THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ( 2002)
Director : Sam Raimi
Project History
With Columbia Pictures finally attaining the rights to Spiderman, after a years long legal battle,
Sam Raimi is eventually tapped as the film's director with David Koepp penning the script.
The film would ultimately be a fusion of the Lee and Romita eras in Spiderman ,
and while the original plan is to Mary Jane as a love interest , Raimi and the producers make the bold choice of featuring Gwen Stacy as the love interest in order to adapt " The Night Gwen Stacy Died"for the film' s shocking finale .
Mary Jane however, would be featured as a "popular girl" and the love interest of Harry.
Gwen meanwhile, would be the wisecracking , kindred spirit , and friend , of Peter whom Peter eventually falls in love with over the film.
Additionally, while the original plan is to include Green Goblin and Doc Ock as nemeses, Ock would be replaced by the Vulture, with Adrian Toomes being double crossed by Norman before using his own Oscorp flying apparatus to counter Norman's Goblin glider.
While Raimi is concerned about the script trying to achieve too many things for a first film, Producer's insist on including Peter's origin , his college social life, his job at the Daily Bugle , multiple villains, and the iconic storyline.
The film , now titled , The Amazing Spider-Man , is set for release on the 40th anniversary of the characters debut.
Casting
With Maguire ,Dafoe , and Franco, already part of the cast , Reese Witherspoon who acted along side Maguire in their breakout hit Pleasantville, is cast the role of Gwen Stacy .
For the role of Mary Jane , Producers decide to go with another popular young star, Kate Hudson, of Almost Famous .
For the role of The Vulture , Raimi casts John Malkovich after considering him for The Green Goblin role.
Rounding out the cast is screams Matthew Lillard as Bully , Spiderman fan , and comic relief Flash Thompson.
The Cast
Spiderman / Peter Parker : Tobey Maguire
Gwen Stacy : Reese Witherspoon
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : Willem Dafoe
Vulture / Adrian Toomes : John Malcovich
Harry Osborn : James Franco
Mary Jane Watson : Kate Hudson
Flash Thompson : Matthew Lillard
Uncle Ben : Cliff Robertson
Aunt May : Rosemary Harris
J. Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons
WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ( 1998)
Director : Cameron Crowe
Story : Spiderman must chose between his two mentors, Doctor Octopus and Norman Osborn ,as their war against each other puts Peter's friends and family in the crosshairs.
Complicating matters, is Norman and May Parker's blossoming romance,
just as Peter discovers Norman's, dark side.
THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1998)
Director : Gus Van Sant
Story :
As a Tyrant known as Doctor Doom threatens global inhalation,
The Fantastic Four attempt to discover the villain's true identity,
and his obsession with the first family.
SPIDER-MAN : THE MOTION PICTURE ( 1986)
Director : Robert Zemeckis
Producer : Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy
Executive Producer : Steven Spielberg
Screenplay : Bob Gale
Music : Alan Silvestri
Project History
With a Spiderman film finally takes shape at Universal Studios , director Robert Zemeckis, hot off the success of Back To The Future, signs on as the film's director , with a 1986 release date in mind.
Bob Gale is brought on to pen the new script as previous scripts are tossed out .
Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy are brought on as producers, while Steven Spielberg serves as the film's executive producer.
Script
The Screenplay by Bob Gale , follows Spiderman's comic book origins, with one big exception .
In the script , Ben Parker's killer is Max Dillion, an extortionist who works for The Kingpin . After Spiderman confronts Dillion , Dillion seemingly plunges to his death at utilities complex, only to re-emerge as Electro .
Electro seeks revenge , not only against Spiderman , but against his former Boss , The Kingpin , as he seeks to take over his empire.
Zemeckis and Gale decide to stick to Liz Allen as Peter's love interest ,as opposed to going with characters such as Mary Jane Watson.
In a break with the comics, Captain George Stacy is Ben Parker's best friend, and the Stacy family and The Parker family are already close.
Thus , The Detective w quickly figures out Peter is Spiderman.
George Stacy , is featured in the script as a Commissioner Gordon like figure, helping Spiderman off the record.
The plan is to hold off introducing Gwen for a sequel .
Characters such as Flash Thompson and J. Jonah Jameson feature prominently as Spiderman's foils and comic relief .
Story As Spider-man goes from being celebrity, to a crime fighter , he must face off against his Uncle's Killer, who has transformed into the super criminal , Electro .
After Electro discovers Spiderman's true identity, he comes to finish off those Peter cares about,
including his Aunt May, Captain George Stacy , and his highschool crush, Liz Allen
SPIDERMAN UNMASKED ( 2012)
Director : Jason Reitman
Screenplay : James Vanderbilt
Music : Danny Elfman
Project History
With Sam Raimi and Sony Parting ways , The Spiderman franchise is at a crossroads .
Either commit to a Spiderman 4 or reboot the series entirely.
While there are strong arguments in favor of a reboot, Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, and other Sony execs, decide the best course of action, is to continue with the current franchise with a new Actor , Director,
and Story.
Instead of the Batman Begins approach, Sony decides to go with the Batman Forever approach ,with a soft reboot, in the same continuity .
While several directors are considered , Jason Reitman is tasked with steering the franchise in a new direction , while James Vanderbilt joins the project, as the film's screenwriter.
Script
The film would pit a college grad Spiderman against the Chameleon and his minions, The Vulture, Rhino, Scorpion, and The Shocker in a quest to unmask the Wall crawler.
