plans for a solo Wolverine film, and Williamson's attraction to the original Uncanny X Men 1960s storylines,
the creative team makes a surprising decision ,in focusing on the original five team members , as opposed to the more popular recent line up.
The move dove tails into Williamson's preference of focusing on a few teen characters, and their struggles with being a mutant, than to focus on several adult heroes ,and the more global scale of the conflict .
Williamson feels that if this first , "toe in the water experiment" succeeds, they can introduce the rest of the X Men in future sequels.
If the " experiment " fails , the next creative team can start fresh with the more recent lineup.
The film would center on a troubled teenage Jean Grey, coming to terms with her powers , and being sent to a school of gifted youngsters led by Controversial mutant leader Charles Xavier.
Once she arrives ,she would meet the arrogant and Wealthy Warren, The teen prodigy and genius Hank, the class clown Bobby, and the mysterious loner of the group, Scott.
All the while Xavier would help the troubled girl hone her skills and unlock the past that haunts her.
She would train to become the Jean Grey fans recognize and throughout the film , we would see the 5 coalesce into becoming the X men.
The threat of the film, in another surprising move, would not be Magneto .
Instead, Whedon wants to tackle Mr. Sinister , given the characters connections to Scott and Jean's childhood.
The two characters would bond , both feeling like outsiders , even from their group.
At the end Scott and Jean would form a budding relationship
Whedon viewed the character as a Freddy Kruger of sorts, haunting the daydreams and nightmares of Scott and Jean, while pointing to a hidden connect between all three individuals.
In the climax the X Men would face Mr. Sinister in battle, the truth would be revealed , and Sinister would be vanquished by Jean.
With Xavier's Student finally able to work together as a team , and their future as a family unit looking promising, Xavier knows there are clouds on the horizon as we get a tease of Magneto's Helmet in a far off location.
THE ASTONISHING X MEN ( 2001)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon
Project History
With The Uncanny X Men being a surprise smash hit , Plans for the next X Men film are fast tracked .
Joss Whedon had already penned an outline of what the second film would entail should the film be given a greenlight.
With Williamson returning as director , the film would begin shooting in 2000 for a Halloween 2001 release date.
Script
With the next X Men film to be titled , Astonishing X Men , Williamson and Whedon hoped to expand the X Universe , further delve into the struggles of the five team members,
And deal with secrets kept from them by Professor X.
Williamson and Whedon wanted Warren to be tempted by the darkside , in the Form of Magneto and his brotherhood of Mutants.
All the while, Jean and Scott would face daunting challenges to their burgeoning relationship, in the form of Magneto's children Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
The siblings would attack Scott and Jean's relationship with Scarlett haunting Scott's dreams and enticing him, while Quicksilver is drawn to Jean Grey, and questions Jean's own feelings.
Meanwhile The return of Mystique and Juggernaut into Xavier's life would rattle him , and the past between Charles, Eric, and Raven, threatens to undermine his trust with Hank and Bobby.
In the end , the X Men and The Brotherhood would face off , and while the X Men would prevail, it would be at a cost .
In a cliff hanger style ending , Warren would quit the team due to Xavier's secrets.
Scott and Jean would need to re-examine their relationship
Hank and Bobby would have to learn to trust Xavier again ,
And all the while , Magneto would succeed in sowing seeds of doubt in the team, despite being captured .
Magneto's actions would do grave damage to the cause of Mutant liberation and equality.
THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1987)
Director : John Hughes
Screenplay : John Hughes
Project History
After Completing his take on Spiderman, Director John Hughes explores other Marvel Properties which could make compelling , youth oriented, films.
While The X Men have potential , it's Marvel's First Family that draws his attention.
Hughes wants to approach the property with a unique, youthful, 1980s Spin .
Unlike Spiderman he wanted to tackle the story of 4 20 somethings with powers, who bicker, disagree, see the world differently, but have to put aside their baggage in order to stop a greater threat.
