MARVEL WHAT-IF: REIMAGINING SEQUELS & FILMS THAT NEVER WERE

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE MOVIE ( 1994)
Director : Roland Emmerich
Screenplay : Sam Hamm and Michael France

Project History
After New Line Cinema acquires the live action film rights to Marvel's library of characters , the studio decides that Spider-Man will serve as the launching point to a larger interconnected cinematic universe.

Having seen success with The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, New Line feels that a long awaited Spider-Man film has the potential to be even more successful .

Universal Solider director Roland Emmerich, is tasked to bringing the Web Head to the big screen in a script by Sam Hamm and Michael France .


Script
Instead of being an origin story, the screenplay focuses on an established Spider-man who confronts his greatest challenge, the mysterious crime boss The Green Goblin, and his organization of super powered enforcers

While Peter Parker contemplates giving up the Spiderman mantle, those plans are derailed once the Green Goblin discovers Spiderman's true identity , and leads an all out assault on the life of
Peter Parker, and his new love , Gwen Stacy

While Supporting characters such as George Stacy, Aunt May, and J . Jonah Jameson are featured in the script, Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson are absent ,with plans to introduce them in a potential sequel .

Making up The Green Goblin's Enforcers, are Electro, Shocker, Rhino, and The Scorpion , with The Silver Sable serving as The Goblin's right hand and point woman of the enforcers .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Scott Wolf

While several young actors such as Ethan Hawke, Christian Slater, and Stephen Dorff are considered , it's the up and coming TV actor Scott Wolf ,who signs a three picture deal as Peter Parker .
The actors shoots episodes of Party Of Five during the week days while spending weekends filming Spiderman : The Movie

Gwen Stacy : Sheryl Lee

Green Goblin / Norman Osborn :Lance Henriksen

For the role of The Green Goblin , Emmerich envisions a much more menacing and frightening oppnent than the cackling version of the character in the cartoons .
Consiquently, he casts Terminator and Aliens actor Lance Henricksen to bring a level of sadisim and menace to the live action version, of one of Spiderman's greatest foes.

Silver Sable : Lena Olin

Emmerich wants an actress who could exude not only power but sultryness akin to a Bond femme fatale. Having appeared in the Neo Noir Romeo Is Bleeding , Olin is cast as The Green Goblin's right hand enforcer .

Electro : Michael Wincott

Shocker : Elias Koteas

Scorpion : Ron Perlman

Rhino : Andrew Bryniarski

Aunt May : Frances Sternhagen

George Stacy : Roy Scheider
J. Jonah Jameson : R Lee Ermey

 

[Frodo]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1995)
Director : Tim Burton
Producer : Jon Peters
Screenplay : Daniel Waters
Music : Danny Elfman




Project History
With Burton on the outs with Warner Brothers over the backlash to Batman Returns, The director is open to new prospects .

20th Century Fox, eager to get a Fantastic Four action comedy off of the ground wants a proven hit director to helm the project and zeroes in on Burton to bring Marvel's First Family To the big screen.

Surprising, The director is intrigued with the prospect of developing the film , though Burton wants the type of creative control he had on films like Beetlejuice and Edward Scissor Hands .

Burton taps Heathers and Batman Returns screenwriter Daniel Waters to pen the action comedy which would evoke the spirit of 1950s and 1960s sci fi films , with a tongue in cheek sensibility .

Jon Peters boards the project as producer , With Danny Elfman agreeing to score the film.

Story
Daniel Waters screenplay focuses on the origins of the team's formation in addition to their clashes with the villianous Doctor Doom .

In a subplot , the team must grapple with their new powers and their sense of alienation , a theme which is particularly interesting to Burton .

As with Batman, Burton doesn't strictly adhere to characterizations of the comics.

Reed is portrayed as a much more quirky and offbeat genius .

Johnny is portrayed as more as an outsider and rebel more akin James Dean and a young Marlon Brando than the extroverted Rascal and Ladies man of the comics.

Ben is in many ways is the heart of the script as the salt of the earth Engineer , who , in many ways is out of step with the team.

Sue meanwhile is portrayed as the grounding force of the group ,and often the voice of reason.

The film's threat is the bombstic and extravagant Dr. Doom , whose intellect is equal to Reed's but who arrogance surpasses his former friend .


The Cast

Mr. Fantastic : Jeff Goldblum

Invisible Woman : Geena Davis

Human Torch : Johnny Depp

The Thing : Michael Keaton

Doctor Doom : Alec Baldwin

Frankie Raye : Sarah Jessica Parker

Alicia Masters : Patricia Arquette

 

[BobJM]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR (2005)
dir. Steven Spielberg

MAIN
Reed Richards: George Clooney, 44
Susan Storm-Richards: Naomi Watts, 37
Ben Grimm: John C. Reilly, 40
Johnny Storm: Hugh Dancy, 30

SECONDARY
Shalla-Ball: Naomie Harris, 29
Galactus: Stellan Skarsgård, 54
Rachel Rozman: Winona Ryder, 34
Harvey Elder: Philip Seymour Hoffman, 38

ADDITIONAL
Lynne Nichols: Viola Davis, 40
Ted Gilbert: Tim Blake Nelson, 41

 

[Frodo]

THE SPIELBERG AND LUCAS MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE ( 1994-2000)

History

After Lucasfilm attains the rights to The Marvel Comics catelog of characters, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall set about bringing The Marvel characters to the big screen.

Over the next several years , Team is able to get some of Hollywood's top filmmakers , and working with several film studios , to deliver some of the biggest hits of the decade .

Though the undertaking is met with alot of skepticism, by the end of the decade , The Press and The Public wait with baited breathe for the next installment of the ongoing franchise of films


The Slate

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ( 1994)
Director : Ron Howard

Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise
Doctor Octopus : Anthony Hopkins
Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
Plot : Peter Parker's new relationship is jeopardized by the return of an old foe,
whose discovered his true identity.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK ( 1994)
Director : David Croneneberg

Hulk / Bruce Banner : David Stratrain
Betty Ross : Mary Elizabeth Monstratino
Thunderbolt Ross : Christopher Plummer
Rick Jones : Edward Furlong
The Leader / Samuel Sterns : John Glover
Plot : As Bruce Banner must battle the beast within as he faces off against a foe who can seemingly anticipate his every move.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1995)
Director : Steven Spielberg

Mr. Fantastic : Tom Hanks
Invisible Woman : Meg Ryan
The Thing : John Goodman
Human Torch : Brad Pitt
Doctor Doom : Daniel Day Lewis
Plot : When the world's heads of states are replaced by Doombots ,the fate of the world is in the hand of Marvel's First Family

CAPTAIN AMERICA ( 1995)
Director : John McTiernan


Captain America / Steve Rogers : Val Kilmer
Red Skull : Ralph Fiennes
Baron Zemo : Gary Oldman
Peggy Carter : Julia Ormond
Plot : Captain America's secret mission ,takes him into the very heart of Hydra , and it's secret leader,
The Red Skull.

THE X MEN ( 1995)
Director : Ridley Scott


Wolverine : Russell Crowe
Cyclops : Brendan Fraser
Storm : Angela Bassett
Jean Grey : Connie Nielson
Beast : Tim Robbins
Shadow Cat : Winona Ryder
Professor X : Ben Kingsley
Mr. Sinister /Nathaniel Essex : Armand Assante
Plot : An anti- Mutant demigog turns out to hold the key to Cyclops And Jean Grey's past , as he proposes internment camps for Mutants.

IRON MAN ( 1996)
Director : Martin Campbell


Iron Man / Tony Stark : Pierce Brosnan
The Mandarin : John Lone
Justin Hammer : Ian McKellen
Bethany Cabe : Rene Russo
Plot : As Tony Stark battles his alcoholism , he must confront The Man whose trying to take him legacy and the Man who man who held him captive .

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 1996)
Director : Tony Scott

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise
Green Goblin/ Norman Osborn : Ed Harris
Vulture / Adrian Toomes : James Cromwell
Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
Plot : Spiderman and Mary Jane are caught in middle of a mob war Between The Vulture and
The Green Goblin.

THE BLACK PANTHER ( 1997)
Director : Spike Lee

Black Panther / T'Challa : Denzel Washington
Monica Lynne : Whitney Houston
Kraven The Hunter : Jean Reno
Plot : The Black Panther is hunted on the streets of Harlem after a failed assassination attempt at The
UN.