Unable to use The Kingpin, Producer's decide to have the Chameleon to serve that function ,with the other villains being henchman, as opposed to each of them getting their own backstory.
At Spiderman's side would be The Black Cat , serving as his new, dynamic love interest .
By Day , she would be socialite Felicia Hardy who shows zero interest in Peter Parker.
By Night, she would be the criminal Black Cat, who is smitten by the adventurous and witty Spiderman.
The story would ultimately find Peter embracing his life as Spiderman and exploring new relationships.
Just as he finds the proper balance between being a hero, and exploring new relationships, his identity is exposed, putting his loved ones at risk.
Mary Jane would be absent from the story , with the intention of revisiting her character down the road in future installments .
Casting
After several names including Jake Gyllenhaal, are rumored to talk on the role, 500 Days Of Summer actor Joseph Gordon Levitt is cast as the new Peter Parker .
Levitt's casting is met mostly with approval in fandom, though there are still those who would have preferred Maguire return to the role.
Levitt's casting is followed by the castings of actress Rachel McAdams as Felicia Hardy, Christoph Waltz as The Chameleon, Mark Strong as The Vulture, Michael Shannon as The Scorpion,
Ben Foster as The Shocker, and Dave Bautista as The Rhino.
JK Simmons and Rosemary Harris would return in their roles as Jameson and Aunt May serving as a further anchor from the previous films.
The Cast
Spiderman / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt
The Chameleon : Christoph Waltz
Black Cat / Felicia Hardy : Rachel McAdams
Vulture / Adrian Toomes : Mark Strong
Scorpion : David Harbor
Shocker : Ben Foster
Rhino : Dave Bautista
J .Jonah Jameson : JK Simmons
Aunt May : Rosemary Harris
Pilot History
With plans for a big screen Fantastic Four film seemingly stalled , and an unseen film shelved ,
20th Century Fox execs greenlight plans for the First Family to make their debut on The Fox Tv network instead in a two -hour telefilm .
While the budget would be considerably less than any feature film, execs feel that a small screen adventure is much less risky than a big screen gamble .
At the same time, the Fox network was known for a number of hits targeted young audiences such as 90210 , Party Of Five, The X Files, Melrose Place, The Simpsons, and Married With Children, and many more.
Fox had also already aired the successful Spiderman and X- Men cartoons, so the studio was no strange to the Marvel Universe as a source of revenue.
The plan is to cast four popular actors known to audiences to play the iconic team member and sign them on to one film , with an optional second TV movie .
X -Files lead David Duchovny ends up taking the role of Mr. Fantastic after previously being considered for Batman in the upcoming fourth film.
Jeri Ryan of Star Trek: Voyager is cast as The Invisible Woman , and does double duty filming Fantastic Four and Star Trek Voyager.
Saved By The Bell and NYPD Blue star ,Mark Paul Gosselaar , is cast as The Human Torch , though Brian Austin Green, who voices the character in animation lobbies hard for the role.
Comedian Brad Garratt of the newly aired Everybody loves Raymond is cast as The Thing,
While TV and film actor Patrick Bauchau, takes on the role of Doctor Doom.
In a break with the comics , Doctor Doom is no longer a fellow classmate and competitor, but is his former professor and Mentor, presenting a Luke and Vader style dynamic between Reed and Von Doom.
Meanwhile Picket Fences actress Lauren Holly is cast as Alicia Masters .
The telefilm is set to air during the 1996 October Sweeps period
Story
The film focuses on the origin of The Fantastic Four,
and their whirlwind rise to stardom .
As their celebrity rises , the team begins to fracture ,
but is forced to come together , when an old Mentor returns.
Pilot History
While Fox was developing a Fantastic Four telefilm, The UPN network begins the process of bring The Avengers to the small screen , in an action packed made for TV movie .
With characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, She Hulk, and Thor uncertain big screen future , Paramount grants it's television network the permission to exploit the heroes on the small screen , though the venture would not be cheap .
With actors such as Tom Selleck as Iron Man, Kevin Sorbo as Thor, Noah Wyle as Antman , and Catherine Bell as The Wasp, James Denton as Captain America, Shemar Moore as Falcon , and Cory Everson as She Hulk, the telefilm would be one of the higher profile projects for the network know for series such as Star Trek : Voyager .
The plan is for the film to air during The May sweeps period of 1997.
Story
The story would pit the Avengers team against the Hank Pym's creation Ultron, who has taken over the world's computers in a War Games like scenario .
Antman would be the audience's in into the world of The Avengers, with the team begrudgingly recruiting the rookie hero who is responsible for Ultron's creation .
Pym and Janet Van Dien would not get along in the beginning, but by the end develop a mutual respect for each other , thus, leaving the door open for a romance in a potential sequel film.
Pilot History
With the ratings success of The Fantastic Four TV movie, The Fox network takes their long dormant X Men film project and instead develops a television movie to follow up Fantastic Four.
With the highly popular animated series going off the air, the time feel appropriate for the characters live action debut .
The cast would consist of several television and movie actors such as Jennifer Love Hewitt ( Party Of Five ) , John Lithgow ( Third Rock From The Sun) , Joe Lando ( Dr. Quinn : Medicine Woman) , Marcia Cross (Melrose Place) , David Warner ( Star Trek : The Undiscovered Country) , Elias Koteas ( Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Ray Wise ( Twin Peaks) .
