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

[Frodo]

THE MANY FOES OF SPIDERMAN ( 1998)
Director : Martin Campbell




Story
Spiderman prepares for the fight of his life,
as he battles The Sinister Six,
A group made up of foes ,
all of whom know Spiderman's true identity.

Now , Peter Parker must fight a war on multiple fronts to not only protect himself,
But his family , friends, and loved ones.

At work,
he must stop his longtime rival Eddie Brock from revealing his identity in the bugle headlines.

In the personal life,
He must battle Norman Osborn , the man who took Gwen away
,and has returned to avenge his son Harry.

Octavius targets Peter's heart by courting his Aunt May

Chameleon sully's the reputation of his parents, revealing long held secrets,

While Kraven hunt's the Spider ,for the last time.



The Cast



Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Ethan Hawke



Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Christopher Walken



Venom / Eddie Brock : Eric Bruskotter



Doctor Octopus : Bob Gunton



Kraven The Hunter : Jean Reno



Chameleon : Robert Carlyle



Hobgoblin / Rodrick Kingsley : Malcolm McDowell

Mary Jane Watson : Uma Thurman

Aunt May : Maggie Smith
J. Jonah Jameson : R Lee Emrey
Robbie Robertson : Joe Morton

 

[Frodo]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1998)
Director : Roland Emmerich
Producer : Jerry Bruckheimer
Music : James Horner




Project History
With Fox studios eager to get a Fantastic Four film off the ground , the studio moves away from Chris Columbus and instead eyes Indepence Day director Roland Emmerich.
The studio wants to move away from a more comical and family friendly tone of Columbus films like Home Alone, in favor of a big budget, extravaganza like Indepence Day .
Additionally , having seen the Box office of films like Batman Forever, the studio believe a blending of Superheroes with the scale of a Sci Fi Epic, is the perfect recipe for a hit film.

While Emmerich at first is interested in pursuing other projects, including a Hulk film , he becomes intrigued by the potential of a massive scale, 2.5 hour Fantastic Four blockbuster .
Sparring no expense , and with producer Jerry Bruckheimer on board, with Andrew Kevin Walker and David Koepp taking the writing duties , the project goes into pre-production in 1997 for a 1998s release date .


Casting
In casting the film The Director and Producer feel that big names would be nessasary to sell a property like Fantastic Four to audiences.
While well known , the property wasn't proven as a film franchise.

Looking to the success of The Batman films, Bruickheimer feels the film should feature an all star cast . The producer feels if the team is called The Fantastic Four, than the team should be made up of 4 big celebrities as opposed to a group of unknown or less popular actors.

With no expense sparred , the producers go to Harrison Ford as their first choice to play Mr. Fantastic .
Though Ford rejects the offer at first , the studio sweetens the pot and offers him a cut of the films profits in addition to script approval .
Ford eventually agrees to the project with reassurances the film won't be campy .

The second big Get is Sylvester Stallone to voice and play Ben Grimm the thing .
Stallone , like Ford is also offered a percentage of the films profits , and having missed out on play Mr.Freeze in Batman & Robin , Stallone jumps at the chance to play a more complicated ,
and emotionally complex character like The Thing .

For the role of Sue Storm, several actresses ranging from Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, and Kim Basinger are considered, but it's Michelle Pfeiffer, who wins the role.
While she's wary of once again being in another superhero film, the character is so far removed from Catwoman , she agrees to the part .

For the role of the Human Torch , Brad Pitt coming hot off of Seven , is cast as the charismatic ladies man , Human Torch .
The producers feel that his sex appeal and popularity with female audiences will help to drive the Box Office .

With the Fantastic Four cast , Emmerich decides he wants a larger than life thespian to play the role, and Jeremy Irons accepts the part.
While Anthony Hopkins is considered, he passes on the role .

Finally, for the role of Ben Grimm's love interest Alicia, Oscar Winner Helen Hunt, is cast .




The Cast




Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards : Harrison Ford



Invisible Woman / Sue Storm : Michelle Pfeiffer



Human Torch / Johnny Storm : Brad Pitt



The Thing / Ben Grimm : Sylvester Stallone



Doctor Doom / Victor Von Doom : Jeremy Irons



Alicia Masters : Helen Hunt

 

[Herofan]

Harrison Ford then as Reed would be really interesting and fitting, older and yet not old, pretty hard to exactly estimate age, and good match with Michelle Pfeiffer as Sue.

I didn't really get the appeal of Brad Pitt generally, he was OK in A River Runs Through It and Se7en (and I guess Legends of the Fall and Interview with the Vampire), best in 12 Monkeys, not really strong but he could been good as Johnny, slightly angsty/rebellious and yet overall or at least growing to also caring and reliable. And I can see Stallone then agreeing to take more of a character role and impressing people.

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN ( 1998)
Director : Gus Van Sant



Project History
With James Cameron's Spiderman seemingly going nowhere, Fox Searchlight Studios expresses interest in adapting The character to the big screen.

When Director Gus Van Sant comes on board , The filmmaker decides to approach the story from a darker angle , putting focus on Peter and his friends as outsiders,
with one of them, seeking revenge against their tormentors .

While Electro remains the villain , as in Cameron's script , his is portrayed as one of Peter's outcasted friends, who's transformed into the classic Spiderman villain,
but uses his powers for payback , particularly , against Flash Thompson.

Van Sant wants to focus much more on the interpersonal and emotional connections between Peter and his cliche of misfits , and the dynamic of one of them becoming his enemy.
Otto Octavius is featured in the screenplay as a much younger high school teacher, and mentor to Peter , who see's himself in the young genius.

In addition to Peter's angst about fighting his friend, the film would feature a very haunted young man still dealing with his Uncle's death , and the roll he played in it.

The film is not an origin story , but the film features flashbacks to his origin's which inform his current challenge.

Van Sant decides to give Peter his black suit for the first film, forgoing the red and blue suit until the last frame once Peter comes to terms with his past, and becomes the Spiderman we all know.

Ultimately, the studio agrees with Van Sant's vision of a more indie film style Spiderman adventure .


Casting
Hot off of What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio is the first choice to play this version of Peter Parker , though Joaquin Phoenix also auditions for the role.

When the young DiCaprio agrees , Van Sant still wants Phoenix in the project , impressed by his audition .
Consequently, he's cast as Harry Osborn , who in this version , is a disappointment to his stern father and escapes through drugs .

For the role of Electro , Van Sant choose Adrian Brody , feeling he could make the transition from outcast to a psychotic outcast who Spiderman must face.

For the role of Peter's love interest , Brittany Murphy is cast as the daughter of a blue collar police captain who loves Peter , but the two of them haven't made a move yet.

For the role of Mary Jane Watson , Neve Campbell is cast , though in this version she's a wild child and a rebel very much in contrast to the popular beauty in high school.
She's Harry's girlfriend but her attraction to Peter complicates the dynamics within the group.

Rounding out the cast is Frances McDormand as a much younger , blue collar worker, version of Aunt May , Philip Seymour Hoffman as Peter's mentor Otto, Cole Hauser as the imposing Bully Flash,
and character actors Raymond J Barry as George Stacy and James Rebhorn as Norman Osborn.



The Cast




Spiderman / Peter Parker : Leonardo DiCaprio



Gwen Stacy : Britney Murphy



Electro / Max Dillion : Adrian Brody



Harry Osborn : Joaquin Phoenix



Mary Jane Watson : Neve Campbell



Otto Octavius : Philip Seymour Hoffman



Aunt May : Francis MacDormand



Norman Osborn : James Rebhorn


Captain Stacy : Raymond J. Barry
Flash Thompson : Cole Hauser

 

[Frodo]

THE HULK ( 1996)
Director : David Cronenberg



Project History
With the long gestating Hulk Project going nowhere , Director David Cronenberg is hired by Universal to bring the project to life.
However, Cronenberg has a very different view of the property than previous scripts .
Looking to his prior films like The Fly , and taking inspiration of The Classic Universal Monsters films of the 30s and 40s, Cronenberg wants the Hulk film to be a tragic, monster movie,
as opposed to a direct adaptation of the comics .

Instead, Hulk would be truly portrayed as the out of control monster as opposed to the misunderstood creature of the comics, cartoons, and tv series. .
Banner would be similar to the protagonists of Universal's monster films, a decent man whom falls at the mercy of the creature whose taken them over.

In a twist on the comics, his great love Betty , would be married to Talbot, who, in this version ,would also be a decent Military man, adding to the already tense dynamic to the triangle.

Thunderbolt Ross would remain the domineering General , wary of Banner's intentions , and hating and wanting to capture the Hulk to protect his daughter.

Betty as in the comics, would remain a scientist and Bruce's friend, but the clear unspoken feelings between the two are evident.

As The Hulk however, Bruce's inner passions, jealousy, and possessiveness over Betty would express themselves with the creature being obsessed and single-minded in capturing her.
Cronenberg saw the creature as akin to a more malevolent version of King Kong , yet having the strength of Frankenstein's monster and the ferociousness , of the Wolf Man.


Ultimately the film is about the consequences about Man's hubris , and the inner struggles over Man's emotions manifest in the form of the giant monster.

The producers see the film as a one and done film given it's radical departure from the source material.

Casting
Though several actors, including Daniel Day Lewis are considered for Banner, ultimately, Cronenberg casts Gary Oldman as the doomed scienctist , particularly after seeing him in Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula.
The actor also reminds the producers of Claude Raines who played the Invisible Man

For the role of Betty , Cronenberg goes for another outside the box choice in Emma Thompson , playing an independent and brilliant woman ,torn in three different directions.

The roles of Talbot and Ross go to Liam Neeson and Christopher Plummer respectively.

In the role of Rick Jones, Banner's younger protege' is up and coming UK actor Jonny Lee Miller



The Cast



Hulk / Bruce Banner : Gary Oldman



Betty Ross Talbot : Emma Thompson



Glen Talbot : Liam Neeson



Thunderbolt Ross : Christopher Plummer



Rick Jones : Jonny Lee Miller

 

[Frodo]

THE UNCANNY X MEN ( 1988)
Director : Joel Schumacher



Project History
Coming off the heels of The Lost Boys, Director Joel Schumacher expresses interest in adapting the lesser known Marvel Characters the X Men into a major motion picture.
Seeing the potential for a film about youth alienation, racism , bigotry, and prejudice, he's intrigued by the property which is unlike many of heroes of the time.
With the film being distributed by 20th century Fox , Schumacher plans to keep the budget to a minimum by focusing on the original 5 X men and having a human protagonist.

Based loosely on the recent storyline " God Loves , Man Kills" Reverend Stryker, a religious zealot would serve as The Human antagonist , with Jean Grey serving as the central character of the film.
Jean would be portrayed as a troubled runaway who finds refuge in Xavier's school .
Cyclops would be portrayed as the moody outsider and loner , akin to a young James Dean . Eventually, the character would learn to embrace his role as leader of the group.

Angel , would be portrayed as a trust fund kid , who is the family's dirty little secret being a Mutant . He's shipped off to Xavier's school as a means of hiding him from his father's friends.

Beast would be portrayed as Xavier's golden child, and the one he sees himself in the most. Beast and Cyclops would clash mirroring somewhat they dynamic between Cyclops and Wolverine in the comics.