FANTASTIC FOUR : THE REIGN OF GALACTUS ( 1997)
Director : Robert Zemeckis

Mr. Fantastic : Tom Hanks
Invisible Woman : Meg Ryan
The Thing : John Goodman
Human Torch : Brad Pitt
Galactus : Liam Neeson
The Silver Surfer : Djimon Hounsou
Namor : Jason Scott Lee
The Mole Man : Danny DeVito
Plot : The Fantastic Four make some uneasy alliances in order to stop a theat to the planet Earth.

BIRTH OF THE BROTHERHOOD ( 1998)
Director : Ridley Scott

Wolverine : Russell Crowe
Cyclops : Brendan Fraser
Storm : Angela Bassett
Jean Grey : Connie Nielson
Beast : Tim Robbins
Shadow Cat : Winona Ryder
Professor X : Ben Kingsley
Magneto : Jeremy Irons
Mystique : Sigourney Weaver
Rogue : Charlize Theron
Quicksilver : Jude Law
Scarlet Witch : Kate Winslet
Juggernaunt : Ron Perlman
Plot : Sides must be chosen as Xavier's old friend leads a radical Movement against humanity .

DAREDEVIL ( 1998)
Director : Gus Van Sant

Daredevil / Matt Murdock : Matt Damon
Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Robbie Coltrane
Elektra : Penelope Cruz
Karen Page : Grethen Mol
Foggy Nelson : Philip Seymour Hoffman
Bullseye : Edward Norton
Plot : The Man Without Fear will go to any lengths to take down the mysterious Kingpin.

THE AVENGERS ( 1999)
Director : John McTiernan

Iron Man : Pierce Brosnan
Captain America : Val Kilmer
Hawkeye : Gary Sinise
Antman : Matthew McConaughey
Wasp : Sandra Bullock
Black Widow : Catherine Zeta Jones
Ultron voice : Jonathan Pryce
Plot : Earth's Mightinest heroes, take on the Earth deadliest Machine .

MIGHTY THOR ( 1999)
Director : Peter Jackson

Thor / Donald Blake : Heath Ledger
Loki : Joaquin Phoenix
Hella : Rosamund Pike
Jane Foster : Julia Stiles
Odin : Oliver Reed
Frigga : Julie Christie

Plot : A Cocky young God, must face the ultimate rite of passage, against his Brother Loki , and his Sister Hella .

THE WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ( 1999)
Director : Steven Spielberg

Spider-Man/ Peter Parker : Tom Cruise
Venom / Eddie Brock : Vincent D'Onofrio
Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
Plot : An Alien Symbiote unlocks the Darksides of Peter Parker and Eddie Brock on the eve of Peter and MJ's Wedding

 

[Peyton Westlake]

THE SPIELBERG AND LUCAS MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE ( 1994-2000)

History

After Lucasfilm attains the rights to The Marvel Comics catelog of characters, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall set about bringing The Marvel characters to the big screen.

Over the next several years , Team is able to get some of Hollywood's top filmmakers , and working with several film studios , to deliver some of the biggest hits of the decade .

Though the undertaking is met with alot of skepticism, by the end of the decade , The Press and The Public wait with baited breathe for the next installment of the ongoing franchise of films


The Slate

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ( 1994)
Director : Ron Howard

Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise
Doctor Octopus : Anthony Hopkins
Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
Plot : Peter Parker's new relationship is jeopardized by the return of an old foe,
whose discovered his true identity.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK ( 1994)
Director : David Croneneberg
View attachment 143062
Hulk / Bruce Banner : David Stratrain
Betty Ross : Mary Elizabeth Monstratino
Thunderbolt Ross : Christopher Plummer
Rick Jones : Edward Furlong
The Leader / Samuel Sterns : John Glover
Plot : As Bruce Banner must battle the beast within as he faces off against a foe who can seemingly anticipate his every move.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1995)
Director : Steven Spielberg

Mr. Fantastic : Tom Hanks
Invisible Woman : Meg Ryan
The Thing : John Goodman
Human Torch : Brad Pitt
Doctor Doom : Daniel Day Lewis
Plot : When the world's heads of states are replaced by Doombots ,the fate of the world is in the hand of Marvel's First Family

CAPTAIN AMERICA ( 1995)
Director : John McTiernan
View attachment 143065

Captain America / Steve Rogers : Val Kilmer
Red Skull : Ralph Fiennes
Baron Zemo : Gary Oldman
Peggy Carter : Julia Ormond
Plot : Captain America's secret mission ,takes him into the very heart of Hydra , and it's secret leader,
The Red Skull.

THE X MEN ( 1995)
Director : Ridley Scott
View attachment 143067

Wolverine : Russell Crowe
Cyclops : Brendan Fraser
Storm : Angela Bassett
Jean Grey : Connie Nielson
Beast : Tim Robbins
Shadow Cat : Winona Ryder
Professor X : Ben Kingsley
Mr. Sinister /Nathaniel Essex : Armand Assante
Plot : An anti- Mutant demigog turns out to hold the key to Cyclops And Jean Grey's past , as he proposes internment camps for Mutants.

IRON MAN ( 1996)
Director : Martin Campbell
View attachment 143068

Iron Man / Tony Stark : Pierce Brosnan
The Mandarin : John Lone
Justin Hammer : Ian McKellen
Bethany Cabe : Rene Russo
Plot : As Tony Stark battles his alcoholism , he must confront The Man whose trying to take him legacy and the Man who man who held him captive .

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 1996)
Director : Tony Scott

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise
Green Goblin/ Norman Osborn : Ed Harris
Vulture / Adrian Toomes : James Cromwell
Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
Plot : Spiderman and Mary Jane are caught in middle of a mob war Between The Vulture and
The Green Goblin.

THE BLACK PANTHER ( 1997)
Director : Spike Lee
View attachment 143069
Black Panther / T'Challa : Denzel Washington
Monica Lynne : Whitney Houston
Kraven The Hunter : Jean Reno
Plot : The Black Panther is hunted on the streets of Harlem after a failed assassination attempt at The
UN.

FANTASTIC FOUR : THE REIGN OF GALACTUS ( 1997)
Director : Robert Zemeckis

Mr. Fantastic : Tom Hanks
Invisible Woman : Meg Ryan
The Thing : John Goodman
Human Torch : Brad Pitt
Galactus : Liam Neeson
The Silver Surfer : Djimon Hounsou
Namor : Jason Scott Lee
The Mole Man : Danny DeVito
Plot : The Fantastic Four make some uneasy alliances in order to stop a theat to the planet Earth.

BIRTH OF THE BROTHERHOOD ( 1998)
Director : Ridley Scott

Wolverine : Russell Crowe
Cyclops : Brendan Fraser
Storm : Angela Bassett
Jean Grey : Connie Nielson
Beast : Tim Robbins
Shadow Cat : Winona Ryder
Professor X : Ben Kingsley
Magneto : Jeremy Irons
Mystique : Sigourney Weaver
Rogue : Charlize Theron
Quicksilver : Jude Law
Scarlet Witch : Kate Winslet
Juggernaunt : Ron Perlman
Plot : Sides must be chosen as Xavier's old friend leads a radical Movement against humanity .

DAREDEVIL ( 1998)
Director : Gus Van Sant

Daredevil / Matt Murdock : Matt Damon
Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Robbie Coltrane
Elektra : Penelope Cruz
Karen Page : Grethen Mol
Foggy Nelson : Philip Seymour Hoffman
Bullseye : Edward Norton
Plot : The Man Without Fear will go to any lengths to take down the mysterious Kingpin.

THE AVENGERS ( 1999)
Director : John McTiernan

Iron Man : Pierce Brosnan
Captain America : Val Kilmer
Hawkeye : Gary Sinise
Antman : Matthew McConaughey
Wasp : Sandra Bullock
Black Widow : Catherine Zeta Jones
Ultron voice : Jonathan Pryce
Plot : Earth's Mightinest heroes, take on the Earth deadliest Machine .

MIGHTY THOR ( 1999)
Director : Peter Jackson

Thor / Donald Blake : Heath Ledger
Loki : Joaquin Phoenix
Hella : Rosamund Pike
Jane Foster : Julia Stiles
Odin : Oliver Reed
Frigga : Julie Christie

Plot : A Cocky young God, must face the ultimate rite of passage, against his Brother Loki , and his Sister Hella .