After meeting with Stan Lee, Hughes penned a story which would serve as the basis for a Fantastic Four film.
Most of the shooting for the film would be in Chicago , New York , and Paris .
Shooting for The Fantastic Four began in 1986 with a 1987 release date in mind.
Script
Hughes saw Potential of taking the team from their nuclear family archetype and instead approaching the story from the stand point of 4 young adults coming to terms with their new abilities,
Becoming celebrities, then being trust into a circumstance in which they have to be heroes and save the world.
The film would focus on the interpersonal dynamics between five friends : Reed , a child prodigy and genius, Victor his equally ambitious and brilliant Science partner, Sue Storm, a fellow scientist and object of both men's affections , Johnny a hot shot Nasa Pilot , and Ben an engineer and one of Reed's best friends.
A central figure to their lives would be the brilliant Franklin Storm , who would serve as a Mentor to Reed and Victor, but would have a strained relationship with his Son Johnny.
The characterizations of the characters would stick closely to the comics, though in Hughes version, they would all be in their twenties .
Reed would be the brilliant , but aloof , and cerebral leader on the team
Johnny would be the hot shot pilot who often uses humor and charm to mask his insecurities
Ben would be the down to Earth, working class Rock of the team .
Sue would be the glue holding these massive egos and personalities in check.
Victor would be portrayed as the mysterious and brooding genius , with a dynamism and charisma which is captivating.
As in the comics, the 4 are hit by cosmic rays during a space mission , and gain powers .
Once they return from Earth, they become celebrities with each member of the team responding differently to their powers and new found fame.
As in the comics, Doom is injured in a lab experiment and is presumed dead, only to re-emerge as Doctor Doom, A Young tyrant bent on Starting World War 3 between The United States and The Soviet Union, in a cold war era plot.
In the end they would learn to work together as a team , learn to have each other's back as a family and thwart Doom's plan.
Casting
For the role of Reed Richards , Hughes casts Vision Quest actor Matthew Modine , who despite playing a teenager in that film , was actually 27 years old.
For the role Of Reeds Rival , Hughes casts his Breakfast Club lead Judd Nelson as the brooding and vengeful Dr. Doom.
For The Invisible Woman, Hughes casts fellow Breakfast Club alum Ally Sheedy .
For the Human Torch , actors such as Emilio Estevez and C Thomas Howell audition , but it's Rob Lowe, whose ultimately cast in the role.
The role of The Thing goes to young actor Vincent D'ONofrio , while the role of Franklin Storm goes to William Atherton.
SPIDER-MAN ( 1996)
Director : Michael Apted
Producer : Michael J Wilson
Screenplay : Robert Purvis and Neil Wade
Project History
As Marvel struggles to get a Spiderman film off the ground in the mid 1990s. they receive an unlikely assist from United Artists studios .
More specifically Producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of the Bond franchise .
With the studio already in the midst of rebooting OO7 for the 90s, UA is also interested in acquiring several Marvel related properties, including Iron Man, which they are developing with new Bond, Pierce Brosnan in the title role.
Further, the studio plans to hire British , New Zealand, and Australian talent, and shoot exclusively in the UK, with Pinewood Studios being the central hub of film potential Marvel Properties.
The Bond Producers and the studio see Spiderman as a potentially lucrative property that could appeal to a younger audience than the Bond films would.
In searching for a director , the studio searches for someone who can balance the nature drama with the off beat humor .
At the same time , they wanted a director who could handle the complex action sequences.
The Broccoli's ultimately chose director Michael Apted to direct a screenplay written by Neal Pervus and Robert Wade.
Casting for the film begins in London in 1994 , for a 1996 Christmas release .
Script
In crafting the first Spiderman film , Producers take a unique approach .
They ask Pervus and Wade to write the film as if it were a biopic about Peter Parker .
They wanted the film grounded in reality, featuring true emotions and feelings , but also featuring larger than life elements .
The writers task was , in essence, to create a BAFTA or Oscar worthy, Spiderman biopic , spanning Peter gaining powers, to the death of his fiancee.