Meanwhile , Bobby would be the youngest member of the group providing levity to the serious teens.

The door would be open to sequels if the first film is a success, but during filming, Schumacher made the film as a one shot much like his films St. Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys.



The Cast



Cyclops : Jason Patric



Jean Grey : Diane Lane



Beast : John Cusack



Angel : Kiefer Sutherland



Iceman : C Thomas Howell



Professor X : Roddy McDowall



William Stryker : Brian Dennehy

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN ( 1998)
Director : Gus Van Sant
View attachment 104061


Project History
With James Cameron's Spiderman seemingly going nowhere, Fox Searchlight Studios expresses interest in adapting The character to the big screen.

When Director Gus Van Sant comes on board , The filmmaker decides to approach the story from a darker angle , putting focus on Peter and his friends as outsiders,
with one of them, seeking revenge against their tormentors .

While Electro remains the villain , as in Cameron's script , his is portrayed as one of Peter's outcasted friends, who's transformed into the classic Spiderman villain,
but uses his powers for payback , particularly , against Flash Thompson.

Van Sant wants to focus much more on the interpersonal and emotional connections between Peter and his cliche of misfits , and the dynamic of one of them becoming his enemy.
Otto Octavius is featured in the screenplay as a much younger high school teacher, and mentor to Peter , who see's himself in the young genius.

In addition to Peter's angst about fighting his friend, the film would feature a very haunted young man still dealing with his Uncle's death , and the roll he played in it.

The film is not an origin story , but the film features flashbacks to his origin's which inform his current challenge.

Van Sant decides to give Peter his black suit for the first film, forgoing the red and blue suit until the last frame once Peter comes to terms with his past, and becomes the Spiderman we all know.

Ultimately, the studio agrees with Van Sant's vision of a more indie film style Spiderman adventure .


Casting
Hot off of What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio is the first choice to play this version of Peter Parker , though Joaquin Phoenix also auditions for the role.

When the young DiCaprio agrees , Van Sant still wants Phoenix in the project , impressed by his audition .
Consequently, he's cast as Harry Osborn , who in this version , is a disappointment to his stern father and escapes through drugs .

For the role of Electro , Van Sant choose Adrian Brody , feeling he could make the transition from outcast to a psychotic outcast who Spiderman must face.

For the role of Peter's love interest , Brittany Murphy is cast as the daughter of a blue collar police captain who loves Peter , but the two of them haven't made a move yet.

For the role of Mary Jane Watson , Neve Campbell is cast , though in this version she's a wild child and a rebel very much in contrast to the popular beauty in high school.
She's Harry's girlfriend but her attraction to Peter complicates the dynamics within the group.

Rounding out the cast is Frances McDormand as a much younger , blue collar worker, version of Aunt May , Philip Seymour Hoffman as Peter's mentor Otto, Cole Hauser as the imposing Bully Flash,
and character actors Raymond J Barry as George Stacy and James Rebhorn as Norman Osborn.



The Cast



View attachment 104054
Spiderman / Peter Parker : Leonardo DiCaprio


View attachment 104056
Gwen Stacy : Britney Murphy


View attachment 104067
Electro / Max Dillion : Adrian Brody


View attachment 104055
Harry Osborn : Joaquin Phoenix


View attachment 104057
Mary Jane Watson : Neve Campbell


View attachment 104052
Otto Octavius : Philip Seymour Hoffman


View attachment 104064
Aunt May : Francis MacDormand


View attachment 104063
Norman Osborn : James Rebhorn


Captain Stacy : Raymond J. Barry
Flash Thompson : Cole Hauser

SPIDERMAN : CHAPTER II ( 2000)
Director : Gus Van Sant



Project History
With the first film an acclaimed hit , plans for a sequel are a no brainer .
This time around Fox searchlight gives Van Sant Carte Blanche to tell the story he wants to tell, even if that means, once again, taking liberties with the source material.
For the sequel , Van Sant wants to explore how a group of friends can grow apart from each other , and the potential conflicts which can arise from that.

In the second film , Spiderman embraces his role as the hopeful symbol of a neighborhood hero, as opposed to the darker urban myth .
At the same time , Peter becomes caught up in a romance with the popular and wealthy socialite, Felicia, a girl who once looked down on Peter and his outcast friends.
This causes a fissure with Harry , who thinks Peter has sold out .

Adding to Harry's rage ,is his father's continued disdain for his son , while he takes Peter under his wing , and exposes Peter to a different class of people.
All the while , Harry falls further into his drug addiction , as he mourns Max's death, and blames Spiderman for it .
As his drug addiction grows, he falls under the influence of the neighborhood crime boss, Tombstone , whose rules the neighborhood with an iron fist.

With Tombstone serving as the film's antagonist , the film would be a clash between Spiderman trying to protect the neighborhood and Tombstone wanting him eliminated as a deterrent from the citizens rising up against him.

Captain Stacy , would serve a larger role in the sequel , as the officer working off the books to help Spiderman, while Gwen would express interest in joining the NYPD as a CSI , putting her science skills to good use.
Her friendship with Peter would also fray due to his relationship with Felicia,

Mary Jane would return in a reduced role due to Neve Campbell's busy schedule, and due to Felicia's role in the film.
The in film explanation would be that Mary Jane breaks up with Harry over his addition and new associations .
In a break from the comics , It would also be hinted that an affair with Harry's Father ,is another reason she's keep Harry at arms length.


Octavious would still serve as Peter's mentor and voice of reason as he feels pulled in multiple directions.
The film would continue to maintain it's darker ,and more grounded tone ,of the first film .


The Cast




Spiderman / Peter Parker : Leonardo DiCaprio



Felicia Hardy : Heather Graham



Gwen Stacy : Brittney Murphy



Harry Osborn : Joaquin Phoenix



Mary Jane Watson : Neve Campbell

Norman Osborn : James Rebhorn



Captain Stacy : Raymond J Barry



Otto Octavius : Philip Seymour Hoffman



Tombstone : Michael Jai White

Aunt May : Francis MacDormand

 

[Frodo]

SPIDERMAN UNMASKED ( 2010)
Director : Sam Raimi
Producers : Avi Arad and Kevin Feige
Screenplay : Alvin Sargent and James Vanderbilt



Project History
With the Box Office success , yet mixed reaction of Spiderman 3, it's clear that the franchise needs a creative overhaul and a new direction.
While Sam Raimi wants to return, he wants much more freedom on Spiderman 4 than the mandated chaos of Spiderman 3.
Raimi wants to utilize the variety of villains from the Lee Ditko era , while at the same time, returning the focus back to Peter's journey through adulthood.
It was clear, Raimi didn't want the free for all , script by committee nonsense which burdened Spiderman 3's story.

Sony , wanting Raimi to return decides to reign in Avi Arad and his suggestions to give the director a much freer hand on the project .
This time around , Alvin Sargent is joined by James Vanderbilt , who helps bring a fresh perspective and approach to the current story.

Story
With the Osborn saga firmly behind them , the writers decide to begin a whole new chapter in Peter's journey, with the films focusing being about the stresses and opportunities of change .
The film would focus on Peter both struggling and embracing a brand new life , while a new foe threatens to reveal the secret he's hidden for years.

The film would take place 2 years after the events of Spiderman 3, with Peter still working to repair some of the damage to his reputation from Spiderman 3.
With MJ out of town , Peter would find romance and adventure in the form of the mysterious Black Cat aka Felicia Hardy.
Black Cat be a fun distraction for Peter, with the wall crawler engaged in a fun game of cat and mouse, with the sultry thief.

At the same time , Peter would begin his job as a high school science teacher at Midtown High , ironically, joining the faculty with Coach Flash Thompson.
While Peter's personal and professional life would change, Aunt May would be seeing Nathan Lubensky , a change that Peter meets with mixed emotions.

As Spiderman , The Wall crawler has run a foul of the underworld criminal known as The Vulture, having foiled his plans and disrupted his organization several times .
Modeled after Professor Moriarty , The Vulture in this iteration ,would be an underworld crime boss ,and criminal mastermind, who the wallcrawler has worked to unmask.

With the lack of access to Kingpin due to rights issues , it was decided to use Vulture instead , with the classic villain in essence filling the function of Wilson Fisk.

Ultimately , the constant interference from Spiderman would result in The Vulture hiring Kraven The Hunter to hunt and eliminate The Spiderman.
With genetic enhancements, and unquestioned skills, Kraven ends up studying and stalking those seemingly Spiderman.

After suffering a defeat in their first encounter, Kraven becomes more extreme , enhancing himself genetically, and deciding to do the Vulture's bidding , " On The House".

Ultimately, Kraven would discover Peter's true identity and target May , Nathan , and The Black Cat, forcing Spiderman to confront the now crazed, enhanced, and obsessed Kraven , in a storyline reminiscent to Kraven's last Hunt.

In the end , Peter would free himself from Kraven's deadly trap , in a race to save May, Nathan, and The Black Cat against Kraven and The Vulture's organization.
Kraven would ultimately plunge to his death , while Spiderman would unmask the Vulture's identity , who , as it turns out, is The Black Cat's father.

In the end , Spiderman has no choice but to bring him in , but having saved Toomes's daugther, the ex- crime boss keeps his mouth shut about Peter's identity.

Though the Spiderman and Black Cat romance would end, the door would be left open for her return , but with the Vulture behind bars,
The wall crawler knows his organization is still in place , and that a new criminal will soon inherit it .

The last scene of the film is a mysterious figure taking the helm of Vulture's empire , with it revealed to be a version of the character , The Chameleon.


Casting
With Tobey Maguire returning, it's decided to leave Mary Jane off the canvas , with the intention of eventually bringing her back.
Hence , Kirsten Dunst only appears in one of the films opening scenes as she leaves for Europe to film a movie.

For the role of Black Cat, Raimi ultimately casts Anne Hathaway for the role.

For the role of Vulture Raimi decides to go with John Malkovich though one time candidate Ben Kinglsey is once again considered.

Various actors from Liam Neeson from to Gerard Butler , are consider for Kraven, but it's the outside the box choice of Javier Bardem who gets the role.
It's Bardem's intensity a charisma who Raimi feels presents a different threat from the previous villains.

Rounding out the cast are acclaimed actor Hal Holbrook as Nathan and Vivica A Fox as Jean DeWolfe , a character from the comics who would serve as Spiderman's liaison to the NYPD,
With the two characters engaged in a witty banter .



Cast



Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tobey Maguire



Kraven The Hunter : Javier Bardem




Vulture / Adrian Toomes : John Malcovich



Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Anne Hathaway



Aunt May : Rosemary Harris



Nathan Lubensky : Hal Halbrook



Jean De Wolfe : Vivica A. Fox



Mary Jane Watson : Kirsten Dunst

J. Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons
Rand Robinson : Hill Harper
Hoffman : Ted Rami
Betty Brant : Elizabeth Banks
Flash Thompson : Joe Manganiello
The Chameleon : Christoph Waltz

 

[Frodo]

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



Project History
With a proposed Spiderman film on the table since the early 80s , various scripts are written , some following the source material to a T , and others taking a radical departure from the source material.
By 1983 , Director and Producer ,Steven Spielberg, becomes intrigued by adapting the Spiderman story to the big screen .
Spielberg see's the epic potential of a film covering the trials and tribulations of Peter Parker , very much in the vain of Donner's Superman film.