THE WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ( 1999)
Director : Steven Spielberg

Spider-Man/ Peter Parker : Tom Cruise
Venom / Eddie Brock : Vincent D'Onofrio
Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
Plot : An Alien Symbiote unlocks the Darksides of Peter Parker and Eddie Brock on the eve of Peter and MJ's Wedding

I love the epic scope you’ve laid out—you’ve nailed almost every choice. I do have a few personal tweaks in mind:

• Tom Cruise feels a little too old to sell a teenage Peter Parker. He’d shine more as Iron Man or even a charismatic villain.
• Russell Crowe is a terrific pick, but back then he was too young to capture Wolverine’s gravitas.
• What about leaning more into Mel Gibson for one of the leads?

These are just my own preferences, and they don’t mean your lineup is off the mark.

 

[Frodo]

FANTASTIC FOUR AND THE BRIDE OF DOOM : PARTS ONE AND TWO - AIRDATE ( MAY 1978)
Director : Leonard Nimoy

Project History
While Major Motion Picture studios seem cool to the idea of a Fantastic Four live action film, The ABC Network is more than willing to produce a made for television film .

Seeing the success of TV series such as The Incredible Hulk And Wonder Woman at CBS, ABC decides to try it's hand at a made for TV movie that would attract family audiences.

The Two Part film would end up being one of the most expensive mini series of the 1970s .

Rounding out the team is TV and Film actor Richard Chamberlain as Mr. Fantastic , The Bionic Woman's Lindsay Wagner as The Invisible Woman, The Hardy Boys And Nancy Drew Mysteries Heartthrob
Parker Stevenson is cast as The Human Torch , while TV and Film character actor Stacy Keach plays The Thing.

Playing The Villainous Doctor Doom is TV , Film, and Stage actor , Frank Langella .

Story
When The Mysterious Doctor Doom Kidnaps Sue Storm, the team must travel to the nation of Latervaria to stage a rescue before Doom makes Sue Storm his wife.

However, it soon becomes clear that this is merely a diversionary tactic , and that the real Doctor Doom may be plotting something far more sinister.


The Cast

Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards : Richard Chamberlain


Invisible Woman / Sue Storm : Lindsey Wagner

Human Torch / Johnny Storm : Parker Stevenson


The Thing / Ben Grimm : Stacy Keach

Doctor Doom / Victor Von Doom : Frank Langella

Valeria : Martine Beswick

 

[Frodo]

THE WILLIAMSON AND WHEDON SPIDER-MAN QUADRILOGY : 2000-2006

When Dimension films acquires the film rights to Spider-Man in the late 90s , Kevin Williamson of The Scream Franchise and Joss Whedon of Buffy The Vampire Slayer , are drafted to helm the new franchise.

Over the next 6 years , 4 films are released in rapid succession .

The films span Peter Parker's High School through College Years .

Williamson and Whedon ultimately decide to introduce the audience to a fully formed Spider-Man, with illusions to the characters origins .
While the films are self contained adventures, there are illusions, and references, to a much larger universe of heroes and villains .

Joseph Gordon Levitt is cast as the wall crawler in 1998 , with his rogues gallery made up of character actors as opposed to the huge named stars of The Batman Franchise .


THE FILMS


THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ( 2000)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon

Plot : Spider-Man must unravel of the mystery behind a flamboyant killer, targeting the students of Midtown High .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Liz Allen : Jennifer Love Hewitt

Mysterio / Quentin Beck : Billy Zane

Aunt May : Jamie Lee Curtis
Flash Thompson : Chris Carmack


THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 2002)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams



The Cast

Plot : As Peter Parker seeks a job a the Daily Bugle, he becomes the center of the Ultimate Scoop as Spider-man faces off against a dangerous new threat : Doctor Octopus .

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt



Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavius : Tom Wilkensson

Betty Brant : Selma Blair



J. Jonah Jameson : Hugh Laurie


THE SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN ( 2004)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams

Plot : Peter finds himself at a crossroads as he begins his first serious relationship and faces a terrifying new threat that is all too close to home.


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt



Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Neal McDonough



Gwen Stacy : Rachel McAdams



Hobgoblin / Harry Osborn : Ben Foster


THE WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ( 2006)
Director : J.J. Abrams
Screenplay : Damon Lindelof and JJ Abrams


Plot : Spider-Man seeks to take down the Napoleon of Crime , while being caught between a sexy criminal and a party girl , whose more than meets the eye.

The Cast



Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt



Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winstead



Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Ali Larter



Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Robbie Coltrane

 

[Frodo]

THE BRANAGH X MEN TRILOGY ( 1997-2001)

In the early 90s, 20th Century Fox finally greenlights plans for an X Men trilogy to be penned by Andrew Kevin Walker and to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Unlike the animated series, the trilogy would focus on the original 5 X Men team , with a younger Professor X and Magneto being the films lead characters , with Moira MacTaggart as a romantic point of tension .

The three films would film exclusively in the UK with a largely British crew behind the scenes .

THE FILMS

THE UNCANNY X MEN ( 1997)
Director : Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay : Andrew Kevin Walker


Plot : As a friendship splinters over the love of a woman, two charismatic leaders are pulled in drastically different ideological directions, with their students caught in the middle.


The Cast

Professor X / Charles Xavier : Ralph Fiennes

Magneto / Erik Lehnsherr : Daniel Day Lewis

Moira Taggart : Julia Ormond

Cyclops / Scott Summers : Christian Bale

Jean Grey : Kate Beckinsale

Angel / Warren Wortington : Jude Law

Beast / Hank McCoy : Ben Affleck

Iceman / Bobby Drake : Leonardo DiCaprio





THE ASTONISHING X MEN ( 1999)
Director : Kenneth Branagh
Script : Andrew Kevin Walker


Plot : As Sebastian Shaw temps Professor X and Magneto to join his club , The White Queen haunts Cyclops's dreams , and Mr. Sinister takes an interest in Jean Grey .

Professor X : Ralph Fiennes


Magneto / Erik Lehnsherr : Daniel Day Lewis

Sebastian Shaw : Liam Nesson

White Queen : Nicole Kidman

Mr. Sinister : Antonio Banderas

Donald Pearce : Sean Bean

Cyclops : Christian Bale
Jean Grey : Kate Beckinsale
Beast : Ben Affleck
Angel : Jude Law
Iceman : Leonardo DiCaprio
Moira McTaggart : Julia Ormand


THE EXCEPTIONAL X MEN ( 2001)
Director : Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay : Andrew Kevin Walker

Plot : As dark forces in the US Government seek to eliminate The " Mutant Problem" , Xavier's Students begin to come into their own , while Magneto gains a new ally .

The Cast

Professor X : Ralph Fiennes


Magneto : Daniel Day Lewis


Mystique : Uma Thurman

Bolivar Trask : Geoffrey Rush


Senator Kelly : Chris Cooper

Henry Gyrich : Henry Cznery

Cyclops : Christian Bale
Jean Grey : Kate Beckinsale
Beast : Ben Affleck
Angel : Jude Law
Iceman : Leonardo DiCaprio
Moira McTaggart : Julia Ormand

 

[Frodo]

View attachment 143720




THE WILLIAMSON AND WHEDON SPIDER-MAN QUADRILOGY : 2000-2006

When Dimension films acquires the film rights to Spider-Man in the late 90s , Kevin Williamson of The Scream Franchise and Joss Whedon of Buffy The Vampire Slayer , are drafted to helm the new franchise.

Over the next 6 years , 4 films are released in rapid succession .

The films span Peter Parker's High School through College Years .

Williamson and Whedon ultimately decide to introduce the audience to a fully formed Spider-Man, with illusions to the characters origins .
While the films are self contained adventures, there are illusions, and references, to a much larger universe of heroes and villains .

Joseph Gordon Levitt is cast as the wall crawler in 1998 , with his rogues gallery made up of character actors as opposed to the huge named stars of The Batman Franchise .