Story
The X Men team line up would be smaller than that of the Animated Series or the comics , and the Jubilee role would instead be filled by Shadow Cat, the lead character of the film.
Aside from her , the team would feature Cyclops, Storm, Beast, Jean Grey and Wolverine, in effort to keep the budget from ballooning out of control .
The villain would be a charismatic anti Mutant Senator , Nathan Essex, who is secretly the Mutant mastermind, Mr. Sinister .
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 1996)
Airdate : May 1996
Pilot History With the Spiderman film property effectively going nowhere, Marvel allows NBC the rights to produce the first live action Spiderman tv movie in nearly 20 years .
The network's considerable budget and high profile hit shows and tv movies gives The Spectacular Spiderman a much higher profile than other Marvel themed telefilms of the era .
Still, it is an expensive investment for NBC , and producers decide to film on location in Manhattan and Queens, and to utilize Kraven The Hunter, as a more cost effective villain .
With much of the money going into Spiderman's special effects , Producer's stray away from having to spend the fortune it would take to create The Green Goblin, Lizard, or Doc Ock.
Film and TV actor Jerry O'Connell, is cast as Spiderman ,while working on his series Sliders, and Sleeping With The Enemy actor Patrick Bergin, takes on the role as the relentless Kraven The Hunter.
90210's Brian Austin Green , Sweet Valley High's Brittany Daniel , and Cybill's Alicia Witt are cast as Harry Osborn, Felicia Hardy , and Mary Jane Watson respectively.
Meanwhile, veteran tv and film actors Cloris Leachman and Dabney Coleman are cast as Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson.
Story
The story focuses on an already established, college aged Spiderman who attempts to track down the elusive Kraven The Hunter through the streets of New York.
As the big game hunter abducts Peter Parker's friends and associates one by one, it soon becomes clear that he is the one being hunted and that Kraven knows his true identity.
The story would feature Mary Jane, Harry, and Felicia as Peter's classmates, in addition to Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson, all of whom , are kidnapped by Kraven, and used as bait for Spiderman.
Pilot History
With the success of several Marvel themed tv movies, Universal Studios and CBS decide it's time to bring The Hulk back to the small screen in a reboot , The Savage Hulk.
The new movie, unlike the 1970s series , would stick closely to the characters comics roots and introduce characters such as Betty and Thunderbolt Ross, Rick Jones, and The Leader, for the first time, in live action .
While the new film would be deeply steeped in the comics lore, the film would retain the more grounded and serious tone of the original series , and Bruce and Rick would be fugitives on the run from the Military .
Though The She Hulk character had already appeared in The Avengers TV movie, the CBS TV movie would ignore the events of The Avengers film, and would be set in it's own continuity.
The film, Staring Northern Exposure's Rob Morrow and The Profiler's Ally Walker , in addition to Matthew Frewer and Brian Dennehy is set to air during November sweeps .
THE MAN WITH OUT FEAR ( 1999)
Airdate : Summer 1999
Pilot History
When The producers Law and Order and NYPD Blue, come together ,to produce a Daredevil telefilm, the project is met with universal excitement from the increasing vocal online fandom.
The Man Without Fear, airing on NBC over the summer of 1999, plans to be the grittiest Marvel TV Movie yet , while at the same time , promising to keeps it's hero in his comic accurate suit.
Producers consider the TV Movie, part court drama, part heroes journey .
Story
As Matt Murdock begins to turn the tide in his war against Kingpin's organization , a vigilante known as The Punisher comes to Manhattan plunging the city into panic.
When it's citizens begins to blame The Daredevil, and when it becomes clear that The Punisher's aim , is to wipe out Wilson , Daredevil is forced to protect his sworn enemy from a fellow vigilante , hell bent on his brand of Justice .
Pilot History
With Wesley Snipes and John Singleton's Black Panther film in limbo , Marvel gives the rights to the character to Warner Brothers television to produce a telefilm .
The film is set to debut over the summer on The WB network .
The network , know for showcase African American sitcoms and comedies , and receiving a large African American viewership , appears to be the perfect venue to showcase the largely unknown character.
Additionally, airing the film over a largely rerun filled Summer, gave the network another chance at a ratings boost than they otherwise would have in the competitive fall season.
With LA Law's Blair Underwood attached to star , the telefilm would feature M'Baku , played by Tiny Lister as the film's villain with Namor, played by Double Dragon's Mark Dacascos , as the film's ambiguous , red herring.
The Hugley's Elise Neal would play T'Challa's comic book love interest , Monica Lynne.
Mean while , New York Undercover's Malik Yoba is cast as Luke Cage .
Wakanda would not be seen in the film , and the film would take place exclusively in New York.
Story
A failed assassination attempt on T'Challa ,on the eve of peace talks with The Atlantean Empire,
Have the King Of Wakanda on the run from mysterious assassins, and government agents through the five Burroughs of New York.
As the King receives an assist from a Local Hero, and a nightclub singer, The Black Panther begins to wonder whether the conspiracy arises from his Atlantean enemy, or from a foe from Wakanda.
Pilot History With the Spiderman film property effectively going nowhere, Marvel allows NBC the rights to produce the first live action Spiderman tv movie in nearly 20 years .
The network's considerable budget and high profile hit shows and tv movies gives The Spectacular Spiderman a much higher profile than other Marvel themed telefilms of the era .
Still, it is an expensive investment for NBC , and producers decide to film on location in Manhattan and Queens, and to utilize Kraven The Hunter, as a more cost effective villain .