Though there had been a brief tv series in the 70s, the show was very limited by it's budget and had very little resemblance to the source material.
The idea of a teenage , guilt ridden Superhero , who still has to balance his love life, his rent, and Supervillains, was right up the Director's ally.

After pitching the potential of a Spiderman film , Universal Pictures buys out Canon films for the rights , and Spiderman : The Motion Picture , is greenlit.
While Spielberg would remain on the project as producer, he feels Back To The Future and Romancing The Stone director Robert Zemeckis is the perfect choice to tackle the property.
The project won't be cheap by any means , but Spielberg's clout and track record means Universal will give him an unprecedented, free hand.

The film begins shooting in 1985 for a Summer 1986 release date.


Story
With the film now in Universal's hands, the previous screenplays are tossed out .
With Bob Gale writing the first draft , and Lawrence Kasdan writing subsequent drafts , the film begins to take shape.

The story covers Spiderman's comic accurate origins, though Peter is a sophomore at Columbia University as opposed to being in high school .

As in the comics , Peter is bitten by a radioactive Spider , uses his powers to make money , allows a criminal to get away who then kills Uncle Ben, then vows to use his powers for the greater good,
learning that with great power comes great responsibility.

At the same time, Peter would have to manage being keeping his secret from his Aunt May, his roommate Harry Osborn , and his girlfriend Gwen Stacy.

Gwen would be portrayed as Peter's intellectual equal and in the film , the two would already be in a serious relationship

Harry Osborn would be portrayed as the typical eighties yuppie , spending more times in nightclubs than in class .
Taking a page from the comics, it would be clear Harry has an addiction problem, though it's masked by his fun loving frat boy behavior.

Gwen's father, the hard nosed NYC Cop, would serve as an unlikely ally to the wall crawler throughout the film, mirroring his relationship with Spiderman in the comics.

At the center of the film, would be a war between two of Spiderman's classic rogues , Doctor Octopus and The Green Goblin , both of whom, would turn out to be Peter's mentors , with the wall crawler caught in the middle .

While Peter would be Ock's prized student at Columbia , Norman Osborn would be a father figure to Peter , having known him through Harry since both boys were in Highschool.


The film would also feature comics mainstay J .Jonah Jameson as a constant thorn in the Webheads side in the press.

Ultimately, the film would end with the deaths of Doc Ock and Captain Stacy , as a result of The Green Goblin , Ock, and Spiderman battling each other.

Before George Stacy dies , he reveals to Spiderman that he knows he's Peter Parker , and that he wants him to watch over Gwen .
At the same time , Spiderman discovers that Norman Osborn is the Green Goblin, though Osborn has amnesia .

Peter must not only protect Gwen from Norman , but protect Norman from the authorities for Harry .
Gwen however , ends up blaming Spiderman for her father's death ,and wanting to discover the identities of both The Green Goblin and Spiderman.

The film ends on multiple hanging threads.

If a sequel isn't granted , it serves as a complete origin of how Peter Parker goes from naive college Freshman, to an adult,
who becomes Manhattan's sole protector, leaving the door open enough for the next time to take a potential franchise in a new direction ,with an already established Spiderman.


Casting

SPIDERMAN / PETER PARKER
Though a variety of actors from Tom Cruise, Andrew McCarthy, and Matthew Broderick , Spielberg and Zemeckis want Back To The Future and Teen Wolf lead, Michael J Fox,
to take on the role .

Given the actors immense popularity with boys and girls alike , and his natural humor and charisma, Zemeckis considers him far and away the best choice.
Though his TV series Family Ties ,and other film projects ,provide stumbling blocks, Universal is able to work out a deal for Fox to be the film's lead.

GREEN GOBLIN / NORMAN OSBORN
While actors from Christopher Walken ( The Deer Hunter ) to James Woods ( Once Upon A Time In America ) are considered for the part , Zemeckis wants actor and producer Michael Douglas to take on the role of The Green Goblin.
Having worked with Douglas on Romancing The Stone , Zemeckis and Spielberg feel that Douglas can go from being a buttoned straight laced business man, to the wiley,
funny, and menacing Green Goblin .
Spielberg and Zemeckis also find him a believable father figure to Michael J Fox.

DOCTOR OCTOPUS / OTTO OCTAVIUS
Bob Hoskins, an actor considered for the role going back to the early 1980s , is ultimately cast as Spiderman's other foe .
Like Douglas , Spielberg and Zemeckis feel the actor can capture the duality of Peter's other mentor and friend turned foe.
Hoskins, while known for playing tough guys , can shift between the mild tempered Ock, to the megalomaniacal supervillain.

GWEN STACY
Several young actresses of the time are considered for the role of Peter's girlfriend .
Demi Moore ( St. Elmos Fire ) , Ally Sheedy ( Breakfast Club) , Phoebe Cates ( Gremlins) , and Kelly Preston ( Secret Admirer ) all audition for the part , but Zemeckis goes with Karate Kid actress Elisabeth Shue for the role.
Shue's great smile and girl next door quality made her the perfect candidate for Peter's charming and quirky lab partner and girlfriend.


HARRY OSBORN
While actors such as Rob Lowe ( Class ) and Val Kilmer ( Real Genius ) are considered , Zemeckis wants St. Elmos Fire and Breakfast Club actor Judd Nelson to play Peter's party hardy roommate.
Nelson's ability to play the playboy yet bring depth and nuance to also playing tortured characters, make him an intriguing casting for Harry Osborn.

GEORGE STACY
Though Harrison Ford is approached, the actor turns down the role feeling it too small amongst the variety of other characters.
Spielberg than turns to his Jaws lead Roy Scheider.
Having appeared in films such as The French Connection and Marathon Man, Scheider seems tailor made for the hard nosed NYC cop , and his comedic banter ,
with Fox's Spiderman becomes a running gag throughout the film.

SUPPORTING CAST
As in Superman : The Movie, the rest of Peter Parker' supporting cast is filled with established and respected actors such as James Garner as Uncle Ben, Olympia Dukakis as Aunt May, and
Dabney Coleman as J. Jonah Jameson.
Bernie Casey makes an appearance as Robbie Robertson and Hulk Hogan has a cameo as Crusher Hogan .



The Cast




Spiderman / Peter Parker : Michael J Fox



Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Michael Douglas



Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavius : Bob Hoskins



Gwen Stacy : Elisabeth Shue



Captain Stacy : Roy Scheider




Harry Osborn : Judd Nelson



Uncle Ben : James Garner



Aunt May : Olympia Dukakis



J. Jonah Jameson : Dabney Coleman

Robbie Roberson : Bernie Casey
Crusher Hogan : Hulk Hogan

 

[Herofan]

View attachment 104052
Otto Octavius : Philip Seymour Hoffman

Hoffman would be one of the very few actors who I can see who could make a young take on Dr. Octopus, him being a near-contemporary to Peter, work.

 

[Frodo]

THE MANY FOES OF SPIDERMAN ( 1998)
Director : Martin Campbell
View attachment 102946



Story
Spiderman prepares for the fight of his life,
as he battles The Sinister Six,
A group made up of foes ,
all of whom know Spiderman's true identity.

Now , Peter Parker must fight a war on multiple fronts to not only protect himself,
But his family , friends, and loved ones.

At work,
he must stop his longtime rival Eddie Brock from revealing his identity in the bugle headlines.

In the personal life,
He must battle Norman Osborn , the man who took Gwen away
,and has returned to avenge his son Harry.

Octavius targets Peter's heart by courting his Aunt May

Chameleon sully's the reputation of his parents, revealing long held secrets,

While Kraven hunt's the Spider ,for the last time.



The Cast


View attachment 102939
Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Ethan Hawke


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Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Christopher Walken


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Venom / Eddie Brock : Eric Bruskotter


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Doctor Octopus : Bob Gunton


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Kraven The Hunter : Jean Reno


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Chameleon : Robert Carlyle


View attachment 102947
Hobgoblin / Rodrick Kingsley : Malcolm McDowell

Mary Jane Watson : Uma Thurman

Aunt May : Maggie Smith
J. Jonah Jameson : R Lee Emrey
Robbie Robertson : Joe Morton

THE HUNT FOR SPIDER-MAN ( 1999)
Director : Michael Apted



For the first time, Spiderman finds himself trapped .
With the deaths of George and Gwen Stacy , and Norman and Harry Osborn laid at his feet,
The public wants the Spiderman brought to justice, once and for all.

With the Daily Bugle calling for Spiderman's heads,
and vigilante's both Superpowered and human wanting him captured,

Spiderman is confronted by enemies seen and unseen,
in addition to unlikely allies who pool their resources into finding him.

While Matt Murdock aka Daredevil thinks he's innocent .
The Superpowered Captain Jupiter vows to restore law and order in the city and capture the Spiderman,

While Electro , Vulture , Sandman , and Scorpion are given amnesty ,in return for bringing in the Spiderman , dead or alive.

All the while , the puppet master behind Spiderman's frame up , is a mob princess and assassin, Silver Sable,
who has her own scores to settle with Spiderman.

As all the city is looking for him ,
Spiderman must vanish, perhaps for good.

But can Peter truly give up being Spiderman ,
When the city still needs him ?


The Cast




Spider-man / Peter Parker : Ethan Hawke



Daredevil / Matt Murdock : Sean Bean



Captain Jupiter / John Jameson : Ben Affleck



Silver Sable : Lena Olin



Scorpion / Matt Gargan : Ron Perlman



Vulture : James Cromwell



Electro : Michael Wincott



Sandman : Brian Thompson

Mary Jane Watson : Uma Thurman
Aunt May : Maggie Smith
J. Jonah Jameson : R Lee Emrey

 

[Sawyer]

Thought this looked like Joely Richardson. She probably would’ve killed it in the late 90s/early 2000s.

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE LAST WAY HOME ( 2023)
Director : Drew Goddard




Story
It's been months since the world forgot Peter Parker was Spiderman ,
and while the spell was a bitter pill for Peter to swallow,
It seemed to have worked, until now.

Unfortunately, not every villain returned to their universes with Strange's Spell ,
and both of them have a burning hatred for Peter, and a desire for revenge.

Now as Peter begins the application process at Empire State University ,
he must not only take on another Goblin , in the form of Harry Osborn , a variant of Norman's Son,
But Venom , the alien that Peter learned about, and whose ready to take out his vengence on any version of Peter he finds.

When The Green Goblin and Venom learn of the existence of the 616 version of Gwen Stacy ,
they've found the perfect bait ,
to finish the Spider once and for all.

Now , Peter is in a race against time to find the mysterious Gwen,
and protect her from two sociopathic foes
all without the help of his Brothers .

But with Doctor Strange absent ,
He'll receive an assist from the Multiverse Hoping America Chavez, to help Peter send Venom and The Goblin Home.

But with his lingering rage over May's death,
Can he control his feelings ,

Or will Brock's symbiote attach to Peter as a new host,
and help him finish his final mult-iversal foes ?