THE FILMS


THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ( 2000)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon

Plot : Spider-Man must unravel of the mystery behind a flamboyant killer, targeting the students of Midtown High .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Liz Allen : Jennifer Love Hewitt

Mysterio / Quentin Beck : Billy Zane

Aunt May : Jamie Lee Curtis
Flash Thompson : Chris Carmack


THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 2002)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams
View attachment 143716


The Cast

Plot : As Peter Parker seeks a job a the Daily Bugle, he becomes the center of the Ultimate Scoop as Spider-man faces off against a dangerous new threat : Doctor Octopus .

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt


View attachment 143711
Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavius : Tom Wilkensson

Betty Brant : Selma Blair



J. Jonah Jameson : Hugh Laurie


THE SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN ( 2004)
Director : Kevin Williamson
Screenplay : Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams

Plot : Peter finds himself at a crossroads as he begins his first serious relationship and faces a terrifying new threat that is all too close to home.


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt


View attachment 143712
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Neal McDonough


View attachment 143721
Gwen Stacy : Rachel McAdams



Hobgoblin / Harry Osborn : Ben Foster


THE WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ( 2006)
Director : J.J. Abrams
Screenplay : Damon Lindelof and JJ Abrams
View attachment 143722

Plot : Spider-Man seeks to take down the Napoleon of Crime , while being caught between a sexy criminal and a party girl , whose more than meets the eye.

The Cast


View attachment 143725
Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt


View attachment 143713
Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winstead


View attachment 143723
Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Ali Larter


View attachment 143724
Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Robbie Coltrane

THE SPIDER-MAN CROSSOVER TRILOGY ( 2003 - 2010)




While Dimension Films Produces Solo Spider-man Films, Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox agree to write and produce 3 crossover films in close consultation with Kevin Williamson and Joss Whedon.

The films would result in a trilogy of one off crossover adventures, featuring other heroes from the Marvel Universe, and Spider-Man villains, which wouldn't be exploited in the solo films.

Joseph Gordon Levitt agrees to return for the spin offs keeping the continuity between the solo films and spin-offs.

The films provide an opportunity to explore Spider-Man's function in a larger universe for bigger scaled adventures, while the solo films lean more into the smaller scale and more personal
stories .


THE FILMS


SPIDER-MAN AND FANTASTIC FOUR ( 2003)
Director : Sam Mendes

Plot : Spiderman and Mr. Fantastic work together to find a cure for Kurt Connors , while The Lizard is under the control of Doctor Doom.

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Doctor Doom : Mads Mikkelsen


Mr. Fantastic : Guy Pearce


The Lizard / Curt Connors : Stellan Skaarsgaard

Invisible Woman : Sienna Miller

Human Torch : Heath Ledger

Thing : Ray Winstone

Debra Whitman : Amanda Seyfriend

Martha Connors : Miranda Otto


SPIDER-MAN VERSUS THE INCREDIBLE HULK ( 2007)
Director : Marc Forster

Plot : As Black Suited Spiderman proves to be an equal match for the rampaging Hulk , Thunderbolt Ross hires Kraven The Hunter to take down The Incredible Hulk and The Amazing Spiderman.

The Cast

Spiderman / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt


Hulk / Bruce Banner : Cillian Murphy

Kraven The Hunter : Michael Shannon


Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winsted
Thunderbolt Ross : Stephen Lang
Betty Ross : Rose Bryne

SPIDER-MAN THE HYDRA CONSPIRACY ( 2010)
Director : Martin Campbell



Plot : As Peter Parker questions his parents disappearance, he falls into a web of spies and uncovers the truth behind Hydra.

The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Red Skull : Jason Isaacs


Chameleon : Christopher Waltz


Captain America : Aaron Eckheart


Black Widow : Mila Jovovich

Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winsted
Richard Parker : Kevin Kline
Mary Parker : Annette Bening

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE MOTION PICTURE ( 1986)
Director : Robert Zemeckis
Producer : Steven Spielberg
Executive Producers : George Lucas , Frank Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy
Screenplay : Lawrence Kasdan and Bob Gale
Music : Alan Silvestri




Project History
With Canon films Spider-Man Project seemingly going nowhere , Steven Spielberg and George Lucas see great potential in a Spider-man feature film, as Lucasfilm purchases the TV and Film rights to The Marvel Comics character.

Universal Studios agrees to help produce the project with Lucasfilm for a share of the profits .

Spielberg envisions a blockbuster spectacular that could potentially rival Superman : The Movie .
A Spider-man film , featuring an all star cast , could potentially make millions for the studio appealing a family audiences in addition to teenagers .

With Michael J Fox attached to the project and Robert Zemeckis agreeing to direct , screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Bob Gale jump on the project to pen the film.

When Robert Redford, Jane Fonda , Michael Douglas , Anthony Hopkins, and Kathleen Turner , board the project , the Hollywood trades begin to take it seriously .

As Judd Nelson and Phoebe Cates also join the project , bringing in the teen audience , the film becomes one of the most anticipated and expensive film's of the decade .

Spider-Man : The Motion Picture plans to swing into theaters in of July 1986

Script Development
Kasdan and Gale's script takes a page from Donner's Superman as we see Peter attain his powers at 14 years old where he learns with great power comes great responsibility .

The sweeping film jumps forward in time as we catch up with a college Freshman Spiderman through graduation.

We follow for the majority of the film as he balances , Work, School, a social life , and crime fighting.

The script features 2 classic villains : The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus.

With the film placing emphasis on Peter's dual identities , Peter is torn between the wealthy and popular Liz Allen , while Spiderman is captivated by the A costumed criminal , The Black Cat .

The production decides against using The Controversial Gwen Stacy storyline in fear of alienating family audiences .

At the same time, producers also decide to save Mary Jane for a potential sequel .

As a result , The Wall crawler is caught in a complicated web between Liz Allen, who had already appeared in several prior scripts , and The Black Cat

Supporting characters such as Harry Osborn, Aunt May , and J. Jonah Jameson would be featured prominently, in addition to Flash Thompson playing the role of a bully who hates Peter but is a huge Spider-man fan .

Like Back To The Future and Superman : The Movie, the screenplay features a blend of comedy, drama, and action , with the film's budget being pushed to the limits .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker age 18- 21: Michael J Fox

Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Michael Douglas

Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavious : Anthony Hopkins

Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Kathleen Turner

Liz Allen : Phoebe Cates

Harry Osborn : Judd Nelson

Flash Thompson : William Zabka

J. Jonah Jameson : Dabney Coleman



Aunt May : Jane Fonda

Uncle Ben : Robert Redford

Spider-Man / Peter Parker age 14 : Corey Feldman

Robbie Robertson : Danny Glover
The Burglar : James Remar

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE TV SERIES ( 1992-1996)

Series History
With a Spider-Man film seemingly stuck in perpetual limbo, and with the character's 30th anniversary vastly approaching , The Fox TV network greenlights the production of a Live action, Spider-Man television series .

However, unlike The 1970s The Amazing Spider-Man series, the live action tv show would be a fairly faithful adaptation of The Comics, adapting several comic storylines .

In another break from the 1970s series , the pilot episode would deal with Spider-man's origin ,and the series would follow the adventures of a High School aged Spider-man , through his time in college.

With TV series such as Beverly Hills 90201 and Saved By The Bell drawing huge teen audiences , The edgy Fox network sees another opportunity to maintain it's youthful and urban appeal .


Playing the role of the web head for the entire series run , is Parker Lewis Can't Lose star Corin Nemec , who would provide a voice over narration at the beginning of every episode .

The 2 hour pilot becomes one of the highest rated in the network's history when it airs in March of 1992.

The series ends in 1996 in a 2 hour tv movie finale .


Series Regular cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Corin Nemec

Mary Jane Watson : Robyn Lively

Green Goblin / Harry Osborn : Brian Austin Green

Liz Allen : Tiffani Amber Thiessen

Aunt May : Florence Henderson



J. Jonah Jameson : Gerald McRaney

Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Ray Wise



Jean DeWolff : Roma Maffia


Robbie Robertson : Charles S. Dutton
Betty Brant : Jayne Brook


Recurring Villains and Supporting Characters

Doctor Octopus : Larry Drake
The Black Cat : Christiana Applegate
Venom / Eddie Brock : Eric Bruskotter
The Vulture : William B Davis
Kraven The Hunter : Jonathan Frakes
The Chameleon : Željko Ivanek
The Lizard / Curt Connors : Anthony Stewart Head
Mysterio : Matthew Frewer
Kingpin : Daniel Benzali
Hammerhead : William Forsythe
Silver Sable : Tracy Scoggins
Sandman : Brian Thompson
Hobgoblin / Ned Leeds : Bradley Whitford
Rhino : Andrew Brynarski
Scorpion : Richard Moll
The Jackal / Miles Warren : Nigel Bennett
Randy Robertson : Larenz Tate
Flash Thompson : Ian Ziering
Gwen Stacy : Christine Taylor
George Stacy : Craig T. Nelson
Uncle Ben : Tom Bosley

 

[Frodo]

THE MARVELS (1995)
Director : Ron Howard
Screenplay : Lawrence Kasdan and Michael France
Producers : Steven Spielberg and Brian Glazer
Music : John Williams

Project History
When Universal Pictures acquires the rights to the entire Marvel Library of heroes , Production soon begins in what is to be one of the biggest films in Hollywood History .