With much of the money going into Spiderman's special effects , Producer's stray away from having to spend the fortune it would take to create The Green Goblin, Lizard, or Doc Ock.
Film and TV actor Jerry O'Connell, is cast as Spiderman ,while working on his series Sliders, and Sleeping With The Enemy actor Patrick Bergin, takes on the role as the relentless Kraven The Hunter.
90210's Brian Austin Green , Sweet Valley High's Brittany Daniel , and Cybill's Alicia Witt are cast as Harry Osborn, Felicia Hardy , and Mary Jane Watson respectively.
Meanwhile, veteran tv and film actors Cloris Leachman and Dabney Coleman are cast as Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson.
Story
The story focuses on an already established, college aged Spiderman who attempts to track down the elusive Kraven The Hunter through the streets of New York.
As the big game hunter abducts Peter Parker's friends and associates one by one, it soon becomes clear that he is the one being hunted and that Kraven knows his true identity.
The story would feature Mary Jane, Harry, and Felicia as Peter's classmates, in addition to Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson, all of whom , are kidnapped by Kraven, and used as bait for Spiderman.
SPIDER-MAN AND THE MENACE OF MYSTERIO ( 1997)
Airdate : October 1997
Pilot History
With the success of the first telefilm, demand is high from fans and viewers, for a sequel.
The next film goes quickly into a production with much of the original cast returning .
In keeping with Producer's attempt to utilize cost effective villains, Mysterio is chosen as the next villain.
With Mysterio as The Telefilm's villain, producers seek inspiration from Scream , and set the story during Halloween.
While not as low tech a character as Kraven, the cost for creating Mysterio's illusions and effects is still much cheaper than attempting to recreate Venom or a giant Lizard Man.
Twin Peaks actor Kyle Mclaughlin signs on as the title villain bringing a level of camp and menace to the classic Marvel villain.
X Files's William B. Davis, joins the cast as a creepy and ominous Miles Warren and Buffy The Vampire Slayer's James Marsters play's Felicia Hardy's snobbish , rich Boyfriend, Jason Macendale.
Story
When a series of killings, accidents, and calamities occur on the film set of Mary Jane's feature film,
Everyone is a suspect .
As Peter begins to investigate the mysterious culprit,
And the villain's obsession with MJ,
It becomes clear that there is more to this foe, than meets the eye .
Pilot History
While Fox was developing a Fantastic Four telefilm, The UPN network begins the process of bring The Avengers to the small screen , in an action packed made for TV movie .
With characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, She Hulk, and Thor uncertain big screen future , Paramount grants it's television network the permission to exploit the heroes on the small screen , though the venture would not be cheap .
With actors such as Tom Selleck as Iron Man, Kevin Sorbo as Thor, Noah Wyle as Antman , and Catherine Bell as The Wasp, James Denton as Captain America, Shemar Moore as Falcon , and Cory Everson as She Hulk, the telefilm would be one of the higher profile projects for the network know for series such as Star Trek : Voyager .
The plan is for the film to air during The May sweeps period of 1997.
Story
The story would pit the Avengers team against the Hank Pym's creation Ultron, who has taken over the world's computers in a War Games like scenario .
Antman would be the audience's in into the world of The Avengers, with the team begrudgingly recruiting the rookie hero who is responsible for Ultron's creation .
Pym and Janet Van Dien would not get along in the beginning, but by the end develop a mutual respect for each other , thus, leaving the door open for a romance in a potential sequel film.
THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ( 1998)
Airdate : May 1998
Pilot History
A year after Iron Man premiered in The Avengers, The character's popularity would spawn his own TV movie , this time in UPN's sister station ,CBS .
The CBS production meant that the budget would be much bigger , and The Tom Selleck led project would receive much more fan fair , media coverage, and scrutiny from fans.
Story
The Story would pit Iron Man against his old nemesis, Justin Hammer, and against than man who held Tony Captive in Vietnam in the 1960s, The Mandarin.
With the help of super spy and love interest Natasha Romanoff , Tony would soon discover the connection between his two enemies, and how it played into his kidnapping all those years ago.
MARVELS : TALES OF THE ASTONISHING ASTONISHING
Airdate : October 1998 ]
Project History With the success of shows like Tales From The Crypt , HBO , in association with Marvel, produces a horror themed Anthology special with segments featuring Doctor Strange, Blade, Ghost Rider, and Shang Chi .
Marvels: Tales Of The Astonishing, would draw it's inspiration from the comic of the same name .
Each segment would be an hour long mini film exploring each heroes adventures into the world of the supernatural .
Darkman director Sam Raimi ,would direct The Doctor Strange segment , Boyz In The Hood Director John Singleton, would direct The Blade Segment, John Carpenter would try his hand at The Ghost Rider segment, and Rob Cohen would direct the Shang Chi Segment.
The Anthology telefilm would air in October of 1998, just in time for Halloween.
The Segments and Casts
DOCTOR STRANGE
Director : Sam Raimi
Story : Doctor Strange engages in a game of wits with his long time nemesis , Baron Mordo.
The Stakes , Stephen Strange's girlfriend whose under Mordo's spell.
The Cast
Doctor Strange / Stephen Strange : Bruce Campbell
Clea : Lucy Lawless
Baron Mordo : Giancarlo Esposito
Christine Palmer : Julianne Phillips
BLADE THE VAMPIRE HUNTER
Director : John Singleton
Story : Blade's latest hunt hits close to home , when he must face off against his Parents, who are Vampires stalking Harlem.
