Ledger as Spidey?!

[Catman]

From IMDb:

Late actor Heath Ledger was film bosses' first choice to play Spider-man, according to the dead star's longtime agent.

In a U.S. magazine tribute to mark the first anniversary of Ledger's death, CAA agent Steve Alexander reveals Ledger was among those considered for the blockbuster role before Tobey Maguire stepped up to play the comic book web slinger.

Alexander tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "Sony asked me to come over and read the script for Spider-Man. It was going to be a really cool tentpole movie.

"But as soon as I said 'Spider-Man' Heath said, 'It's not for me. I would be taking someone else's dream away.'"

Maguire has gone on to taste blockbuster glory with three Spider-Man movies, while Ledger had to wait for his comic book moment - he played The Joker in Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, for which he won a Golden Globe last weekend.

He is hotly tipped to follow that with an Oscar next month.

 

[The Joker]

From IMDb:

I stopped reading after this....

 

[Adrian89]

Hahaha ditto ^^

@ Catman: IMDb is full of bull, don't believe them!

 

[Venom 1988]

Regardless if its true or not, thats probably the way Heath would have reacted. He stated in multiple interviews that he never cared for comic books or comic book movies until the role of the role of the Joker came upon him because he viewed the role as something went beyond a comic.

 

[JerseyJoker]

A.) IMDB is the biggest b.s. site on the net about film.

B.) At that time, any young actor was probably screened or called to be Spidey, so i dont think it should be of notice.

 

[Pirate Queen]

Hollywood considered all kinds of "WTF?!" decisions for now-famous roles...IMDB or not, I believe it.

 

[Sawyer]

A good majority of the news stories from IMDB are fact. The people who post on the message boards, however, are morons.

 

[Spider-Vader]

This was also said in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Ledger as Joker = win.
Ledger as Spidey = fail.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Ledger as Spidey would not work... although he probably would have done a better overall job than Maguire did in the end up ( He was on auto-pilot for 2 and 3).

 

[TheVileOne]

I don't see what the big deal is.

The Ledger thing was reported in 2002. Freddie Prinze Jr's name was also tossed around, but I imagine that was probably Prinze Jr. himself .

I think it was pretty well reported that Ledger was one of Sony's choices at the time, and Maguire was Raimi's choice. And hey they ultimately went with the director.

I don't think Ledger was right for Spider-man, I still don't.

Also at the time, Ledger was a young, Hollywood heartthrob and IT performer. No surprise there was interest in him playing Spider-man. I mean in the late 90's, it was DiCaprio because he was Cameron's choice.

I got to hand it to DiCaprio though, if it was ever offered to him not being in a Star Wars movie was one of the best career decisions of his entire life. He wouldn't have the career he has now if he played older Anakin Skywalker.

 

[JerseyJoker]

Cause Leo knew he had talent, so no need to ruin himself with those prequels. Leave it up to some card board actor like Hayden.

 

[webhead731]

Nah, not Ledger for Spidey. Tobey.

Haha, would it not be awkward as hell for him to be Spidey, THEN play the Joker after Spider-Man 3?

I wouldn't know how to re-act.

Fact: The people who post on the IMDb message boards, are morons.

Fixed.

Totally agreed too. Biggest, rudest, most immature people on the planet in one board...
​

 

[Doctor Jones]

Actually Ledger was considered for the role. Most likely after 10 Things I Hate About You.

It would of been interesting. But I don't know. I don't know if he could pull off that goofy nerd side pre accident like Maguire did. Hell, Ledger was a well built guy and everything showed in his features. HIm wearing glasses wouldn't of been convincing.

By the way, if anyone was around her back then, what was the reaction to Maguire being cast?

 

[Batspider77]

DiCaprio would have made the best possible Anakin Skywalker.The Story of the Prequels is very good,if Georgie would have let other Directors sitting in the Directors Chair then maybe the Dialogue would have also be better.

Leo as Spidey would have been a bad choise.

 

[JerseyJoker]

Nah, not Ledger for Spidey. Tobey.

Haha, would it not be awkward as hell for him to be Spidey, THEN play the Joker after Spider-Man 3?

I wouldn't know how to re-act.​

Obviously, Ledger wouldn't of played The Joker, if he was Spider-Man.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Ledger as Joker = win.
Ledger as Spidey = fail.

3 years ago people were saying "Ledger as Joker = fail." Truth of the matter is the guy was a pretty versatile actor and probably could have pulled off Spidey.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Ledger as Joker = win.
Ledger as Spidey = fail.

Yeah, i agree.

 

[ross2287]

Haha, would it not be awkward as hell for him to be Spidey, THEN play the Joker after Spider-Man 3?​

What's interesting is if you look closely at the very first shot of Ledger in TDK there's a poster for Spider-Man 3 in the distance.
There's your random, useless piece of information for the day.

 

[I'm Old Greg]

I remember hearing this back in the day. I wasn't keen on it but if he did take the role I wasn't worried cause I was a fan of Ledgers.

Tobey was a bad choice though, they needed someone who had charm and can play comedy...
Tobey is like a corpse...that cries.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

I remember hearing this back in the day. I wasn't keen on it but if he did take the role I wasn't worried cause I was a fan of Ledgers.

Tobey was a bad choice though, they needed someone who had charm and can play comedy...
Tobey is like a corpse...that cries.

That seems a bit harsh... I thought Tobey did a great job on the first film.

I'm hoping that with his apparent rest between 3 and 4... we will see some of his enthusiasm and passion come back.

 

[I'm Old Greg]

i don't think it's harsh at all... Spideys funny, confident, intellectual who relies on his brains...Tobey always has that dead glare in his eyes that theirs nothing going on up there.

 

[Chris Wallace]

I'd actually heard rumors to that effect back in '02; that Ledger had been considered. I thought he was all wrong for the part & I'm glad it didn't happen.

 

[p4poetic]

Nah, not Ledger for Spidey. Tobey.

Haha, would it not be awkward as hell for him to be Spidey, THEN play the Joker after Spider-Man 3?

​

The chances of him still playing the Joker had he played Spider-Man in 2002-2007 would of been unlikely IMO.