The Marvels , would serve as an epic crossover film in which heroes such as Spiderman, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four , and The X Men , in addition to several supervillains , would have to put aside their differences to face off against a common threat .

The Ron Howard directed, and The Steven Spielberg produced, project, would bring together several of the decades biggest stars in a disaster epic , that would serve as a springboard for solo films .

Script
While an adaptation of The Secret Wars is originally planned as the launching point, the stories complexity in dealing with the multiverse and alternate versions of heroes seems to daunting and challenging for a general audience .

Instead , Howard and Spielberg feel it's best to establish a single version of the these heroes before attempting to delve into the multiverse .

The heroes chosen represent the different as aspects of the Marvel universe with characters like Spiderman and Hulk representing the street level characters, The Fantastic Four representing the cosmic realm , Thor and Doctor Strange representing magic , and The X Men representing Mutants .

The various aspects of the Marvel Universe would be expanded upon in solo films , while this first film would serve as an introduction to the Marvel Universe .

The Plot
When the herald of Galactus marks Earth as his next target , the heroes and villains of the world form an uneasy alliance , in order to save humanity .

But will differing philosophies, theories, and egos, prevent the heroes and villains from uniting,
in time ?


The Cast

Spiderman : Tom Cruise

Mr. Fantastic : Harrison Ford

Doctor Octopus : Anthony Hopkins

Invisible Woman : Michelle Pfeiffer

Human Torch : Brad Pitt

Thing : Sylvester Stallone

Dr. Doom : Frank Langella

Captain America : Val Kilmer


Hulk : Dustin Hoffman

Thor : Arnold Schwarzenegger


Wolverine : Mel Gibson

Red Skull : Gary Oldman

Magneto : Jeremy Irons

Black Panther : Denzel Washington

Iron Man : Richard Gere

Nick Fury : Clint Eastwood

Doctor Strange : Kevin Kline

Storm : Angela Bassett

Wasp : Sandra Bullock

Cyclops : Michael Biehn

Professor X : Ben Kingsley

The Leader : John Malcovich

Galactus : Liam Neeson

Silver Surfer : Robert Patrick

Namor : Jason Scott Lee

Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman
Pepper Potts : Penelope Ann Miller
Jim Rhodes : Lawrence Fishburne
Betty Ross : Anne Archer
Christine Palmer : Madeline Stowe
Peggy Carter : Julia Ormond
Thunderbolt Ross : Christopher Plummer
Titanium Man : Patrick Bergin
Rick Jones : Sean Astin

 

[FrankenCastle]

Nick Fury/Black Widow (1989)


Plot :

Late 1980s. The Soviet Union is on the edge of collapse. Rogue Soviet generals, disgusted by the faltering regime, forge a deadly alliance with HYDRA’s most ruthless emissaries, Baron Helmut Zemo and Wolfgang Von Strucker. Their plan? Topple the government in a violent coup, destabilize an already fragile world order, and ignite a nuclear conflict with devastating consequences.

When Natasha Romanoff, the infamous Black Widow, now a disillusioned, high-ranking KGB operative haunted by shattered ideals and dreams of defection, uncovers the devastating conspiracy, she defies orders to secretly reach out to Colonel Nick Fury, the grizzled senior officer running S.H.I.E.L.D.’s West Berlin antenna, himself a man on the brink of alcoholism, recently demoted in a brutal fallout with Secretary of Defense Ross, whom Fury knocked two teeth out out after a heated argument.

In a world where trust is a rare commodity and betrayal lurks at every corner, Natasha and Fury, bitter rivals and reluctant allies, forge a fragile partnership. Bound by necessity to stop HYDRA and the Soviets from detonating global chaos.

Directed by : Tony Scott



Written by : Shane Black (think The Long Kiss Goodnight meets Heartbreak Ridge)


Casting :

Nick Fury : Clint Eastwood


Black Widow : Brigitte Nielsen


Helmut Zemo : James Woods


Wolwgang Von Strucker : Jürgen Prochnow


Thadeus Ross : Dennis Farina

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE MOTION PICTURE ( 1986)
Director : Robert Zemeckis
Producer : Steven Spielberg
Executive Producers : George Lucas , Frank Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy
Screenplay : Lawrence Kasdan and Bob Gale
Music : Alan Silvestri
View attachment 144723



Project History
With Canon films Spider-Man Project seemingly going nowhere , Steven Spielberg and George Lucas see great potential in a Spider-man feature film, as Lucasfilm purchases the TV and Film rights to The Marvel Comics character.

Universal Studios agrees to help produce the project with Lucasfilm for a share of the profits .

Spielberg envisions a blockbuster spectacular that could potentially rival Superman : The Movie .
A Spider-man film , featuring an all star cast , could potentially make millions for the studio appealing a family audiences in addition to teenagers .

With Michael J Fox attached to the project and Robert Zemeckis agreeing to direct , screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Bob Gale jump on the project to pen the film.

When Robert Redford, Jane Fonda , Michael Douglas , Anthony Hopkins, and Kathleen Turner , board the project , the Hollywood trades begin to take it seriously .

As Judd Nelson and Phoebe Cates also join the project , bringing in the teen audience , the film becomes one of the most anticipated and expensive film's of the decade .

Spider-Man : The Motion Picture plans to swing into theaters in of July 1986

Script Development
Kasdan and Gale's script takes a page from Donner's Superman as we see Peter attain his powers at 14 years old where he learns with great power comes great responsibility .

The sweeping film jumps forward in time as we catch up with a college Freshman Spiderman through graduation.

We follow for the majority of the film as he balances , Work, School, a social life , and crime fighting.

The script features 2 classic villains : The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus.

With the film placing emphasis on Peter's dual identities , Peter is torn between the wealthy and popular Liz Allen , while Spiderman is captivated by the A costumed criminal , The Black Cat .

The production decides against using The Controversial Gwen Stacy storyline in fear of alienating family audiences .

At the same time, producers also decide to save Mary Jane for a potential sequel .

As a result , The Wall crawler is caught in a complicated web between Liz Allen, who had already appeared in several prior scripts , and The Black Cat

Supporting characters such as Harry Osborn, Aunt May , and J. Jonah Jameson would be featured prominently, in addition to Flash Thompson playing the role of a bully who hates Peter but is a huge Spider-man fan .

Like Back To The Future and Superman : The Movie, the screenplay features a blend of comedy, drama, and action , with the film's budget being pushed to the limits .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker age 18- 21: Michael J Fox

Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Michael Douglas

Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavious : Anthony Hopkins

View attachment 144726
Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Kathleen Turner

View attachment 144725

Liz Allen : Phoebe Cates

Harry Osborn : Judd Nelson

Flash Thompson : William Zabka

View attachment 144740
J. Jonah Jameson : Dabney Coleman


View attachment 144738View attachment 144739
Aunt May : Jane Fonda


View attachment 144721

Uncle Ben : Robert Redford

Spider-Man / Peter Parker age 14 : Corey Feldman

Robbie Robertson : Danny Glover
The Burglar : James Remar

SPIDER-MAN PART II ( 1988)
Director : Ivan Reitman
Producer : Frank Marshall
Executive Producers : Steven Spielberg and George Lucas
Screenplay : Lawrence Kasdan

Project History
With the first film already a success and with the wheels already in motion , Spider-Man : Part II goes into rapid production.

And while the film promises to be even bigger than Spiderman : The Motion Picture, Zemeckis is unable to return do to his commitments to Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? .