The Cast
Blade : Michael Jai White
Lucas Cross : Clarence Williams The 3rd
Vanessa Brooks : Rae Dong Chong
GHOST RIDER
Director : John Carpenter
Story: Johnny Blaze makes a deal with the Devil , and becomes the Spirit Of Vengeance, Ghost Rider
The Cast
Ghost Rider / Johnny Blaze : Michael Pare
Roxanne Simpson : Sheryl Lee
Mephisto : Thomas Ian Griffith
SHANG CHI
Director : Rob Cohen
Story: Shang Chi battles the dragon Fin Fang Foom as it rampages across San Francisco
Pilot History
With plans for a big screen Fantastic Four film seemingly stalled , and an unseen film shelved ,
20th Century Fox execs greenlight plans for the First Family to make their debut on The Fox Tv network instead in a two -hour telefilm .
While the budget would be considerably less than any feature film, execs feel that a small screen adventure is much less risky than a big screen gamble .
At the same time, the Fox network was known for a number of hits targeted young audiences such as 90210 , Party Of Five, The X Files, Melrose Place, The Simpsons, and Married With Children, and many more.
Fox had also already aired the successful Spiderman and X- Men cartoons, so the studio was no strange to the Marvel Universe as a source of revenue.
The plan is to cast four popular actors known to audiences to play the iconic team member and sign them on to one film , with an optional second TV movie .
X -Files lead David Duchovny ends up taking the role of Mr. Fantastic after previously being considered for Batman in the upcoming fourth film.
Jeri Ryan of Star Trek: Voyager is cast as The Invisible Woman , and does double duty filming Fantastic Four and Star Trek Voyager.
Saved By The Bell and NYPD Blue star ,Mark Paul Gosselaar , is cast as The Human Torch , though Brian Austin Green, who voices the character in animation lobbies hard for the role.
Comedian Brad Garratt of the newly aired Everybody loves Raymond is cast as The Thing,
While TV and film actor Patrick Bauchau, takes on the role of Doctor Doom.
In a break with the comics , Doctor Doom is no longer a fellow classmate and competitor, but is his former professor and Mentor, presenting a Luke and Vader style dynamic between Reed and Von Doom.
Meanwhile Picket Fences actress Lauren Holly is cast as Alicia Masters .
The telefilm is set to air during the 1996 October Sweeps period
Story
The film focuses on the origin of The Fantastic Four,
and their whirlwind rise to stardom .
As their celebrity rises , the team begins to fracture ,
but is forced to come together , when an old Mentor returns.
HUNT FOR THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1998)
Airdate : May 1998
Pilot History
With the first telefilm begin a success, and a wave of Marvel themed telefilm's either released or in production The Fox Television network begins production on the second film featuring the first family.
With a bigger budget and advanced FX, The shape shifting Skrulls are the next foe that the family would face .
Despite considering Galactus and The Silver Surfer , the effects would be too costly to pull off .
And while characters like The Puppet Master is also considered, the villain seems like a step down from Doctor Doom.
With morphing effects used regularly on the X Files , the Skrulls present not only a cost effective villain, but a threat worthy enough to merit the whole Team's focus.
The new film would also feature the introduction of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.
With the original cast returning , they would be joined by three new editions with Twin Peaks actor Billy Zane as The Super Skrull , Lethal Weapon actor Mitchell Ryan as Nick Fury, and TV actress Bridgette Wilson as Johnny Storm's love interest, Frankie Raye.
Story
At the height of their acclaim and popularity , Marvel's first family is framed , and are forced to go on the run .
As their once public trust has been tarnished,
The first family works to clear it's name,
and in the process ,
uncovers a secret invasion, involving a shape shifting alien race.
The Cast
Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards : David Duchovny
Invisible Woman / Sue Storm : Jeri Ryan
Human Torch / Johnny Storm : Mark Paul Gosselaar
The Thing / Ben Grimm : Brad Garrett
Super Skrull : Billy Zane
Nick Fury , Director Of S.H.E.I.D. : Mitchell Ryan
Pilot History With the Spiderman film property effectively going nowhere, Marvel allows NBC the rights to produce the first live action Spiderman tv movie in nearly 20 years .
The network's considerable budget and high profile hit shows and tv movies gives The Spectacular Spiderman a much higher profile than other Marvel themed telefilms of the era .
Still, it is an expensive investment for NBC , and producers decide to film on location in Manhattan and Queens, and to utilize Kraven The Hunter, as a more cost effective villain .
With much of the money going into Spiderman's special effects , Producer's stray away from having to spend the fortune it would take to create The Green Goblin, Lizard, or Doc Ock.
Film and TV actor Jerry O'Connell, is cast as Spiderman ,while working on his series Sliders, and Sleeping With The Enemy actor Patrick Bergin, takes on the role as the relentless Kraven The Hunter.
90210's Brian Austin Green , Sweet Valley High's Brittany Daniel , and Cybill's Alicia Witt are cast as Harry Osborn, Felicia Hardy , and Mary Jane Watson respectively.
Meanwhile, veteran tv and film actors Cloris Leachman and Dabney Coleman are cast as Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson.
Story
The story focuses on an already established, college aged Spiderman who attempts to track down the elusive Kraven The Hunter through the streets of New York.
As the big game hunter abducts Peter Parker's friends and associates one by one, it soon becomes clear that he is the one being hunted and that Kraven knows his true identity.