They wanted to cover the triumphs and tragedies, while at the same time , showing the toll Peter's secrets take on his life and those around him.
The Producers wanted a character study and sweeping epic which would span the 1960s through the 1980s .
It was a radically approach to a superhero film, but the Producers saw the approach as a way of treating the mythology with verisimilitude , and without it becoming campy.
The script would feature characters such as his Aunt and Uncle, His two love interests Mary Jane and Gwen, his friend turned nemesis Harry, and his three opponents , Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and Venom.
The film would feature songs from UK artists as varied as U2, Van Morrison, The Police, and many others from across the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
IRON MAN ( 1997)
Director : Martin Campbell
Producer : Michael J Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Screenplay : Neal Pervis and Robert Wade
Project History
With a Spiderman film in development , United Artists greenlights their second Marvel property, Iron Man .
With Pierce Brosnan already signed on to portray the title character , and Goldeneye director Martin Campbell helming the film
the project moves in a quick pace scouting locations throughout the world .
The much of the Goldeneye crew returning for Iron Man, the pieces are already in place for a speedy production .
The plan is to release the film during the summer of 1997, as to not compete with Brosnan's upcoming Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.
Script
Instead of focusing on the character's origin, Producers decide that , much like a Bond film, we would meet our hero years into his tenure, and fully established.
Instead, the film would focus on the end of the cold war , and former Soviet Military officials acquiring Stark Technology to create their own Iron Man in the form of Titinium Man.
Tony Starks longtime business rival Justin Hammer would serve as a secondary villain, while Russian double agent Black Widow ,would serve as a long interest to Stark.
The film would also feature Stark's friend Jim Rhodes and his butler Jarvis as comic relief.
Producers saw Iron Man as Thomas Crown meets James Bond, with a dash of Robocop .
In the script, Iron Man would be an internationally recognized keeper of the peace and a fighter of oppressed people and against tyrants and terrorists throughout the world.
However, his true identity would remain classified except to a few , that is, until Iron Man's true identity is given the former Soviet officials and his technology falls into the wrong hands.
The film would see Stark in several different locales from Monaco , To France, From St Petersburg, to Toyoko .
As with the Bond films, the producers wanted to establish Stark as a global jet setter as opposed to being isolated in the United States.
SPIDERMAN 3 ( 2007)
Director : Sam Raimi
Producers : Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Kevin Feige
Screenplay : Alvin Sargent , David Koepp, and James Vanderbilt
Plot
Taking place two years after the events of Spiderman 2 , the lives of Peter, MJ, and Harry are all at a crossroads.
The fallout from Peter and MJ's union has been swift with Jameson sacking Parker as a result of his new relationship with Jameson would be daughter in law.
As a result , Peter can't afford to keep his apartment and is evicted by Mr. Ditkovich.
Consequently, Peter , and MJ, move in with Aunt May in here smaller apartment, while Peter now must work several odd jobs to make ends meet.
His Bugle job has been taken by the brash and ambitious ,office Bully, Eddie Brock , who has great aspirations, than just being a Bugle photographer.
He wants to solve the mystery of the death of Norman Osborn .
He's never bought the official story ,and believes there's much more to it .
Further, he believes " Spiderman's Pal Peter" knows more than he's letting on.
This unexpected dynamic threatens to unravel the secrets of Norman Osborn, and potentially, Spiderman's own identity.
At the same time , Peter's life is complicated by the appearance of the Mysterious Hobgoblin , who beats Spiderman badly in their first encounter.
Peter automatically suspects it's Harry and confronts him , while Harry smugly denies it . Harry considers Peter a Judas, and still wants revenge.
Despite Harry's brave face , his family empire is falling apart.
Oscorp is hemorrhaging money due to his disastrous fusion experiment with Doc Ock , and Harry is kicked off the board of his father's company .
At the same time, Harry seems to being dealing with his own superpowered foe ,The Vulture .