In his absence , Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman boards the project with a script penned by Lawrence Kasdan .

Script

Taking a page from Star Trek II : The Wrath Of Khan , Star Wars : The Empire Strikes Back, and
Superman II , The new film plans to be a more mature character study as we find Peter at a crossroads.

Peter , now an adult must chose between a future with a single mom Betty Brant ,and continuing his vow to his Uncle's memory .

All the while , his past, in the form of the Sinister Six , intrudes on his two lives , putting him in a no win scenario .

Leading the Sinister Six are Kraven The Hunter and The Vulture, with Mysterio, Sandman, Electro , and Scorpion, all of whom have axes to grind against the wall crawler .

The criminal Mastermind bank rolling The Sinister Six and behind Peter's woes would , ironically , turn out to be The Hobgoblin , and in a twist , the mantle would be worn by Ned Leeds , Betty's presumed dead husband and the father of her son.

Leeds would be a amalgamation of his comic book counter part and Jason Macendale .

Characters such as Liz, Harry , Flash Thompson, and Black Cat are absent from the new film , with the intention of telling a brand new story ,as opposed to a rehash of the first film.

Betty Brant is chosen as Peter's love interest with characters such as Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy once again put on hold for a potential sequel.
Kasdan also likes the idea of Peter falling for an older woman while becoming a father figure to as opposed to Peter falling for another single college girl like Liz Allen.

Story
After nearly a decade of crime fighting , Peter Parker contemplates hanging up the web shooters in favor of settling down with Betty Brant and her Spider-man worshiping son.

However, the master criminal known as The Hobgoblin ,unites 6 of Spiderman's deadliest foes , in order to shatter Spiderman and Peter Parker's hopes of a happy life .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Michael J Fox

Betty Brant : Amy Irving

Kraven The Hunter : Arnold Swartzenegger

The Vulture: Max Von Sydow

Mysterio : Chris Sarandon


Electro : Peter Weller
Sandman : Martin Kove
Scorpion : Brion James
Hobgoblin / Ned Leeds : Rutger Hauer
Aunt May : Jane Fonda
Winston Leeds : Fred Savage
J. Jonah Jameson : Dabney Coleman
Robbie Robertson : Danny Glover

 

[FrankenCastle]

Do Not Fall in New York City: A Punisher Story (2010)



Production backstory :

Mid-2000s, The Punisher (2004) stumbled at the box office and failed to launch the franchise Lionsgate had hoped to build. Looking for a way to revitalize the character, executives turned to David Cronenberg, impressed by the visceral edge and the stylized violence he brought to A History of Violence and The Eastern Promises.

The first proved that Cronenberg had what it takes to shoot slick action scenes, while the latter, in particular, showcased Cronenberg's skill in depicting the brutal, grim reality of Eastern European organized crime with authenticity. Two qualities of absolute necessity in bringing to life what the Studio had in mind: a bold, boundary-pushing adaptation of the Slavers arc, one of the grittiest and most haunting Punisher stories, a horrific tale about human trafficking by Eastern European mobs.

Cronenberg's condition was simple, no holds barred, complete creative freedom. A journey into the mind of a shattered, hateful man, whose decaying humanity is worsened by what he's about to face. The movie had to unsettle the audience and make them cheer for a terrible man, inflicting terrible pain on terrible people, thus making them question their own morality by the end of the story. It has to challenge the audience's boundaries. It has to be a masterpiece of surgical raw violence.

Plot :

After rescuing a woman named Viorica from a vicious human trafficking ring, Frank Castle’s 35-year one-man crusade against crime takes a deep personal turn when he learns her baby was mercilessly murdered by the slavers hunting her after an unwanted pregnancy. Fuelled by rage like never before, Castle abandons subtlety, using savage tactics and cruel interrogation methods, unleashing hell on the Bulat crime syndicate.

Parallel to Castle’s war, Lieutenant-Detective Martin Soap is punished for testifying against a corrupt colleague and relegated to the Punisher Task Force, a hollow, nearly empty unit designed to isolate him. As chief detective of an almost joke-level division, Soap wanders aimlessly between law enforcement’s cynical apathy and his personal sense of justice. When a lead he's working on finally puts Castle in his crosshairs, a moral conflict ignites within him. Questioning whether to uphold the law by arresting Castle or silently collaborate, knowing the Punisher’s brutal actions might be the only effective response in such a corrupt place.

Castle’s relentless assault on the Bulats culminates in the shattering of their violent hold on the city's prostitution rings. Meanwhile, Soap’s internal struggle forces him to thread the thin line between justice and vengeance, coming to the realization that in a world corrupted beyond repair, sometimes a monster is the only one who can fight monsters.

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Written by: Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Peaky Blinders)

Based on a story by: Garth Ennis

Cast:

Frank Castle/The Punisher: Mel Gibson


Lt. Martin Soap: William H. Macy


Viorica: Olga Kurylenko


Cristu Bulat (head of the NY-based operations): Vincent Cassel


Tiberiu Bulat (head of the old country operations): Rutger Hauer


Vera Konstantin (business-minded core of the Bulat family): Eva Green

 

[FrankenCastle]

Symbiosis (2018)


(I'm fond of David Cronenberg as a filmmaker, and his style fits so many of my favorite characters.)

Production backstory:

Amidst the phenomenal success of the MCU and the critical disaster of The Amazing Spider-Man 2,
Sony Pictures, desperately looking for a way to capitalize on its Spider-Man license, launched the production of several spin-offs centered around the wallcrawler's most notorious foes, with the first project being a dark, self-contained story about Venom, his most recognizable nemesis.

The studio first envisioned Venom as a standard superhero origin story, hoping to emulate the Deadpool formula: tight budget, quippy antihero, omnipresent but overall harmless violence appealing to both adults and teenagers.

But Sony was fractured at this point, with Amy Pascal forced out of the studio chair after the Spider-Man debacle. The creative direction was in flux, and executives began whispering about differentiating Sony’s films from Disney's by being riskier. Following that road map, a surprising name came up in development meetings: David Cronenberg.

Already familiar with the comic book genre, since he directed A History of Violence and Punisher: Do Not Fall in New York City, He was approached with the angle of doing something completely different, not a Marvel-style blockbuster, but a disturbing, adult-oriented body horror film, a genre he specializes in.

His pitch was simple but daring: strip away Spider-Man, strip away the “Venom” name, and tell a standalone horror story about parasitism, toxic relationships, hunger, and metamorphosis. He suggested calling it Symbiosis. The budget was a modest $40 million, a fraction of Marvel’s, but Cronenberg demanded, as usual, complete creative control.

​

Plot:

Imagined as a mix between The Fly and American Psycho, Symbiosis follows Eddie Brock, a failed, selfish and manipulative journalist, prone to violent tendencies, in a toxic relationship with lawyer Anne Weyling (the real protagonist). Eddie is constantly acting like a "parasite", exploiting his girlfriend emotionally and financially, leading Anne to seriously consider leaving him.

One night, a drunk Eddie stumbles upon something strange in the middle of Central Park (a pulsating organic goo leaking out of a crashed meteorite fragment). Out of curiosity, foolishness, or arrogance, he touches it. The symbiote bonds with him. At first, it feels empowering. Eddie becomes stronger, more confident, more virile. He seduces Anne with this newfound intensity. But slowly his personality worsens: he’s crueler, hungrier, and disturbingly predatory.

Eddie begins to lose control of his appetites. He devours raw food at first, then meat straight from animals. Eventually, he kills a neighbor’s dog. His body begins to morph in grotesque ways, oily black growths emerging from his skin, eyes flickering, teeth rearranging. No longer fully himself. The symbiote whispers to him constantly, not as a separate witty voice, but as an internal urge.

He crosses a line when he starts killing and devouring strangers, homeless people, drunks, and late-night partiers. His apartment becomes a grotesque lair of half-eaten remains and organic residue. Anne begins to suspect the truth. She notices Eddie hiding blood, black slime staining her sheets, and an escalating volatility in his behavior.

Eddie tries first to control Anne, in an attempt to make her “join” him, insisting the bond will make her strong. But the horror reaches its peak when Eddie confesses that the hunger is no longer for random strangers; the symbiote wants her. Anne realizes she is not only in danger of becoming the next host, but the next meal.