The Cast



Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Holland



Gwen Stacy : Grace Van Dien



Green Goblin / Harry Osborn : Dane Dehaan



Venom / Eddie Brock : Topher Grace



America Chavez : Xochitl Gomez



George Stacy : Aaron Eckhart



J. Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE MOVIE ( 1987)
Director : John Badham


Project History
With the past several years spent getting a Spiderman film off the ground , Canon Studios wants to move forward with the project before they loose the rights,
and while they still have the money to make it .
Though several different directors are attached to the project , including Joe Zito, the directing duties ultimately fall to Saturday Night Fever and War Games director John Badham.

However , unlike his recently finished hit Short Circuit, the budget for Spiderman: The Movie would be much smaller, and the film would be more akin to a street level,
action romp than a sweeping superhero epic like Superman The Movie.

While up and coming actors such as Tom Cruise, Matthew Broderick, and Steve Guttenberg are all approached to play Peter Parker,
The Last Starfighter actor Lance Guest agrees to play the role .

The film goes into production in Toronto Canada in 1986 , for a Christmas 1987 release date .

Story
With the budget low , and limited resources , it was clear that Spiderman would be the only superpower individual in the film .

Instead of more powerful and popular villains such as Doc Ock, Green Goblin , and Electro, the decision was made to utilize one of Spiderman's more grounded villains, The Enforcers , who would be working for Mr. Big aka The Big Man, who would serve as the wall crawler's primary foil.

The film, would also take liberties with it's source material , with Mr. Big , who in reality is Fredrick Foswell, would also serve as A friend mentor for Peter .

The writers decide to make the Foswell character a fusion of Kingpin and Norman Osborn from the comics , with the character secretly heading a criminal group ,
while also being Peter's trusted friend and mentor.

Liz Allen , who in the comics is Peter's highschool crush, would instead be Liz Foswell , Fredrick's daughter, and Peter's love interest.

Peter would already be college aged when he attains the Spider powers , as opposed to a high school student.

However, in another break from the comics, Peter would only become Spiderman as a result of the Murder of his Uncle Ben , at the hand of The Enforcers,
who have shaken down local shop keepers like Ben and May .

When Ben refuses to pay for protection, the hit is ordered on Peter's uncle from Mr. Big.

Spiderman , in this story , becomes an avenging vigilante vowing to take down , those who killed his Uncle , only to find the source being his Mentor and Friend Foswell.

In the end , he defeats Mr. Big and the Enforcers while inspiring the neighborhood , thus becoming the neighborhood's champion and protector .

But Peter's victory comes at a cost when Spiderman has to put away Liz's beloved father , and blames Spiderman for his take down.

Though Peter is on the verge of telling her the truth, he keeps it from her and instead , walks away from the relationship , wanting to spare Liz of the pain.

He now has a higher calling as Spiderman , which can put Peter's loved ones in the crosshairs of his enemies , so he must fight the good fight alone.


The Cast




Spiderman / Peter Parker : Lance Guest



Liz Foswell : Lorie Griffin



The Big Man / Fredrick Foswell : William Atherton



Montana : Fred Ward



Ox : Clancy Brown



Fancy Dan : Robert Davi



Uncle Ben : Wilford Brimley



Aunt May : Frances Sternhagen

 

[Frodo]

THE AMAZING SPIDER -MAN ( 1992)
Director : Steven Spielberg
Producer : Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy
Music : John Williams
Screenplay : Lawrence Kasdan




Project History
In the Aftermath of Batman 89's global success , producers are desperate to get a big budget , all star cast , Spiderman film off the ground.
Producers and execs both feel that a Spiderman film could earn just as much, if not more, than a Batman film.
The character had been popular in comics and on tv for decades by the early 90s . and the potential for a Spiderman film to rake in dollars and mercandise
is too good for any studio to pass up.

Whatever hesitation in the success of a Spiderman film goes out the window with the Box Office performance of Batman ,
and with other studios developing other heroes, Paramount Studios wants to strike while the iron is hot and produce a Spiderman film .

While directors from Joe Dante to John McTiernan are considered, Paramount wants Steven Spielberg to helm the sprawling project.
The iconic director agrees to helm the blockbuster project with Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy as producers .
With the trio involved with the project, the hope is to lure other high profile talent .
Indiana Jones scribe Lawrence Kasdan is brought in to pen the motion picture while longtime Spielberg collabarator John Williams agrees to score the film.

Filming takes place in New York and Los Angeles with a Christmas 1992 release date in mind to celebrate the character's 30th anniversey.

Screenplay
The bigger scaled story would pit Spiderman against New York's newest threat , the psychotic Doctor Octopus .

While villains such as Green Goblin , Electro, and even Venom are all considered, Spielberg and the producers feel that Doctor Octopus presents the best opportunity as the first foe for Spiderman .

Taking a page from Batman , The film would begin with a fully established , an experienced adult Spiderman who'd be operating as a hero for several years.

As a result , Peter Parker would be in his twenties and working as a photographer for the Daily Bugle, which, in this version would be more akin to The New York Times,
than a tabloid or smaller newspaper.

Aunt May would be featured as a supporting character , but like Batman 1989, Spiderman's origins and Uncle Ben's murder would be shown in flashbacks as opposed
to being driving narratives in the story.

Mary Jane would be an actress Peter's meets after he photographs her for a Bugle write up piece .
As the two of them connect through out the film, she becomes the object of affection of the sinister Doctor Octopus , and like Vicki Vale,
is caught in a triangle between a hero and villain.

As Peter gets closer to MJ , he pushes her away knowing that she is at risk , and fearful she will meet the same fate as Uncle Ben.

The final battle between Doc Ock and Spiderman would take place on the Empire State Building with MJ held captive, in a knod to King Kong.

In the end , Ock would fall to his death and Spiderman would save Mary Jane just in time.

Peter ultimately reveals to Mary Jane that he is Spiderman and the two decide to move forward together .

The film is constructed as a one and done with the door open to sequels.


Casting

SPIDERMAN / PETER PARKER
With the success of Michael Keaton's casting as Batman, Paramount wants a big name to play Spiderman , feeling that in order to sell the film with a hero whose face is covered,
they need a big name actor as opposed to an unknown.

Though actors as varied from Keanu Reeves and Charlie Sheen are rumored , it's Tom Cruise whom Paramount and the Producer's want .
He'd been considered for the part going back to the early 80s, but now as a box office juggernaut the studio want the charismatic young actor to play the part.

In a surprise move , the actor agrees in order to work with Spielberg, but signs a one picture deal , and not committing to any sequels.

If the series is to continue, Cruise will sign on a picture by picture basis contenigent on the script.
Cruise's casting is met with excitement by the public at large and with interest and buzz in the media.

DOCTOR OCTOPUS/ OTTO OCTAVIUS
For the role of Doc Ock , producers want an actor charismatic enough to evoke the same type of energy and excitement of Nicholson's Joker.
At the top of their list is Arnold Schwarzenegger , but he turns down the role .

Jack Nicholson is also approached but like Schwarzenegger , passes on the part.
Other actors like Gene Hackman and Sean Connery want too much money , and while John Litgow expresses interest , execs want a bigger name.

Ultimately, it's Silence Of The Lambs Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins who agrees to play Spiderman's iconic villain and he and Cruise have great chemistry.

MARY JANE WATSON
While Meg Ryan and Cruise's wife Nicole Kidman are considered for the part , it's Pretty Woman actress Julia Roberts , who lands the role of Peter's love interest .
The actress is hot off of a few hit films and in her 20s is already in high demand .
Producers feel the trio of Cruise, Roberts, and Hopkins are more than enough to drive the box office , even putting aside the fact that the film is about Spiderman.

SUPPORTING ROLES
The roles of Aunt May and Uncle Ben go to Maggie Smith and James Garner respectively.
Tommy Lee Jones , who at this point , was in high demand agrees to play editor of the Daily Bugle Jameson, while Morgan Freeman is cast as Robbie Robertson.


The Cast



Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise



Doctor Octopus : Anthony Hopkins


Mary Jane Watson : Julia Roberts


J. Jonah Jameson : Tommy Lee Jones


Robbie Robertson : Morgan Freeman


Aunt May : Maggie Smith


Uncle Ben : James Garner

 

[Herofan]

Spielberg did hate working with Julia Roberts in Hook But she was still very much a huge star who would be very wanted for the role.

I can see Cruise (though I would prefer Broderick as a least a bit more offbeat kind of star), Roberts and Hopkins working as somewhat older and more established versions of the characters, or the others being more established and Octavius older but still going bad for first time, which I can see being the take gone with for a movie in the early to mid '90s.

It's interesting to me to think that with most comic book movies they have been directed by pretty young people with just about one previous hit film (Donner, Burton and Singer, with Raimi having just a few cult hits, even not that for Favreau), those with a lot more tend to be uninterested, wanted by studios but they turn them down.

 

[Frodo]

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDERMAN ( 1995)
Director : Steven Spielberg


Project History
With the first Spiderman film becoming a major box office success which spawned toys, merchandise , and people excitement for a sequel,
Plans for a second film began .
The films two leads Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts would ask for much more money for the sequel and while producers and Spielberg mulled recasting the roles if the deals fell through,
Paramount was adament the producers work out a deal to bring Cruise and Roberts back .

After the two heavy hitters found a payment that they could accept , Cruise would become a producer on the film along with Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy returning as Producers.
Cruise wanted to ensure the quality on the second film remained high, and that it didn't decline like The Superman films.

The filming for , what would now be called The Spectacular Spiderman , would begin in New York and Los Angeles in 1994 for a Winter 1995 release date.

Lawrence Kasdan would once again return to pen the script .

Screenplay
With of flurry of excitement over the Sequel to The Amazing Spiderman , fans furiously speculated about who the villain of the next film would be .
Names like Kraven, Kingpin, Venom, and The Sinister Six made the rounds , but in the end, the production decides to go with The Green Goblin , as the next big Spiderman villain.

However , the story would have a twist , with Peter , now engaged to Mary Jane, haunted by the death of his previous fiancée, Gwen , at the Hands of an old foe,
The Green Goblin.

It would be revealed through flashbacks ,that The Green Goblin was Norman Osborn, a mentor to Peter ,who eventually discovered that Peter was Spiderman ,
and after their long ongoing feud, murdered Gwen .

Spiderman thought Green Goblin died in their final confrontation , until now.

As Peter's wedding grows near , The Green Goblin re-emerges terrorizing the staff at the Daily Bugle, and taunts Spiderman with the failure of saving Gwen,
and the threat of history repeating itself with the Goblin killing MJ on her Wedding night.

Gwen would be seen throughout the film in flashbacks ,and would serve as a constant reminder of the price of being Spiderman.

As the wedding draws closer, and the Goblin's presence more threatening , Peter calls off the wedding in fear for MJ's life ,
presenting a major barrier to the relationship continuing .

In the end , it would be revealed that Peter's friend, Reporter Ned Leeds , was really the new Green Goblin , in a break from the comics.

Ned , as it turns out, would have been a perverse fan of the Green Goblin and his reign of terror .

He eventually found Osborn's old Goblin lair , and would have known for years that Peter was Spiderman, and wanted to engage in a gaslighting ,and terror campaign, in order to avenge his idol.

Kasdan makes Leeds akin to an obsessed fan of criminals and killers , seeing the original Green Goblin as the role model he never had.

While Harry Osborn was briefly considered for Ned's role in the film ,Kasdan decides to throw in the twist that would surprise the comic reading fanbase,
with the general audience none the wiser.