The story would feature Mary Jane, Harry, and Felicia as Peter's classmates, in addition to Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson, all of whom , are kidnapped by Kraven, and used as bait for Spiderman.
SPIDER-MAN AND THE MENACE OF MYSTERIO ( 1997)
Airdate : October 1997 View attachment 129878
Pilot History
With the success of the first telefilm, demand is high from fans and viewers, for a sequel.
The next film goes quickly into a production with much of the original cast returning .
In keeping with Producer's attempt to utilize cost effective villains, Mysterio is chosen as the next villain.
With Mysterio as The Telefilm's villain, producers seek inspiration from Scream , and set the story during Halloween.
While not as low tech a character as Kraven, the cost for creating Mysterio's illusions and effects is still much cheaper than attempting to recreate Venom or a giant Lizard Man.
Twin Peaks actor Kyle Mclaughlin signs on as the title villain bringing a level of camp and menace to the classic Marvel villain.
X Files's William B. Davis, joins the cast as a creepy and ominous Miles Warren and Buffy The Vampire Slayer's James Marsters play's Felicia Hardy's snobbish , rich Boyfriend, Jason Macendale.
Story
When a series of killings, accidents, and calamities occur on the film set of Mary Jane's feature film,
Everyone is a suspect .
As Peter begins to investigate the mysterious culprit,
And the villain's obsession with MJ,
It becomes clear that there is more to this foe, than meets the eye .
SPIDER-MAN : WRATH OF THE SCORPION ( 1998)
Airdate : October 1998
Pilot History
With the first two Spiderman telefilms being ratings hits, a third film ,as part of " Must See TV" is inevitable .
The third film would feature the Scorpion , and would, be far , be the most expensive of the telefilms, with it's use of CGI and practical effects to achieve Scorpion's deadly tail .
The new film would also finally introduce Harry's Father Norman , and would feature a pre -Ock Octavious , with Norman and Otto working together to create The Scorpion serum and technology.
The producers hope to lay the groundwork for the eventual introduction of Green Goblin and Doc Ock, in future telefilms.
Should the FX turn out well for the new film, the plan is to use those FX tools to create other more fantastic rogues in the Spiderman cannon.
In terms of casting , Jerry O'Connell once again returns to playing Spiderman , while balancing his feature film commitments.
TV and Film actor David Morse is cast as the menacing Mac Gargan aka the Scorpion. LA Law and Darkman actor, Larry Drake, is cast as Otto Octavious , while Robocop actor Kurtwood Smith , is cast as Norman Osborn.
The rest of the supporting cast from the previous telefilms return, for a third outing
Story
When CEO and Scienctist Norman Osborn transforms Mac Gargan into ultimate Superhero in The Scorpion , Gargan becomes drunk on power , and out of control.
Now , Spiderman must protect Harry, Harry's fiancee MJ , and his father Norman from the Scorpion's wraith.
But when Spiderman is badly defeated in his first encounter with the over powered hero , turned villain, can he heal in time to save his friends?
CAPTAIN AMERICA: PATRIOT'S DAY ( 1999)
Airdate : Summer 1999
Pilot History Like his fellow Avenger Iron Man, Captain America receives his first TV Movie in 20 years , and his first overall film since the early 90s.
Like Iron Man , Captain America: Patriot's Day airs on CBS to a much wider audience just in time to capitalize on the upcoming July 4th holiday .
Story
Steve Rogers will have to go toe to toe with his best friend , John Walker , as Walker becomes a Solider for hire , willing to work for the highest bidder.
And as The US Agent , becomes a free agent, Baron Strucker ,makes him an offer that's hard to refuse.
Now, Captain America will have to choose between his friend, and his country .
Pilot History
With the ratings success of The Fantastic Four TV movie, The Fox network takes their long dormant X Men film project and instead develops a television movie to follow up Fantastic Four.
With the highly popular animated series going off the air, the time feel appropriate for the characters live action debut .
The cast would consist of several television and movie actors such as Jennifer Love Hewitt ( Party Of Five ) , John Lithgow ( Third Rock From The Sun) , Joe Lando ( Dr. Quinn : Medicine Woman) , Marcia Cross (Melrose Place) , David Warner ( Star Trek : The Undiscovered Country) , Elias Koteas ( Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Ray Wise ( Twin Peaks) .
Story
The X Men team line up would be smaller than that of the Animated Series or the comics , and the Jubilee role would instead be filled by Shadow Cat, the lead character of the film.
Aside from her , the team would feature Cyclops, Storm, Beast, Jean Grey and Wolverine, in effort to keep the budget from ballooning out of control .
The villain would be a charismatic anti Mutant Senator , Nathan Essex, who is secretly the Mutant mastermind, Mr. Sinister .
THE ASTONISHING X MEN ( 1998)
Airdate: November 1998
Project History Fox TV, having produced two successful Fantastic Four telefilms, releases their follow up to Uncanny X Men during November Sweeps in 1998.
Though Jennifer Love Hewitt's Shadow Cat and John Lithgow's Beast, are absent , the new film introduces Rogue and Gambit played by 90210's Dina Meyer and Melrose Place, actor, Patrick Muldoon respectively.
Rutger Hauer signs on to play the telefilm's villain Sebastian Shaw, while Nikita star Peta Wilson agrees to play the sultry but imposing Emma Frost .
The telefilm shoots exclusively in Canada like the previous entry in a quick turn around from the production of the last tv movie .