The Vulture aka Adrian Toomes , was Norman's former partner who actually designed many the the apparatus , weaponry, and suits , that Osborn eventually utilized to become the Green Goblin, that is, before Norman took and cheated him out of his portions of the profits .
When Toomes tried to go to the press , Osborn framed him for embezzlement, and theft , ruining his career, and sending him to jail.
When the Green Goblin appeared Toomes , knew it was Norman , but couldn't prove it.
With Toomes out, he's reclaimed his spot at Oscorp , with the aid of Board member Jason Macendale , and has led the charge to ruin the last remaining heir.
Toomes plans a slow painful revenge on the Osborn family , both finically and physically .
It isn't long before Vulture seeks out Brock , and the two of them work hand in hand to expose the Osborns once and for all.
As the Vulture will break Harry Physically, stalking him , wounding his prey a little bit at a time .
All the while , Toomes is estranged from his daughter Liz, whose had to scrape by due to her father's damaged reputation.
She always carried a torch for Harry , when they were children, and when the two reunite , they begin to fall in love ,
Complicating not only Adrian's plans for revenge, but complicating Harry's own need for Revenge against Peter and MJ.
Things are further complicated when Liz discovers she's pregnant with Harry's child.
When Spiderman continues to interfere in Vulture's plans and attempt to protect Harry and Liz , the mysterious Hobgoblin re-emerges , and it soon becomes clear to Peter, that the Vulture and the Hobgoblin, must be working together.
Both villains appeared around the same time and both are utilizing Oscorp tech .
With Peter and Harry seemingly having a common enemies , Peter attempts to reconcile and warn Harry of the threats of Vulture , Hobgoblin , and Brock, to no avail .
Ultimately, Peter and MJ will have to work together as a unit as they're pressured from all sides , from threats on multiple fronts.
In the end , The Vulture and the Hobgoblin are defeated by Spiderman and Harry .
The Vulture dies at Harry's hands , but not before Toomes mortally wounds Harry .
Meanwhile the Hobgoblin escapes , wounded.
As Harry dies, he makes Peter vow to watch over Liz and their unborn child.
While Brock ultimately gets his expose on the Osborn family, Peter exposes Eddie's unethical bargin with the Vulture, resulting in JJ sacking Eddie and giving Peter his job back .
While Peter and MJ survive in the end, Brock is out of a job and wants revenge against Peter, and the mysterious Hobgoblin has escaped , having seen Spiderman's true identity.
In the end , we witness the wounded Hobgoblin going back to his lair and revealing himself to be Oscorp board member , Jason Macendale, leaving the door open for a return.
SPIDER-MAN ( 1996)
Director : Michael Apted
Producer : Michael J Wilson
Screenplay : Robert Purvis and Neil Wade View attachment 76099
Project History
As Marvel struggles to get a Spiderman film off the ground in the mid 1990s. they receive an unlikely assist from United Artists studios .
More specifically Producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of the Bond franchise .
With the studio already in the midst of rebooting OO7 for the 90s, UA is also interested in acquiring several Marvel related properties, including Iron Man, which they are developing with new Bond, Pierce Brosnan in the title role.
Further, the studio plans to hire British , New Zealand, and Australian talent, and shoot exclusively in the UK, with Pinewood Studios being the central hub of film potential Marvel Properties.
The Bond Producers and the studio see Spiderman as a potentially lucrative property that could appeal to a younger audience than the Bond films would.
In searching for a director , the studio searches for someone who can balance the nature drama with the off beat humor .
At the same time , they wanted a director who could handle the complex action sequences.
The Broccoli's ultimately chose director Michael Apted to direct a screenplay written by Neal Pervus and Robert Wade.
Casting for the film begins in London in 1994 , for a 1996 Christmas release .
Script
In crafting the first Spiderman film , Producers take a unique approach .
They ask Pervus and Wade to write the film as if it were a biopic about Peter Parker .