In the end , Ned's Green Goblin dies accidently during his Battle with Spiderman , much like his idol .

With Green Goblin vanquished, and Peter finally at peace with the past , he ends up marrying Mary Jane, and the two begin a new life together.


CASTING

GREEN GOBLIN / NORMAN OSBORN
Though actors as varied from James Woods, Michael Douglas , Christopher Walken , and Lance Henrickson all popped up in the mix ,
Dennis Hopper, hot off of the hit Speed , was chosen to the original version of Spiderman's classic villain.
Hoppers ability to convey mania with black humor made him the perfect foil to Cruise's haunted Peter Parker and more cocky Spiderman.

GREEN GOBLIN / NED LEEDS
While Tom Cruise's A Few Good Men costars, Kevin Bacon and Kiefer Sutherland were originally considered for the role of Leeds,
It was actor James Spader , known for playing morally complex characters, who landed the role after a great audition.

Spader had come up around the same time as Cruise , and had also been branded with the " Brat Pack " label in the 1980s.
Spielberg liked the contrast of Cruise and Spader who seemed like opposite ends of the spectrum.

GWEN STACY
For the role of Peter's Doomed lover , Spielberg wanted to go a bit younger to emphasize that Gwen was Peter's young love in contrast to Mary Jane,
who was a mature , grown woman .
Gwen was to represent an idealic " first love " representing the innocence in Peter's Past, so casting an actress in her 30s was off the table.
Uma Thurman are Winona Ryder were wooed at one point or another , but they both turn the role down.

Ultimately, Gen X actress ,Samantha Mathis is cast in Flashbacks as Gwen Stacy .


The Cast



Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise


Mary Jane Watson : Julia Roberts



Green Goblin / Ned Leeds : James Spader



Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Dennis Hopper



Gwen Stacy : Samantha Mathis

J. Jonah Jameson : Tommy Lee Jones

Robbie Robertson : Morgan Freeman

Aunt May : Maggie Smith

 

[Frodo]

WEB OF SPIDERMAN ( 1998)
Director : Steven Spielberg
Screenplay : Michael France , David Koepp , and Steven Zillion
Producers : Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy
Executive Producers : Tom Cruise and Paula Wanger


Project History
After the even bigger success of Spectacular Spiderman , plans for a third film go into the works .
However , both Cruise and Roberts become wary of playing these characters for years and years, fearing that doing so would take them away from other interesting projects.

Cruise in particular, is wary of the series going the way of the Batman and Superman films , with each entry getting becoming more campy.
With Cruise becoming more occupied with producing, The Mission Impossible Films, and other commitments, Cruise wants to end the series on a high note in a big budget, action spectacular akin to his first Mission Impossible film in combination with films like The Rock and Con Air.

With Cruise having much more of a production and financial interest in The Spiderman franchise, the actor has much more creative control and input to steer the series in the direction he wants to go in.
Spielberg is also ready to move on from Spiderman , but returns to the series to end it on a high note .
Michael France ( Goldeneye) in addition to David Koepp and Steven Zillion ( Mission Impossible) replaced Kasdan in the screenwriting duties ,
And filming begins in Manhattan , London and Vancouver in the Spring of 1997 , for a winter 1998 release date.

Story
Taking place 3 years after Peter and Mary Jane's Wedding , and with MJ expecting, Peter considers finally hanging up the web shooters, and retiring the Spiderman mantle.
With a new Job as teacher at his old highschool , things seem to be looking up for Peter.

His bliss however, is interrupted with the escape of Six of his former foes , who were each imprisoned as a result of Spiderman .
With each of them baring a grudge and with Vulture as their leader , Kraven, Electro, Mysterio, Sandman, and The Scorpion, stage a daring and spectacular break out, and form the Sinister Six .
As their rampage of New York begins , Peter must put is retirement and domesticity on hold to face 6 villains who test him on every level .

The story is framed as a " last ride " for Cruise's Spiderman , as the hero faces off against his deadliest foes one last time before he gives up being Spiderman.

In his first encounter with the 6, Spiderman would lose badly , which would result in Spiderman disappearing.
With the villains feeling they've vanquished their foe once and for all , Peter would lay low in order to heal and regroup .

In order for Peter to have the life he wanted while also keeping the city safe, he knew had to fight for it , and that he wouldn't be able to beat them all at once.

Eventually , Peter would heal and take down the Sinister Six with a new purpose and new strategy.
Instead , he takes them down one by one , while at the same time, sowing doubt in each member of the six about the other.

By the film's climax only ,Vulture, the groups leader, remains, and the two engage in an aerial battle over the skyscrapers
of Manhattan with the Vulture plunging to his death.

In the end Spiderman triumphs and fades into the sunset .
Meanwhile , Peter and MJ welcome the birth of a baby girl , and Peter finally has his happy ending , fulfilling his promise to Uncle Ben


Casting

VULTURE / ADRIAN TOOMES
While John Lithgow , Kevin Spacy , Ben Kingsley, and Patrick Stewart are all considered for the part of The Vulture, John Malkovich is cast as a much younger, and virile version of the classic Spiderman villain.

KRAVEN THE HUNTER
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the first approached to play the iconic Spiderman villain, but after Batman and Robin, the actor turns down another comic book villain who could be seen as campy.
Instead , Cruise recommends his Mission Impossible costar Jean Reno , feeling that the actors charisma and physical presence make him the perfect choice to play Kraven.

ELECTRO/ MAX DILLION
While Michael Biehn, Robert Patrick , and Will Patton all audition for the role, Spielberg chooses character actor Michael Wincott who'd had memorable turns in films as varied as Talk Radio, The Crow, and Robin Hood : Prince Of Thieves .

MYSTERIO / QUENTIN BECK
Actor Billy Zane ultimately lands the role of the flamboyant and sinister Mysterio.
Zane , like several of his Sinister Six costars , had also had experience playing devious villains and seemed the perfect fir to play the over the top baddie.

SANDMAN / FLINT MARKO
Character actor David Morse , who had recently played the heavy in 12 Monkeys, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and The Rock, is cast to play Flint Marko.

SCORPION/ MAC GARGAN
For the role of Scorpion Ron Perlman is ultimately is cast .


The Cast



Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise


Mary Jane Watson : Julia Roberts


Vulture / Adrian Toomes : John Malcovich


Mysterio : Billy Zane


Kraven The Hunter : Jean Reno


Electro : Michael Wincott


Scorpion : Ron Perlman


Sandman: David Morse

J. Jonah Jameson : Tommy Lee Jones

Robbie Robertson : Morgan Freeman

Aunt May : Maggie Smith

 

[Frodo]

THE UNCANNY X MEN (1997)
Director : Ridley Scott
Producer : Jerry Bruickheimer

Project History
With the success of Tom Cruise's Spiderman films, adapting the X Men , now a popular cartoon, was not far behind.
While the project had been in development since the 1980s, no serious movement had happened on the project until The Amazing Spiderman hit theaters in 1992.

And with a doubly successful sequel in 1995, plans were already underway at 20th Century Fox for The Uncanny X Men , to make their big screen debut in a Major Motion Picture.
While James Cameron briefly expressed interest, he was busy with other projects .

Richard Donner was also approached , but he ultimately turns down the film .
In the end, it's director Ridley Scott who agrees to helm the X Men film in which he sees similar themes to his film Bladerunner

With Scott at the helm , the film promises to be a though provoking and visually stunning turn on the Marvel Comics characters.
Shooting for the film begins in 1996 for a Summer 1997 release date


Story
Though the Saturday Morning cartoon has introduced several characters into the pop culture zeitgeist, for the film , Producers decide to focus on members of the team who hadn't made up the main roster of the cartoon.

Only Wolverine and Storm would be brought over from the cartoon roster , with Cyclops, Beast, and Jean Grey making cameos in the film's climax.

At the same time, it was decided not to utilize Magneto or Mr. Sinster, as the villains, but to instead establish the divisions between Human's and Mutants,
and to have the X Men face human evil first before delving into Mutant adversaries .

In a knod to The Magnificent Seven , and loosely based on the 1975 Giant Sized Uncanny X Men issue 1, Wolverine , and six other mutants are recruited by the mystery Charles Xavier to rescue his former students whom are being held on the island of Genosha , after being captured by the mutant hunting androids , the sentinels.

In a world where Mutants are being hunted down, tagged , and incarcerated , most people with mutant abilities lay low in this darker version of the world.

The first to be recruited is the most unlikely to join any group , The Wolverine , who at first reject overtures to join a suicide mission to rescue some Mutants.
However, once he discovers his former love , Silverfox , is among those being detained at Genosha, he agrees to lead a team of mutants to stage a break out.

Helping him in this venture as a co-leader is Storm , an African Princess, who leaves her Kingdom to join Wolverine ,and his band of misfit ,mutants to free Xavier's former students , and the oppressed of Genosha.

Throughout the film Logan would encounter Mutants from throughout the world including Colossus from Russia, Banshee from Ireland, Nightcrawler from Germany, Sunfire from Japan, and Kitty Pyrde from the US.

Standing in their way would be the power hungry Bolivar Trask , the creator of the sentinels .

While Trask conducts his unethical experiments on Mutants he amasses a sentinel force powerful enough to overthrow the government he works for ,
and its revealed that he plans on controlling his captive mutants and his sentinels to seize power against the government who hired him.

In the films climax , the seven new X Men would stage a covert attack and rescue mission of Xavier's captured students , among whom would bbe classic X Men members such as Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast , and Iceman .

However , Sunfire and Banshee would be killed during the rescue mission in a nod to films like The Dirty Dozen , in which some members of the team do not survive the mission.
As Wolverine searches for Silver Fox, he discovers she's been working with Trask the whole time and Wolverine must now face his long lost love.

Ultimately , Silver Fox and Trask are both killed , the escape from Genosha is a success, and the X Men destory the sentinels , preventing them fuffiling Trask's plan.

The surviving team of Mutants who helped liberate Genosha , agree to stay with Xavier , while Wolverine declines, though in the sahion of an old gunslinger says " You know where to find me",
if danger arises again.


The Cast



Wolverine : Mel Gibson


Shadow Cat / Kitty Pryde : Winona Ryder


Colossus : Brendan Fraser


Storm : Angela Bassett


Banshee : Sean Bean


Nightcrawler : Olivier Martinez


Sunfire : Jason Scott Lee


Professor X : Ben Kinglsey


Bolivar Trask : Geoffrey Rush

Silverfox : Irene Bedard

 

[Frodo]

AVENGERS ( 1999)
Director : Martin Campbell
Producers : Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Screenplay : Andrew Kevin Walker


Project History
With Spiderman and X Men films both in production , United Artists decides to get in on the superhero film craze of the Mid 90s .
The studio decides to adapt the Avengers into a big screen feature adventure and hire Goldeneye and Mask Of Zorro Director Martin Campbell to direct the film.
The filming begins in London in 1998 for a 1999 release date .


Story
Taking a page, Ironically enough from The Bond and Mission Impossible films, The Avengers is reimagined as a more grounded , hightech, esponasiage , action , thriller , as opposed to a team made up of gods, monsters, and mutants .

With limited access to characters outside of United Artists owner ship , screenwriters are denied characters such as The Hulk, Thor , and the Maximoff twins .
Instead , the film team is Made up of Avengers members who have at most enhanced abilities , but are mostly lower tech.