Story
The Hellfire club seeks revenge against the X Men for destroying Mr. Sinister ,
as they unleash the fury of their most powerful member, Emma Frost.
While each X Man is plunged into a telepathetic nightmare,
Emma Frost invades the mind of Scott Summers and Jean Grey ,
and awakens long hidden memories inside of Logan, prompting him ,
to rediscover his past.
SPIDER-MAN : NIGHT OF THE VULTURES ( 1999)
Airdate : October 1998
Pilot History As the decade draws to a close, a fourth Spiderman telefilm goes into development , featuring The Vulture as the villain.
TV and Film actors Christopher Lloyd ,and Anthony Lapaglia , are cast as ex -cons, Adrian Toomes, and Blackie Draco.
The fourth film, would also mark the introduction of The Stacy Family , with Gwen serving as a new love interest for Peter, complicating his already complicated triangle with Mary Jane and Harry .
Stage , Screen, and Film actor, Jerry Orbach, is cast as the wise guy Captain Stacy , while Clueless: The Series lead , Rachel Blanchard ,is cast as the stunning, Gwen Stacy .
Story
Spiderman has his hands full as he takes on an old foe and his new partner , who both seek revenge against the police Captain who locked them up .
With Captain Stacy's daughter caught in the sights of The Vultures, Spiderman vows to protect her, all the while Peter begins to fall for her,
while Mary Jane reconsiders her engagement to Harry .
Pilot History Filmed in New Zealand , and created by the same group which created Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena : Warrior Princess , Mighty Thor is among the first of The Avengers spinoff's to receive a telefilm which airs on CBS and is receives a theatrical release in some territories.
Kevin Sorbo returns in the title role and is joined by The X Files Gillian Anderson ,
The Pretender's Michael T. Weiss, in addition to Star Trek Alum's Alice Krige and Terry Farrell.
Story
The God of Thunder retursn to Asgard to prevent his Brother and Sister from an all out invasion of Earth.
SPIDER-MAN : BIRTH OF THE OCTOPUS ( 2000)
Airdate : October 2000
Pilot History Due to popular fan and viewer demand , the 5th Spiderman telefilm features the debut of the classic Spiderman villain, Doctor Octopus , played by LA Law's Larry Drake.
The production is met with huge fanfare and is considered one of the most anticipated television film events of the year .
Having held back on the character due to FX limitations, the producers find a satisfactory way to bring the character to the small screen.
At the same time, the telefilm would end with the surprise transformation of Norman Osborn into The Green Goblin, leaving the film on a cliffhanger.
It's the most ambitious Spiderman telefilm , and becomes one of the top rated NBC events of the year.
Story
When Otto Octavius is permanently bonded with his mechanical tentacles(after an accident at Oscorp) the becomes the supervillain, Doctor Octopus.
As Spiderman battles Ock , the stakes are raised.
Norman Osborn wants Ock eliminated, seeing the master criminal as a liability, and a threat to his family and reputation.
With Ock surrounded by enemies on both sides of the law , the villain wages havoc against his foes on both sides of the law .
But with his own sinister technology, Doctor Octopus may prove too powerful, for even Spiderman ,and Captain Stacy, to stop.
SPIDER-MAN : HOUSE OF OSBORN -THE MINI SERIES EVENT ( 2001)
Airdates : May 6th, May 13th, May 20th ,May 27th 2001
Mini Series History
Mere months after shooting the 5th Spiderman telefilm, work quickly begins on the Spiderman mini series event cover The Green Goblin Saga .
Producers , drawing upon the works of the Lee and Romita eras , feel that the story is too big to cover in a single one shot film.
Instead they take the unprecedented move of crafting a Spiderman, Live action, mini -series event, covering the Green Goblins appearance, Norman's amnesia , Peter's engagement to Gwen, Norman's growing obsession with Gwen and Peter, Green Goblin's revenge on Gwen Stacy, and Spiderman's last battle with the Goblin.
The 1990s Spiderman cartoon inspires them to break up the story into a mini series event.
While the telefilm's producers know the Part 4 The Conclusion, will be controversial with TV viewers, they are unflinching in showing the costs for Peter being Spiderman.
Part One : May 6th 2001
As Peter and Gwen grow closer, after Captain Stacy's tragic end ,
Gwen considers leaving New York , to start fresh in Los Angeles
As Peter considers whether he can let her walk out of his life , a sinister new Foe, the Green Goblin, who runs the underworld , and begins
Targeting those who Norman Osborn cares about and seeking out The Spiderman.
Part Two : May 13th , 2001
Months after his first battles with The Goblin, and his organization in ruins, the Green specter has seemingly dropped out of sight.
However, all is not what it seems , as the Goblin's quiet surveillance pays off ,and he discovers Spiderman's true identity, then threatens to expose the Web head, live on the air.
Part Three : May 20th , 2001
With Norman seemingly having no memory of being the Goblin after his last encounter with Spiderman, Peter decides to retire the Spiderman mantle.
When Peter and Gwen decide to marry, in a double date ceremony with Harry and MJ, it seems as if Peter will finally get his happily ever after.
That is , until Norman regains his memory, and the Goblin is awaken.
Part Four : May 27 , 2001
In the shocking conclusion, The Goblin gets his final revenge on Spiderman, in an event that will change Peter Parker's life , forever.