They wanted the film grounded in reality, featuring true emotions and feelings , but also featuring larger than life elements .
The writers task was , in essence, to create a BAFTA or Oscar worthy, Spiderman biopic , spanning Peter gaining powers, to the death of his fiancee.
They wanted to cover the triumphs and tragedies, while at the same time , showing the toll Peter's secrets take on his life and those around him.
The Producers wanted a character study and sweeping epic which would span the 1960s through the 1980s .
It was a radically approach to a superhero film, but the Producers saw the approach as a way of treating the mythology with verisimilitude , and without it becoming campy.
The script would feature characters such as his Aunt and Uncle, His two love interests Mary Jane and Gwen, his friend turned nemesis Harry, and his three opponents , Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and Venom.
The film would feature songs from UK artists as varied as U2, Van Morrison, The Police, and many others from across the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Story
Four years after the events of No Way Home, Peter Parker is the seasoned, neighborhood Spiderman, in his prime .
Having stood on his own two feet for the past four years, the 22 year old Parker is one of many street level heroes protecting the five burroughs of New York.
However, his life is turned upside down in the form of Mayor Fisk who outlaws and declares war on vigilantes .
While heroes like Spiderman have allies such as Captain George Stacy who oppose Fisk, the Public is sharply divided led in large part by Daily Bugle shock jock J. Jonah Jameson.
As several street level heroes and anti heroes , led by Spiderman and Daredevil band to together to face off against Fisk and his hired guns such as Kraven The Hunter, and The Scorpion , Peter's life is further complicated by the return of the girl he never got over, MJ .
Though Peter moved on with his life, his feelings never truly went away ,
MJ has returned to New York with her MIT classmate, and fiancée Harry Osborn , whose family has ties to the new Mayor.
Now ,Peter must not only confront the Mayor who plans to wipe out his friends,
But he also must face the life he could have had with MJ, and her fiancée, who , in another universe,
Bares the Family name of the man who murdered his Aunt .
But with the help of the mysterious Black Cat and Daredevil, Spiderman presents the greatest threat to the reign of Wilson Fisk , and a war between heroes and villains,
Will force citizens to choose sides.
Very much in a Daredevil kick right now. Would have been interesting if Fox rebooted the character in 2014 instead of selling the rights back to Marvel.
They were planning on a trilogy of films set in the 70s/80s to be directed by Joe Carnahan:
Daredevil (2014) - set in 1973 Daredevil Pt. II (2017) - set in 1979 Daredevil Pt. III (2020) - set in 1985
Although I love Charlie Cox & Vincent D'Onofrio in the lead roles, I would imagine Fox would have went for bigger names if this was going to be a theatrical reboot. Interesting too that the first film would have been set in 1973, the same year that a majority of X-Men: Days of Future Past takes place during (released in the same year). Then, throw in a Fan4stic reboot in 2015 set in the 1960s & Fox would have had a pretty sizable cinematic superhero universe spanning the 60s-80s with Daredevil, X-Men prequels, and Fantastic Four.
Going back to Daredevil, it would have been great to see these actors in the main roles. AI-generated fan art including the in the links:
Heroes and Villains will unite ,
To Get out of Battle World Alive
THE AVENGERS : ESCAPE FROM BATTLEWORLD (1996)
Director : Jan De Bont
Producer : Jerry Bruckheimer
Executive Producer : Tom Cruise
The Cast
The Cast
Captain America : Brad Pitt
Iron Man : Tom Cruise
Spiderman : Ethan Hawke
Thor : Viggo Mortensen
Hulk : David Strathairn
Black Panther : Denzel Washington
Captain Marvel : Sharon Stone
Wolverine : Mel Gibson
Red Skull : Ralph Fiennes
The Mandarin : John Lone
Doc Ock : Bob Gunton
Loki : Daniel Day Lewis
The Leader : John Glover
Doctor Doom : Gabriel Byrne
Thanos : Powers Boothe
Magneto : Jeremy Irons
The Beyonder : Billy Zane
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