Iron Man is the most senior member of the Avengers, and is the Charismatic veteran, leader, of the group.
Captain America , in this version is a contemporary of the team and is portrayed as the idealistic , wholesome, all American , beating concience of the team.
Black Panther , is the stolid leader prince of Wakanda who often butts heads with Iron Man and Captain America.
Black Widow , in this iteration is a former member of Hydra whose defeacted to the U.S. government and her true alligences remain in question .
Hawkeye, is the grizzled and crotchy veteran of the group who has his own trust issues.
While the Wasp , like Stark is a senior member of the group and a co founder of the team.

The team liason would be Bethany Cabe, a SHIELD agent and Stark's on again off again lover .

The Six very different heroes are tasked to take down the illusive Baron Von Strucker , and his multinational organization Hydra , whose tenticles reach throughout
Terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and the highest political offices around the world.

The Spy themed plot see's the Avengers in various exotic locales in a globe trotting adventure , with spectacular set pieces , double crosses , and over the top adventure .

The heroes , of course would eventually prevail , but the door would be open for the team to face their ultimate threat, The Red Skull, titular head of Hydra.

The film would also serve as a launching point for each of the heroes to have their own spin off films , should the Avengers be as big a success as The Spiderman and X Men films.


Casting

IRON MAN / TONY STARK
For the role of Iron Man, only one actor is approached , OO7 himself , Pierce Brosnan.
With the actor already under contract with United Artists , and the studios desire to hire a big name for the Iron Man role , the offer is put directly to Brosnan,
in which the actor, surprising accepts .
The character is different enough from Bond that Brosnan is intrigued by Stark's flaws and faunts despite being one of the most successful men in the World.

CAPTAIN AMERICA/ STEVE ROGERS
While Val Kilmer is approached , he turns down the role after his experience playing Batman .
However, it's lesser known actor Casper Van Dien who is cast in the part due to his contrast and chemistry .
With Brosnan bringing more jettsetting exotic quality to Stark , Van Dien brings the cocky all american heartthrob vibe akin to a young Tom Cruise.

BLACK PANTHER / T'CHALLA
While actors such as Will Smith and Omar Epps are approached for the role, both turn the part down.
In the end the lesser known Michael Jai White is cast as the prince of Wakanda , hot off of portaying another comicbook hero, Spawn.

HAWKEYE / CLINT BARTON
Like Brosnan playing Iron Man, Director Martin Campbell has only one actor in mind for the role of Hawkeye, Forrest Gump and Apollo 13 actor and director Gary Sinise.
His portrayal of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump provides the perfect template for the grizzled and cynical Hawkeye , and provides the perfect contrast to Brosnan's Dapper Iron Man,
and Van Dien's Cocky Captain America.

BLACK WIDOW / NATASHA ROMANOFF
While actresses Julie Deply and Sheryl Lee, are considered for the role , Model turned actress, Mila Jovovich is cast in the role .
Her physical presence in addition to her striking beauty, make her the perfect casting for the double agent turned hero .

THE WASP/ JANET VAN DIEN
While Demi Moore, is heavly courted by producers , at the end of the day , it's Basic Instinct's Jeanne Tripplehorn, whose cast as the veteran hero .

SUPPORTING ROLES
Arnold Vosoloo is cast as the villain Baron Strucker while actress Connie Nielson is cast as Bethany Cabe .
The role of Jarvis is played by veteran character actor Ian Holm .


The Cast



Iron Man : Pierce Brosnan


Captain America : Casper Van Dien


Black Panther : Michael Jai White


Hawkeye : Gary Sinise


Black Widow : Mila Jovoich


Wasp : Jeanne Tripplehorn


Baron Strucker : Arnold Vosoloo


Bethany Cabe : Connie Nielsen

Edwin Jarvis : Ian Holm

 

[Frodo]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1998)
Director : Roland Emmerich
Producer : Jerry Bruckheimer
Music : James Horner
View attachment 103951



Project History
With Fox studios eager to get a Fantastic Four film off the ground , the studio moves away from Chris Columbus and instead eyes Indepence Day director Roland Emmerich.
The studio wants to move away from a more comical and family friendly tone of Columbus films like Home Alone, in favor of a big budget, extravaganza like Indepence Day .
Additionally , having seen the Box office of films like Batman Forever, the studio believe a blending of Superheroes with the scale of a Sci Fi Epic, is the perfect recipe for a hit film.

While Emmerich at first is interested in pursuing other projects, including a Hulk film , he becomes intrigued by the potential of a massive scale, 2.5 hour Fantastic Four blockbuster .
Sparring no expense , and with producer Jerry Bruckheimer on board, with Andrew Kevin Walker and David Koepp taking the writing duties , the project goes into pre-production in 1997 for a 1998s release date .


Casting
In casting the film The Director and Producer feel that big names would be nessasary to sell a property like Fantastic Four to audiences.
While well known , the property wasn't proven as a film franchise.

Looking to the success of The Batman films, Bruickheimer feels the film should feature an all star cast . The producer feels if the team is called The Fantastic Four, than the team should be made up of 4 big celebrities as opposed to a group of unknown or less popular actors.

With no expense sparred , the producers go to Harrison Ford as their first choice to play Mr. Fantastic .
Though Ford rejects the offer at first , the studio sweetens the pot and offers him a cut of the films profits in addition to script approval .
Ford eventually agrees to the project with reassurances the film won't be campy .

The second big Get is Sylvester Stallone to voice and play Ben Grimm the thing .
Stallone , like Ford is also offered a percentage of the films profits , and having missed out on play Mr.Freeze in Batman & Robin , Stallone jumps at the chance to play a more complicated ,
and emotionally complex character like The Thing .

For the role of Sue Storm, several actresses ranging from Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, and Kim Basinger are considered, but it's Michelle Pfeiffer, who wins the role.
While she's wary of once again being in another superhero film, the character is so far removed from Catwoman , she agrees to the part .

For the role of the Human Torch , Brad Pitt coming hot off of Seven , is cast as the charismatic ladies man , Human Torch .
The producers feel that his sex appeal and popularity with female audiences will help to drive the Box Office .

With the Fantastic Four cast , Emmerich decides he wants a larger than life thespian to play the role, and Jeremy Irons accepts the part.
While Anthony Hopkins is considered, he passes on the role .

Finally, for the role of Ben Grimm's love interest Alicia, Oscar Winner Helen Hunt, is cast .




The Cast



View attachment 103941
Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards : Harrison Ford


View attachment 103940
Invisible Woman / Sue Storm : Michelle Pfeiffer


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Human Torch / Johnny Storm : Brad Pitt


View attachment 103944
The Thing / Ben Grimm : Sylvester Stallone


View attachment 103946
Doctor Doom / Victor Von Doom : Jeremy Irons


View attachment 103947
Alicia Masters : Helen Hunt

THE AMAZING SPIDER -MAN ( 1992)
Director : Steven Spielberg
Producer : Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy
Music : John Williams
Screenplay : Lawrence Kasdan
View attachment 112980View attachment 112981



Project History
In the Aftermath of Batman 89's global success , producers are desperate to get a big budget , all star cast , Spiderman film off the ground.
Producers and execs both feel that a Spiderman film could earn just as much, if not more, than a Batman film.
The character had been popular in comics and on tv for decades by the early 90s . and the potential for a Spiderman film to rake in dollars and mercandise
is too good for any studio to pass up.

Whatever hesitation in the success of a Spiderman film goes out the window with the Box Office performance of Batman ,
and with other studios developing other heroes, Paramount Studios wants to strike while the iron is hot and produce a Spiderman film .

While directors from Joe Dante to John McTiernan are considered, Paramount wants Steven Spielberg to helm the sprawling project.
The iconic director agrees to helm the blockbuster project with Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy as producers .
With the trio involved with the project, the hope is to lure other high profile talent .
Indiana Jones scribe Lawrence Kasdan is brought in to pen the motion picture while longtime Spielberg collabarator John Williams agrees to score the film.

Filming takes place in New York and Los Angeles with a Christmas 1992 release date in mind to celebrate the character's 30th anniversey.

Screenplay
The bigger scaled story would pit Spiderman against New York's newest threat , the psychotic Doctor Octopus .

While villains such as Green Goblin , Electro, and even Venom are all considered, Spielberg and the producers feel that Doctor Octopus presents the best opportunity as the first foe for Spiderman .

Taking a page from Batman , The film would begin with a fully established , an experienced adult Spiderman who'd be operating as a hero for several years.

As a result , Peter Parker would be in his twenties and working as a photographer for the Daily Bugle, which, in this version would be more akin to The New York Times,
than a tabloid or smaller newspaper.

Aunt May would be featured as a supporting character , but like Batman 1989, Spiderman's origins and Uncle Ben's murder would be shown in flashbacks as opposed
to being driving narratives in the story.

Mary Jane would be an actress Peter's meets after he photographs her for a Bugle write up piece .
As the two of them connect through out the film, she becomes the object of affection of the sinister Doctor Octopus , and like Vicki Vale,
is caught in a triangle between a hero and villain.

As Peter gets closer to MJ , he pushes her away knowing that she is at risk , and fearful she will meet the same fate as Uncle Ben.

The final battle between Doc Ock and Spiderman would take place on the Empire State Building with MJ held captive, in a knod to King Kong.

In the end , Ock would fall to his death and Spiderman would save Mary Jane just in time.

Peter ultimately reveals to Mary Jane that he is Spiderman and the two decide to move forward together .

The film is constructed as a one and done with the door open to sequels.


Casting

SPIDERMAN / PETER PARKER
With the success of Michael Keaton's casting as Batman, Paramount wants a big name to play Spiderman , feeling that in order to sell the film with a hero whose face is covered,
they need a big name actor as opposed to an unknown.

Though actors as varied from Keanu Reeves and Charlie Sheen are rumored , it's Tom Cruise whom Paramount and the Producer's want .
He'd been considered for the part going back to the early 80s, but now as a box office juggernaut the studio want the charismatic young actor to play the part.

In a surprise move , the actor agrees in order to work with Spielberg, but signs a one picture deal , and not committing to any sequels.

If the series is to continue, Cruise will sign on a picture by picture basis contenigent on the script.
Cruise's casting is met with excitement by the public at large and with interest and buzz in the media.

DOCTOR OCTOPUS/ OTTO OCTAVIUS
For the role of Doc Ock , producers want an actor charismatic enough to evoke the same type of energy and excitement of Nicholson's Joker.
At the top of their list is Arnold Schwarzenegger , but he turns down the role .

Jack Nicholson is also approached but like Schwarzenegger , passes on the part.
Other actors like Gene Hackman and Sean Connery want too much money , and while John Litgow expresses interest , execs want a bigger name.

Ultimately, it's Silence Of The Lambs Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins who agrees to play Spiderman's iconic villain and he and Cruise have great chemistry.

MARY JANE WATSON
While Meg Ryan and Cruise's wife Nicole Kidman are considered for the part , it's Pretty Woman actress Julia Roberts , who lands the role of Peter's love interest .
The actress is hot off of a few hit films and in her 20s is already in high demand .
Producers feel the trio of Cruise, Roberts, and Hopkins are more than enough to drive the box office , even putting aside the fact that the film is about Spiderman.