Directed by: David Cronenberg
Written by: David Cronenberg & David S. Goyer

Cast:

Eddie Brock: Robert Pattinson


Anne Weyling: Rebecca Hall

 

[Frodo]

RICHARD DONNER'S FANTASTIC FOUR QUADRILOGY ( 1990-1999)

Franchise History

After the success of Batman in 1989, Paramount Pictures acquires the Film and TV rights to The Fantastic Four , with the intention of creating the next big superhero film franchise.

Paramount execs envision the film capturing the adventure and action of Star Trek , while being accessible to a family audience , without delving into camp territory.

Ultimately, Paramount approaches Superman and Lethal Weapon director Richard Donner to helm the first film .

Studio execs feel Donner can balance the blend between Humor, drama , and Action .
While the director is initially wary of taking on the project due to his experiences with
The Salkinds on Superman , Donner eventually agrees to direct , and ultimately directs three sequels throughout the decade .

The franchise begins to be taken seriously after Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer, Slyvester Stallone, and Brad Pitt are cast as the new team .

As the series went on the actors all renegotiated their contracts as each film out performed the last film.

The Successful film series came to an end with the fourth and final film being released in 1998.


THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1992)
Director : Richard Donner




The Cast

Mr. Fantastic : Harrison Ford

Invisible Woman : Michelle Pfeiffer

Human Torch : Brad Pitt


The Thing : Slyvester Stallone

The Mole Man : Joe Pesci
Young Reed : Brenden Fraser
Young Victor : Randall Batinkoff


Plot : 4 Astronauts on a Space Mission are hit with cosmic waves and are return to Earth with extraordinary powers .


THE FANTASTIC FOUR : REIGN OF DOOM ( 1994)
Director : Richard Donner


The Cast


Mr. Fantastic : Harrison Ford
Dr. Doom : Frank Langella
Invisible Woman : Michelle Pfeiffer
The Thing : Slyvester Stallone
Human Torch : Brad Pitt
Alicia Masters : Julianne Moore

Plot : A former rival returns from the Grave , intent on World Domination .


THE FANTASTIC FOUR : SECRET INVASION ( 1996)
Director : Richard Donner


The Cast


Mr. Fantastic : Harrison Ford
Super Skrull : Powers Boothe
Invisible Woman : Michelle Pfeiffer
The Thing : Slyvester Stallone
Human Torch : Brad Pitt
Alicia Masters : Julianne Moore

Plot : A shape shifting race invades to Earth seeking to take it over as they flee from a much greater threat .

THE FANTASTIC FOUR : THE AGE OF GALACTUS (1998)
Director : Richard Donner


The Cast


Mr. Fantastic : Harrison Ford
Galactus : Liam Neeson
Silver Surfer : Djomon Hounsou
Invisible Woman : Michelle Pfeiffer
The Thing : Slyvester Stallone
Human Torch : Brad Pitt

Plot : The Silver Surfer arrives on Earth foreshadowing the coming of Galactus .

 

[FrankenCastle]

Richard Donner + Fantastic Four = A match made in heaven

 

[Frodo]

THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE ( 1972-1982 )

Franchise History
Despite the massive gamble and the naysayers, MGM studios acquires the rights to Marvel Comics Canon of characters in 1970 , with plans to create a cinematic franchise not seen since The Universal Monsters in the 1930s and 1940s .

From 1972-1982 , MGM releases some of the biggest films of both decades and make once previously obsecure characters household names in the era of Watergate, Disco, and into the era of Beta Max and VHS.

Characters like Spiderman, Hulk, The Fanatistic Four, The X Men, and Captain America become box office sensations and result in successful mercandising and cartoons .

Some Of The Era's biggest stars agree to appear in the film series


THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1972)
Director : Lewis Gilbert

Cast : Charlton Heston , Susannah York , Jan Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine, Christopher Lee.

Plot : The Fantastic Four face off against Doctor Doom as he replaces the world's leaders, with Doombots.


CAPTAIN AMERICA ( 1973)
Director : Sidney Pollack


Cast : Robert Redford , Max Von Sydow, Alec Guinness , Jacqueline Bisset, Burt Lancaster, Telly Savalas, Donald Pleasence , Robert Urich

Plot : Steve Rogers is the allied powers secret weapon, as Captain America .



IRON MAN ( 1974)
Director : Guy Hamilton

Cast : Burt Reynolds , Robert Shaw , Torshi Misfune , Jill St. John , John Giuelgud,

Plot : Tony Stark must beat the combined powers of The Mandarin and Titanium Man as The US and The USSR teeter on the brink of War .


THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR ( 1974)
Director : Francis Ford Coppola


Cast : Christopher Walken , Marlon Brando, ,Charles Gray, Diane Keaton, Allen Garfield

Plot : New York City is caught in the middle of an all mob war between The Owl and The Kingpin.


RETURN OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1975)
Director : Lewis Gilbert



Cast : Charlton Heston , Susannah York , Jan Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine,
Ricardo Montalban, Burgess Meredith, Ben Gazzara, Rod Steiger , Patty Duke

Plot : Marvel's first family is challenged by an alliance of four equally formidible foes : Namor, The Mole Man, The Red Ghost, and The Puppet Master .


THE INCREDIBLE HULK ( 1975)
Director : Steven Spielberg


Cast : Dustin Hoffman , Barbara Hershey , Sterling Hayden , Bruce Dern, Mark Hamill

Plot : Bruce Banner and his alter ego are on the run from the US Military , who seek to control him.


CAPTAIN AMERICA : THE HYDRA CANDIDATE ( 1976)
Director : Sidney Pollack

Cast : Robert Redford , Carl Weathers, William Devane, Robert Vaughn , Sandra Locke


Plot : Captain America must prove that a popular Presidential Candidate is really an agent of Hydra.


ANTMAN AND THE WASP ( 1976)
Director : Guy Hamilton

Cast : Sally Field, Richard Dreyfus, Henry Silva , Burt Lancaster

Plot : Hank Pym and Janet Van Dien engage in their most dangerous mission yet : Extracting a Soviet defector, from behind the Iron Curtain.



THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ( 1977)
Director : John Badham


Cast : John Travolta , Anthony Hopkins , Adrienne Barbeau , Walter Matthieu , Jacqueline Brookes


Plot : Spider-man must his former mentor , Otto Octavius, whose now become, Doctor Octopus .

HUNT FOR THE INCREIBLE HULK ( 1977)
Director : Irving Kirshner

Cast : Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, Sterling Heyden , Burt Lancaster, Barbara Hershey, Rene Auberjonois ,Mark Hamill ,

Plot : As S.H.E.I.L.D. agents Wolverine and Hawkeye hunt for Bruce Banner, they become pawns in The Leader's ultimate plan.



THE X MEN ( 1978)
Director : Nicholas Meyer


Cast : Clint Eastwood , Roddy McDowell, James Brolin , Katharine Ross , Elliott Gould, Pam Grier , Christopher Plummer , Olivia Hussey,. Karen Black , Michael Beck


Plot : Xavier's students must confront Magneto , in addition to his equally powerful children.


THOR ( 1978)
Director : George Lucas


Cast : Nick Nolte , Malcolm McDowell, Vanessa Redgrave, Laurence Olivier , Karen Allen


Plot : Donald Blake inherits the power of God , Thor, all the while ,having to Contend with the Gods Loki and Hella.


THE AVENGERS ( 1979)
Director : Sidney Pollack


Cast : Burt Reynolds , Robert Redford , Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte , Faye Dunaway, James Caan , Sally Field, Richard Dreyfus, David Warner

Plot : Earth's Mightiest heroes unite to take on an all powerful Andriod.



DOCTOR STRANGE ( 1979)
Director : William Friendken



Cast : Donald Sutherland , Julie Christie , Julian Glover, Keye Luke

Plot : Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo battle across space and time , for the fate of reality .


THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 1980)
Director : John Badham

Cast : John Travolta , Jack Palance , Cybill Shepherd , Walter Matthieu , Jacqueline Brookes


Plot : Spiderman stumbles into a high flying adventure , as he tangles with a sexy cat burglar, her relentless father, The Vulture .


BLACK PANTHER ( 1980)
Director : Sidney Poitier

Cast : Billy Dee Williams , Diana Ross , Bill Duke , George C Scott, Bernie Casey


Plot : A Tyrant and a Mercenary Unite to overthrow the Kingdom of Wakanda .
Helping the King Of Wakanda, is a Hero For Hire and a night club singer .