SPIDER-MAN AND THE SINISTER SIX: THE MINI- SERIES EVENT ( 2002)
Airdate : May 2002
Pilot History
The Success of The Goblin Mini series leads NBC to order another Spiderman Mini series follow up from the Spring 2002 season .
However, the development of the mini series, is not without it's share of issues .
The creators disagree over the direction of the next miniseries .
One camp wants to make the film a Sinister Six two parter,
while another faction, wants to attempt the alien costume saga,
feeling that the last film leads naturally into a darker Spiderman story.
At the same time, adapting the Alien saga from the comics is not possible due to it's connection to Secret Wars .
There is also the question of Peter's love interest, with many in the production feeling that introducing a love interest now , would be "tacky" given ,Gwen was killed in the last miniseries.
It would also be strange to have Peter suddenly with a new girlfriend when his character is still in a dark place after Gwen.
Eventually the writers decide to blend the Symbiote and Sinister Six stories with an outmatched Spiderman inheriting the symbiote , with symbiote becoming the ultimate equalizer .
The compromise ultimately comprises the final script , and.SPIDER-MAN AND THE SINISTER SIX , ends up being a 4 part mini series , which brings back several villains from the previous telefilms
Part One
A year after Gwen's murder, Spiderman has vanished , as Peter is haunted by his failure to save Gwen, which has him revisiting the Murder of Uncle Ben.
At The Bugle, Reporter Eddie Brock writes exposé's accusing Spiderman of The Murder Of Norman Osborn.
All the while , The Sinister Six are hired by a mysterious buyer to steal an alien symbiote from a lab.
Part Two
With The Sinister Six on the loose , Peter is forced out of retirement and Spiderman Returns .
But when the Sinister Six defeat Spiderman , and leave him for dead, the symbiote saves him .
Meanwhile , MJ and Harry's engagement is called off after she discovers he's the one who hired The Sinister Six to steal the symbiote and to kill Spiderman .
Part Three
As The Newly Black Suited Spiderman seeks revenge on the Sinister Six,
He grows more distant from his loved ones ,
And begins to embrace his dark side .
As Peter Parker takes on a new aggressive persona ,
Mary Jane admits to him that she's always known he was Spiderman, and that she loves him.
Part Four
After nearly murdering the Sinister Six , the city is in fear of Spiderman.
Eddie Brock points to Spiderman's behavior ,as proof, that he Killed Norman Osborn .
With Peter in turmoil over the man he's become , and conflicted over MJ's revelations.
Now Peter must fight to save his own soul , as the symbiote takes over ,
with plans of a permanent connection.
All the while , Harry begins to embrace his father's mantle .
SPIDER-MAN: VENOM'S GAME- THE MINI SERIES EVENT ( 2003)
Airdate : October Sweeps 2003
Pilot History
When The Producers decide to use the long anticipated Venom character for the next Miniseries, online fan excitement is infectious .
With Jerry O'Connell, Alicia Witt , and Chance Kelly all returning , Brian Austin Green's Harry is absent to be save for the next mini series .
However , Cracker star Robbie Coltrane is cast as the Kingpin, a role previously played by Paul Sorvino in the Daredevil film several years earlier .
Gilmore Girls lead Lauren Graham joins the cast as Betty Brant, a character who had been absent from the earlier telefilms.
WCW wrestler Bill Goldberg guest stars as The Rhino , while New Zealand actor John Noble guest stars as Curt Connors in the fourth and final part of the miniseries event.
Part One
As Spiderman rebuilds his reputation, Peter tries to mend fences with his friends, including MJ.
At the same time, his past love, reporter Betty Brant, walks back into his life , and wants to rekindle their past relationship.
Meanwhile The Kingpin , tired of Spiderman's constant meddling, hires Rhino and Shock to end the wall crawler's crusade.
However, Spiderman has a sinister angel watching him , and protecting him, so he can have Peter Parker all to himself .
Part Two
With witnesses identifying Spiderman in the slaying over The Kingpin's minions ,all over Manhattan, a warrant is issued for The Wall Crawlers arrest .
As the warrant is issued, the police lean on Peter, to tell them find Spiderman , in order to stop the slayings.
However, Kingpin, knowing Spiderman's moral code, is dubious that the Webhead, is behind the slayings.
When Mary Jane receives a terrifying visit from a creature calling himself Venom,
Spiderman must face this new foe , who seems to anticipate , his every move.
Part Three
After being soundly defeated and humiliated by the creature known as Venom,
and battered an wounded Spiderman must hide ,and regroup.
Peter must discover who inherited the symbiote.
While he suspects the conspicuously absent Harry Osborn, and Betty's ex Husband Ned Leeds,
Venom gives Peter the answer, after he spends the evening,
Aunt May , and reveals to her, who Spiderman really is .
Part Four
As Peter tells Aunt May everything and moves forward with Mary Jane ,
Peter knows he must confront and stop Eddie Brock, aka Venom, once and for all.
But Spiderman struggles to find a way of stopping the Goliath,
Strange bedfellows , Dr. Connors , and The Kingpin ,
decide to work with Spiderman, to find a an unlikely solution.
The Cast
Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Jerry O'Connell
Eddie Brock : Chance Kelly
Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Robbie Coltrane
Mary Jane Watson : Alicia Witt
Betty Brant : Lauren Graham
Ned Leeds : Simon Baker
Rhino : Bill Goldberg
Shocker : Josh Halloway
Aunt May : Cloris Leachman
J. Jonah Jameson : Dabney Coleman
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