SUPPORTING ROLES
The roles of Aunt May and Uncle Ben go to Maggie Smith and James Garner respectively.
Tommy Lee Jones , who at this point , was in high demand agrees to play editor of the Daily Bugle Jameson, while Morgan Freeman is cast as Robbie Robertson.


The Cast


View attachment 112969
Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise


View attachment 112975
Doctor Octopus : Anthony Hopkins

View attachment 112972
Mary Jane Watson : Julia Roberts

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J. Jonah Jameson : Tommy Lee Jones

View attachment 112978
Robbie Robertson : Morgan Freeman

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Aunt May : Maggie Smith

View attachment 112985
Uncle Ben : James Garner

AVENGERS ( 1999)
Director : Martin Campbell
Producers : Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Screenplay : Andrew Kevin Walker
View attachment 113425

Project History
With Spiderman and X Men films both in production , United Artists decides to get in on the superhero film craze of the Mid 90s .
The studio decides to adapt the Avengers into a big screen feature adventure and hire Goldeneye and Mask Of Zorro Director Martin Campbell to direct the film.
The filming begins in London in 1998 for a 1999 release date .


Story
Taking a page, Ironically enough from The Bond and Mission Impossible films, The Avengers is reimagined as a more grounded , hightech, esponasiage , action , thriller , as opposed to a team made up of gods, monsters, and mutants .

With limited access to characters outside of United Artists owner ship , screenwriters are denied characters such as The Hulk, Thor , and the Maximoff twins .
Instead , the film team is Made up of Avengers members who have at most enhanced abilities , but are mostly lower tech.

Iron Man is the most senior member of the Avengers, and is the Charismatic veteran, leader, of the group.
Captain America , in this version is a contemporary of the team and is portrayed as the idealistic , wholesome, all American , beating concience of the team.
Black Panther , is the stolid leader prince of Wakanda who often butts heads with Iron Man and Captain America.
Black Widow , in this iteration is a former member of Hydra whose defeacted to the U.S. government and her true alligences remain in question .
Hawkeye, is the grizzled and crotchy veteran of the group who has his own trust issues.
While the Wasp , like Stark is a senior member of the group and a co founder of the team.

The team liason would be Bethany Cabe, a SHIELD agent and Stark's on again off again lover .

The Six very different heroes are tasked to take down the illusive Baron Von Strucker , and his multinational organization Hydra , whose tenticles reach throughout
Terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and the highest political offices around the world.

The Spy themed plot see's the Avengers in various exotic locales in a globe trotting adventure , with spectacular set pieces , double crosses , and over the top adventure .

The heroes , of course would eventually prevail , but the door would be open for the team to face their ultimate threat, The Red Skull, titular head of Hydra.

The film would also serve as a launching point for each of the heroes to have their own spin off films , should the Avengers be as big a success as The Spiderman and X Men films.


Casting

IRON MAN / TONY STARK
For the role of Iron Man, only one actor is approached , OO7 himself , Pierce Brosnan.
With the actor already under contract with United Artists , and the studios desire to hire a big name for the Iron Man role , the offer is put directly to Brosnan,
in which the actor, surprising accepts .
The character is different enough from Bond that Brosnan is intrigued by Stark's flaws and faunts despite being one of the most successful men in the World.

CAPTAIN AMERICA/ STEVE ROGERS
While Val Kilmer is approached , he turns down the role after his experience playing Batman .
However, it's lesser known actor Casper Van Dien who is cast in the part due to his contrast and chemistry .
With Brosnan bringing more jettsetting exotic quality to Stark , Van Dien brings the cocky all american heartthrob vibe akin to a young Tom Cruise.

BLACK PANTHER / T'CHALLA
While actors such as Will Smith and Omar Epps are approached for the role, both turn the part down.
In the end the lesser known Michael Jai White is cast as the prince of Wakanda , hot off of portaying another comicbook hero, Spawn.

HAWKEYE / CLINT BARTON
Like Brosnan playing Iron Man, Director Martin Campbell has only one actor in mind for the role of Hawkeye, Forrest Gump and Apollo 13 actor and director Gary Sinise.
His portrayal of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump provides the perfect template for the grizzled and cynical Hawkeye , and provides the perfect contrast to Brosnan's Dapper Iron Man,
and Van Dien's Cocky Captain America.

BLACK WIDOW / NATASHA ROMANOFF
While actresses Julie Deply and Sheryl Lee, are considered for the role , Model turned actress, Mila Jovovich is cast in the role .
Her physical presence in addition to her striking beauty, make her the perfect casting for the double agent turned hero .

THE WASP/ JANET VAN DIEN
While Demi Moore, is heavly courted by producers , at the end of the day , it's Basic Instinct's Jeanne Tripplehorn, whose cast as the veteran hero .

SUPPORTING ROLES
Arnold Vosoloo is cast as the villain Baron Strucker while actress Connie Nielson is cast as Bethany Cabe .
The role of Jarvis is played by veteran character actor Ian Holm .


The Cast


View attachment 113404
Iron Man : Pierce Brosnan

View attachment 113405
Captain America : Casper Van Dien

View attachment 113420
Black Panther : Michael Jai White

View attachment 113407
Hawkeye : Gary Sinise

View attachment 113421
Black Widow : Mila Jovoich

View attachment 113409
Wasp : Jeanne Tripplehorn

View attachment 113422
Baron Strucker : Arnold Vosoloo

View attachment 113424
Bethany Cabe : Connie Nielsen

Edwin Jarvis : Ian Holm

THE SAVAGE HULK (1995)
Director : David Cronenberg



Project History
With 1992's Amazing Spiderman becoming a major hit for Tom Cruise , Universal Studios feels the ground is saturated for a big screen adaptation of The Incredible Hulk.
With director David Cronenberg expressing interest in the project, Universal Pictures see's the film , not so much as a superhero romp, but as a psychological horror film more akin to Cronenberg's than Fly than Donner's Superman .

The project quickly gains momentum , when Dustin Hoffman, is a surprise move signs on to play Bruce Banner.

Though the casting is met with skepticism in the fan community , with a big name star, and director under it's belt , the project picks up steam and goes into production in 1994 for a Halloween 1995 release date .

Story
The story , not surprising , focuses on the origin of the Hulk , though makes notable changes from the source material.
Like the 1970s television series, the accident that results in the creation of the Hulk is the result of a lab experiment gone wrong, though in this case,
Rick Jones is scientist and Bruce's protege , whom , Bruce saves as Gamma Rays explode in the facility.

At the same time, unlike in the comics , Betty is Bruce's fiancé , much to the anger of his future father in law , Thunderbolt Ross .
As in the comics Hulk is on the run from the military , though the Hulk is much more of brutal monster , powerful and merciless as opposed to the misunderstood creature of the comics.
As Rick Jones tries to protect Bruce, feeling responsible for the Hulk's creation , he's also at risk from the beast within , which feels jealously over Betty's friendship with Rick.

Taking a page from the recent hit The Fugitive , Talbot is Banner's Gerard , who, with Thunderbolt Ross, relentlessly hunts the Hulk as the creature ravages and kills it's way from New Mexico to California.
In a twist on the comics , Banner would discover that his transformation into the Hulk would remain permanent unless he could discover a means of staying Banner permanently.
While the clock races against stopping the Hulk , Jones is captured by the military and forced to divulge were Banner is .

As a result , Talbot uses Betty as bait to lure the Hulk into a trap in downtown Los Angeles , leading to the films climax in which Banner transforms into Hulk for the last time and stages a massive scale rampage and battle with Talbot and his forces in the streets of LA , in spectacular fashion.

In the end Hulk and talbot are both killed , and Hulk transforms back into the dying Bruce Banner .
The film ends tragically in a knod to the recent Death Of The Incredible Hulk tv movie, and in the style of Universal Monster films.

The film is clearly made as a tragic one and done monster film, since Hoffman isn't interested in sequels.

At the same time, execs know that this is Hollywood, and that a sequel would be greenlit if the first film was a success.


Casting

BETTY ROSS
While actresses from Andie MacDowell to Annette Bening are considered for the part, Madeline Stowe is cast in the role of Bruce's love interest

RICK JONES
While actors such as Christian Slater and Ethan Hawke , are approached , both of them turn the role down , with character actor Nicholas Sadler taking the role as Hulk's best friend.

THUNDERBOLT ROSS
Producers originally approach Clint Eastwood , feeling that having Hoffman and Eastwood playing opposite each other for the first time would be magic .
The veteran actor and director , however, isn't interested in doing a Superhero film.
Ultimately, Christopher Plummer agrees to the role .

GLEN TALBOT
Treat Williams is cast as Glen Talbot after William Petersen leaves the role due to scheduling conflicts.

THE HULK
In an era where CGI was still primitive in comparasion to decades later, There would still be the need to use a live action model for the Hulk much as there was in the 70s.
This time , However, the actor would be enhanced by what computer generated effects there were in addition to extra facial makeup to give the Hulk a much more frightening and fearsome appearance.
German actor and weightlifter Ralf Moeller of films such as Universal Soldier is cast to play the live action role of The Hulk.


The Cast



Bruce Banner : Dustin Hoffman


Betty Ross : Madeleine Stowe


Rick Jones : Nicholas Sadler


Thunderbolt Ross : Christopher Plummer


Glen Talbot : Treat Williams


Hulk : Ralf Moeller

 

[Frodo]

SECRET WARS ( 1985)
Director : Joe Dante
Producers : George Lucas and Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter : Lawrence Kasdan
Music : John Williams





Project History
With the success of The first two Superman films , Marvel Comics wants to bring their library of characters to the big screen , for the first time.
While , Marvel had already adapted several of their properties on television, the company knew that feature films was where the future lied.

However, several individual projects seemed to go nowhere , with very little movement .
It's in this context, that Stan Lee comes up with the risky idea, of creating a motion picture ,that would showcase several different Marvel heroes , which could then be spun off into individual solo films.

With producer/ directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg expressing interesting in creating the next Star Wars type spectacle, Lucasfilm, Amblin Entertainment , and Universal Pictures, are interested in taking on the new project.

The team decides to adapt a scaled down version of the recent Secret Wars comic , with Doctor Doom serving as the main villain as opposed to The Beyond.
The roster of heroes and villains would also be limited, in an effort to showcase Marvel's most popular characters, to get audiences into the theaters.

While Richard Donner is approached , the director turns down job.
Ultimately , it's director Joe Dante who takes on the massive project .
With a tentative release date of the Summer of 1985, the film is thought as a gamble by most in the industry .

Nevertheless, filming begins on the sprawling film in 1984 for a release a year later .

Script
Unlike the original comic , the film would showcase a hero and their arch nemesis, representing each potential franchise that would be spun off .
For example , Spiderman would be a college student facing off against his former mentor Doctor Octopus.
Wolverine, Storm, and Cyclops would do Battle with Magneto .
Captain America , Hulk , Iron Man , and The Wasp, representing the Avengers, would come face to face with The Red Skull and Thanos.
And the Fantastic Four would do battle with the ruler of Battleworld, Doctor Doom .

The film would give insight to each of the heroes and there drastically different beliefs, personalities and world views.