THE SEARCH FOR PROFESSOR X ( 1981)
Director : Nicholas Meyer

Cast : Clint Eastwood , Roddy McDowell, James Brolin , Katharine Ross , Elliott Gould, Pam Grier , Amy Irving , Rutger Hauer , Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael York , John Vernon, Robert Foxworth

Plot : When Charles Xavier vanishes , the answer may lie with an ambitious Politician and an island compound.


THE PUNISHER ( 1981)
Director : Brian DePalma

Cast : Sylvester Stallone , John Cassavettes , Robert Loggia , Lauren Hutton, Joe Don Baker ,

Plot : A vengeful cop grows closer to finding the assassins who murdered his family


THE WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ( 1982)
Director : John Badham

Cast : John Travolta , John Hurt , Nancy Allen, Andrews Stevens, Annette O'Toole, Walter Matthieu , Jacqueline Brookes

Plot : The Jackal kidnappers ESU students, in order to create a super race of clones .


AVENGERS FOREVER ( 1982)
Director : Irving Kirshner

Cast : Burt Reynolds , Robert Redford , Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte , Faye Dunaway, James Caan , Sally Field, Richard Dreyfus, Malcolm McDowell, George Kennedy

Plot : Just as the US Government seeks to disband the powerful team , an entity from Space seeks Earth's domination.

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN LIVES ( 1986)
Director : Brian De Palma
Producer : Joel Silver

Project History
When Brian De Palma is approached by producer Joel Silver , to helm a Spider-Man film, the director turns him down flat .

However, after being sent a box load of Spiderman stories from the 60s through the early 80s, De Palma latches onto the inherit tragedy in The Peter Parker saga .

Themes of Guilt, Obsession, Perserverence, , themes which are prevailent in De Palma's thrillers, catch the filmmaker off guard and intrigue him enough to produce a serious character drama and thriller , using the Webhead as the film's subject.

De Palma pitches his darker take to New Line Cinema , which the studio warms to .

Spider-Man Lives , while retaining many of the darker themes and storylines from the past, is nevertheless controversial to even fans of the comics , and members of The General Audience.

While the film is much more in the vain of De Palma's other works , 1980s audiences expect something more along the lines of the recent Saturday Morning Cartoons, and of The Amazing Spiderman 1970s series.

Michael Biehn's casting as late 20 something Peter Parker , also receives a mixed response in 1984 among Spiderman fans, with many feeling him much more suited ,to play The Punisher or Daredevil, as opposed to the lighter hearted Peter Parker, of the cartoons and comics.


Story

In this darker Spiderman tale , Spiderman Lives brings together 3 men ,each at a crossroads , as their demons lead all three of them to an inevitable crash.

As Peter Parker rejgrets his choices, and is haunted by his failures, his life will intercepts with an old enemy, and a new one ,who knows him inside and out.

Kraven The Hunter , haunted by nightmares of Spider-man ,and his past failures, snaps , eager to kill the Spider and transform himself the superior hero, and man .

Meanwhile , Eddie Brock , having inherited the symbiote that Peter left behind a year earlier , has trained his body to the maximum, turning himself into a physical behemoth, with the Symbiote egging on his hatred.

As Mary Jane and Peter drift further apart , with the memory of Gwen Stacy hanging over their fragile relationship , The Black Cat becomes a seductive rival, whom Mary Jane can no longer ignore.

All the while , The Kingpin proves to be an opponent one step ahead of The Web Head , and willing to play Spiderman's two threats against him .

All of these elements will come to a head in showdown at high midnight , and the worse storm of the year , as the three men battle it out in , high above the streets of Manhattan .

Ultimately , Spider-Man Lives is a story about redemption, as Peter learns to find the will to keep going as Kraven and Venom prove to Peter, that he has alot to live for .

The Cast

Spiderman / Peter Parker : Michael Biehn ( The Terminator , Aliens)

Kraven The Hunter : Tom Berenger ( Platoon)

Venom / Eddie Brock : Martin Kove ( The Karate Kid )

Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Brian Dennehy ( First Blood, Cocoon)

Mary Jane Watson : Catherine Mary Stewart ( The Last Starfighter)

Black Cat : Tracy Scoggins ( The Colby's)

Gwen Stacy in Flashbacks : Laurie Singer ( Footloose)



Green Goblin / Norman Osborn In Flashbacks : Charles Napier ( Rambo II)



Doctor Octopus in Flashbacks : Steven Berkoff ( Beverly Hills Cop)

Harry Osborn : Kevin Bacon ( Footloose)


George Stacy , Flashbacks : Jerry Orbach ( Dirty Dancing)
Jean De Wolffe Flashbacks : Joanna Cassidy ( The Package)
Aunt May : Jacqueline Brookes ( The Entity)
Uncle Ben Flashbacks : Wilfred Brimley ( Cocoon)
Robbie Robertson : Richard Roundtree ( Shaft)
J. Jonah Jameson : R Lee Ermey ( Full Metal Jacket )

 

[Doc Bat Spider]

Something I had in mind:

 

[Frodo]

THE REITMAN SPIDER-MAN TRILOGY (SPIDER-MAN 4, SPIDER-MAN 5 , SPIDER-MAN 6)

After the success yet mixed response to Spiderman 3, The franchise is at a crossroads.

With the Producers and Director Sam Raimi holding very different views about the franchises direction, Raimi, Maguire, and Dunst ultimately leave the franchise .

While the idea of a reboot is briefly considered , Sony execs balk at the idea , unwilling to restart the series so soon .

Ultimately, it's decided to go ahead and produce Spiderman 4 with a new creative team and a new lead actor .

Taking a page from the Bond franchise , the series would get a face lift , while a few remaining vestigages from the Raimi films such as Rosemary Harris and JK Simmons would remain .
Additionally characters like Mr Ditkovich and Ursula would also continue to appear .

Dylan Baker as Curt Connors would also return, and finally become the Lizard throughout the trilogy.

However, Joseph Gordon Levitt would ultimately inherit the role left vacant by Tobey Maguire, much to the support of a majority of Fandom .

Jason Reitman of Juno fame would end up helming the fourth film ,in addition to it's two sequels.

The new films would hue closer to the comics characterization of a wise cracking and talkative Spiderman, while at the same time , giving us a bachelor Peter exploring the dating world unlike Maguire's version.

The Mary Jane character would ultimately be sidelined for two films, with her and Peter parting ways and with MJ living overseas having become a foreign film star.

Other stories lines like The Osborn Saga , and the killing of Uncle Ben are left by the waist side, with the creative team wanting the new films to stand on their own .

Reitman in particular see's the new films as a whole new chapter of Peter's life with Raimi films serving as a foundation which shaped the character .


SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED ( 2010)
Director : Jason Reitman
Screenplay : Alvin Sargent and James Vanderbilt

The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Rachel McAdams



Vulture / Adrian Toomes : Mark Strong

Shocker : Colin Farrell

Electro : Ben Foster

Scorpion : David Harbor


Aunt May : Rosemary Harris
Curt Connors : Dylan Baker
J. Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons


Plot : As Peter revels his life as Spider-Man, he has an affair with a rich girl leading a double life, and takes on The Vulture and his organization , as the criminal is hellbent on unmasking Spider-man, once and for all.


SPIDER-MAN HUNTED ( 2012)
Director : Jason Reitman



The Cast

Kraven The Hunter : Mads Mikkelsen

The Lizard / Curt Connors : Dylan Baker


Debra Whitman : Amanda Seyfried

Aunt May : Rosemary Harris
J. Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons
Martha Connors : Toni Collette

Plot : Spiderman must protect an old friend from himself, and an enhanced hunter .



SPIDER-MAN AND THE SINISTER SIX ( 2014)
Director : Jason Reitman

The Cast





Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winsted


Mysterio : Cillian Murphy
Kraven The Hunter : Mads Mikkelsen
Electro : Ben Foster
Shocker : Colin Farrell
Vulture / Adrian Toomes : Mark Strong
Scorpion : David Harbor
Aunt May : Rosemary Harris
J. Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons

Plot : As Mary Jane walks back into Peter's life, Mysterio unites Spider-Man enemies, as The Sinister Six.