The script would be filled with humor , adventure, and epic scale battles across Battleworld , with the film ending with Doctor Doom's defeat and the restoration of The Marvel Universe,
thus setting the stage for new adventures .


Casting

The Cast for the project would be made up of familiar faces , character actors, and up and coming actors on the buzz of their fame .

The most well known of the cast would be Tom Selleck as Iron Man , hot off of his hit TV series Magnum P.I.
Kurt Russell , a Disney Child star who had built a reputation for serious drama's like Silkwood and Elvis, and for action adventure films like Escape from New York, is cast as Wolverine.
The role Of Spiderman goes to War Games actor Matthew Broderick , while Red Dawn actor Patrick Swayze is cast as the new Captain America.
Grace Jones of Conan The Destroyer and View To A Kill , would be cast as Storm , while Ally Sheedy of War Games and The Breakfast Club would be cast as The Wasp.


Rutger Hauer , Brian Dennehy , John Lithgow , Julian Sands , and Frank Langella are among the recognizable actors who play Marvel's rogues gallary , as Magneto, Thanos, Doctor Octopus, Loki, and Doctor Doom respectively .

It would turn out to be a daunting task getting many of the actors together , but the year long shoot , makes it possible .


The Cast



Spiderman / Peter Parker : Matthew Broderick ( War Games )


Iron Man / Tony Stark : Tom Selleck ( Three Men And A Baby)


Captain America / Steve Rogers : Patrick Swayze ( Red Dawn)


Wolverine : Kurt Russell ( Escape From New York )


Storm : Grace Jones ( View To A Kill)


Cyclops : Michael Biehn ( The Terminator)


Wasp/ Janet Van Dien : Ally Sheedy


Mr. Fantastic : Barry Bostawick ( Megaforce)


Human Torch : Rob Lowe ( St. Elmo's Fire)

Invisible Woman : Linda Kozlowski ( Crocodile Dundee)
The Thing voice : Bob Hoskins ( The Long Good Friday)
Doctor Doom : Frank Langella ( Dracula)
Doctor Octopus : John Lithgow ( Blow Out)
Loki : Julian Sands ( Oxford Blues)
Thanos : Brian Dennehy ( First Blood)
Magneto : Rutger Hauer ( Bladerunner)
Red Skull : Sam Neill ( Possession)
Mary Jane Watson : Lea Thompson ( All The Right Moves)
Hulk / Bruce Banner : Jeffrey Combs ( Re-Animator)
Thor : Dolph Lundgren ( Rocky 4)

 

[Frodo]

SECRET WARS ( 1985)
Director : Joe Dante
Producers : George Lucas and Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter : Lawrence Kasdan
Music : John Williams
View attachment 114448




Project History
With the success of The first two Superman films , Marvel Comics wants to bring their library of characters to the big screen , for the first time.
While , Marvel had already adapted several of their properties on television, the company knew that feature films was where the future lied.

However, several individual projects seemed to go nowhere , with very little movement .
It's in this context, that Stan Lee comes up with the risky idea, of creating a motion picture ,that would showcase several different Marvel heroes , which could then be spun off into individual solo films.

With producer/ directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg expressing interesting in creating the next Star Wars type spectacle, Lucasfilm, Amblin Entertainment , and Universal Pictures, are interested in taking on the new project.

The team decides to adapt a scaled down version of the recent Secret Wars comic , with Doctor Doom serving as the main villain as opposed to The Beyond.
The roster of heroes and villains would also be limited, in an effort to showcase Marvel's most popular characters, to get audiences into the theaters.

While Richard Donner is approached , the director turns down job.
Ultimately , it's director Joe Dante who takes on the massive project .
With a tentative release date of the Summer of 1985, the film is thought as a gamble by most in the industry .

Nevertheless, filming begins on the sprawling film in 1984 for a release a year later .

Script
Unlike the original comic , the film would showcase a hero and their arch nemesis, representing each potential franchise that would be spun off .
For example , Spiderman would be a college student facing off against his former mentor Doctor Octopus.
Wolverine, Storm, and Cyclops would do Battle with Magneto .
Captain America , Hulk , Iron Man , and The Wasp, representing the Avengers, would come face to face with The Red Skull and Thanos.
And the Fantastic Four would do battle with the ruler of Battleworld, Doctor Doom .

The film would give insight to each of the heroes and there drastically different beliefs, personalities and world views.

The script would be filled with humor , adventure, and epic scale battles across Battleworld , with the film ending with Doctor Doom's defeat and the restoration of The Marvel Universe,
thus setting the stage for new adventures .


Casting

The Cast for the project would be made up of familiar faces , character actors, and up and coming actors on the buzz of their fame .

The most well known of the cast would be Tom Selleck as Iron Man , hot off of his hit TV series Magnum P.I.
Kurt Russell , a Disney Child star who had built a reputation for serious drama's like Silkwood and Elvis, and for action adventure films like Escape from New York, is cast as Wolverine.
The role Of Spiderman goes to War Games actor Matthew Broderick , while Red Dawn actor Patrick Swayze is cast as the new Captain America.
Grace Jones of Conan The Destroyer and View To A Kill , would be cast as Storm , while Ally Sheedy of War Games and The Breakfast Club would be cast as The Wasp.


Rutger Hauer , Brian Dennehy , John Lithgow , Julian Sands , and Frank Langella are among the recognizable actors who play Marvel's rogues gallary , as Magneto, Thanos, Doctor Octopus, Loki, and Doctor Doom respectively .

It would turn out to be a daunting task getting many of the actors together , but the year long shoot , makes it possible .


The Cast


View attachment 114440
Spiderman / Peter Parker : Matthew Broderick ( War Games )

View attachment 114441
Iron Man / Tony Stark : Tom Selleck ( Three Men And A Baby)

View attachment 114447
Captain America / Steve Rogers : Patrick Swayze ( Red Dawn)

View attachment 114443
Wolverine : Kurt Russell ( Escape From New York )

View attachment 114444
Storm : Grace Jones ( View To A Kill)

View attachment 114442
Cyclops : Michael Biehn ( The Terminator)

View attachment 114511
Wasp/ Janet Van Dien : Ally Sheedy

View attachment 114446
Mr. Fantastic : Barry Bostawick ( Megaforce)

View attachment 114445
Human Torch : Rob Lowe ( St. Elmo's Fire)

Invisible Woman : Linda Kozlowski ( Crocodile Dundee)
The Thing voice : Bob Hoskins ( The Long Good Friday)
Doctor Doom : Frank Langella ( Dracula)
Doctor Octopus : John Lithgow ( Blow Out)
Loki : Julian Sands ( Oxford Blues)
Thanos : Brian Dennehy ( First Blood)
Magneto : Rutger Hauer ( Bladerunner)
Red Skull : Sam Neill ( Possession)
Mary Jane Watson : Lea Thompson ( All The Right Moves)
Hulk / Bruce Banner : Jeffrey Combs ( Re-Animator)
Thor : Dolph Lundgren ( Rocky 4)

SPIDER-MAN RETURNS ( 1986)
Director : John Hughes




Project History
The first film to be Spun off from The Secret Wars film, is Marvel's flagship character, Spiderman.
With the lead already established an in place, director John Hughes is brought on to helm the film.

Unlike his films The Breakfast Club and Weird Science , Spiderman Returns , is the directors first foray into an action film .
However , Spielberg and Lucas lend a hand in the action and FX side of the film , with Lawrence Kasdan penning the script .

Filming takes place in Chicago and New York for a 1986 release date.

Story
With the Marvel Universe restored , Peter Parker returns home to find that the Killers of Uncle Ben,
Max Dillion and Flint Marko, have escaped from prison.

When the two thugs attain the power of gods, and become Electro and Sandman,
Spiderman must bring them to justice.

But with his new and powerful black suit ,
he begins to indugle in his darker impulses ,

pushing him further to the edge ,
and away from his friends and family.

As Spiderman battles 2 ruthless supervillains,
can he contain the darkness within and return to being the friendly neighborhood Spiderman ?


The Cast



Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Matthew Broderick ( War Games)


Electro / Max Dillion : Peter Weller ( RoboCop)


Sandman / Flint Marko : Martin Kove ( Rambo 3)


Mary Jane Watson : Lea Thompson ( Some Kind Of Wonderful)


Harry Osborn : Judd Nelson ( St Elmo's Fire)


Aunt May : Olympia Dukasis ( Moonstruck)

Mr. Fantastic : Barry Bostawick ( Megaforce)

Human Torch : Rob Lowe ( St. Elmo's Fire)

Invisible Woman : Linda Kozlowski ( Crocodile Dundee)
The Thing voice : Bob Hoskins ( The Long Good Friday)
Uncle Ben : Hoyt Oxton ( Gremlins)
J. Jonah Jameson : Dabney Coleman ( War Games)

 

[Frodo]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1986)
Director : Nicolas Meyer
Producers :Steven Spielberg , Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall




Story
When the Fantastic Four Make their triumphant return to Earth,
they're greeted with parades, interviews, even music videos, celebrating Marvel's first family.

However, the public turns on the first family ,when they are framed for a crime they did not commit .
As the Family faces the wrath of the press and the law ,
It becomes clear, that several stowaways from Battleworld , know as The Skrull, have come to Earth,
to plot their own take over.

With these devious shape shifting beings sullying the name of the team,
and putting them at odds with the public,

The family of four ,will face their greatest challenge yet, and will have to fight to clear their names,
and to save the world ,
from a secret invasion.


The Cast




Mr. Fantastic : Barry Bostawick


Invisible Woman : Linda Kozlowski

Human Torch : Rob Lowe ( St. Elmo's Fire)


The Thing : Bob Hoskins


Super Skrull : Christopher Lloyd


Princess Veranke : Meg Foster


Talos : Bryan Brown


Paibok : Brion James

Nick Fury : Charlton Heston

 

[Frodo]

THE AVENGERS( 1987)
Director : John McTiernan





Project History
With the Avengers receiving a postive response from Audiences post Secret Wars, it is decided to make an Avengers film first ,
as opposed to individual Iron Man, Captain America, and Hulk films.
The film would be a cold war thriller with Ultron serving as the antagonist in a War Games style heightened thriller.
Directing the film would be John McTiernan with much of the cast from Secret Wars returning .


Story
The World stands on the brink of Nuclear Annihilation as The Android Ultron gains access to the great powers Nuclear Launch codes.
As The USA and the USSR scramble to find Ultron,

It's up to the World's mightiest heroes, and Members of Hydra
to stop him

Ultron always seems to be a step ahead of them,
and is enjoying his Nuclear game, of Cat and Mouse.


The Cast

Iron Man / Tony Stark : Tom Selleck ( Three Men And A Baby)

Captain America / Steve Rogers : Patrick Swayze ( Red Dawn)



Black Widow : Nastassja Kinski ( Cat People)

Wasp/ Janet Van Dien : Ally Sheedy ( Breakfast Club)


Hulk / Bruce Banner : Jeffrey Combs ( Re-Animator)


Hawkeye : Fred Ward ( The Right Stuff)



Baron Zemo : Steven Berkoff ( Beverly Hills Cop)



Madame Hydra : Barbara Carrera ( Never Say Never Again)



Ultron : David Warner ( Tron)



Nick Fury : Charlton Heston ( Planet Of The Apes)