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

[Frodo]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1975)
Director : Franklin J. Schaffner

Project History
In 1973, plans for a big screen adaptation of the decade old comic, The Fantastic Four finally begins to take shape.

Producers envision the film as a family friendly , Sci Fi spectacle, akin to Fantastic Voyage, meets the popular disaster films of the era such as Airport , Earthquake , and The Towering Inferno .

The project would be helmed The Planet Of The Apes director , Franklin J. Schaffner

Story
The film would take place in a world ,in which The First Family has protected the Earth for years ,and has already had several adventures.

Their characterizations would stick fairly close to the source material, though the 4 members would be in their 30s and 50s , with Sue and Johnny both being 30 somethings while Reed and Ben are 50 somethings .

The film would also feature 3 of The Fantastic Four's classic foes in The Super Skrull, Namor, and Doctor Doom .

When the world's leaders are replaced by Skrulls, Marvel's First Family has no choice but to unite two old enemies , in order to Prevent The Super Skrull's ultimate conquest of Planet Earth.

The Fantastic Four appeal to Doom and his armies in Latveria and to Namor , who feels the battle with the Skrulls have nothing to do with Atlanteans.

The tone of the film would be similar to the tones of films like Airport , with it's balance of serious and edge of the seat moments, with light humor coming from Ben and Johnny's antagonism and nature situations.

The production wants to be sure not to veer into campy territory yet it tries to strike a cord with family audiences to avoid being too dower .


The Cast

Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards : Charlton Heston

Super Skrull : Jack Palance

Doctor Doom / Victor Von Doom : Christopher Lee

Namor : Ricardo Montalban

Invisible Woman / Sue Storm : Blythe Danner

Human Torch / Johnny Storm : Jan Michael Vincent

Thing / Ben Grimm : George Kennedy

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : NIGHT OF THE JACKAL ( 1978)
Director : John Badham

Project History
By the late 1970s , the popularity of the Spiderman characters leads to the development of a live action feature film .

With Columbia Pictures producing the film , Saturday Night Fever's John Badham, is tasked to bringing the story to the big screen , on time and under budget , with actual location shooting in New York City .

Badhman reunites with The Bee Gee's to produce a soundtrack for the high profile film.

Story
The story would be much more of a gritty street level horror slash thriller with a sci fi edge to it .

The villain of the piece would be The Jackal , a surprising pick given the already established and more well known rogues gallery .

As Students begin to disappear around The ESU campus , what appears to be random, soon takes on a much more sinister tone.

As Spiderman puts the pieces together, he realizes the students all have one thing in come : They were all with Peter Parker on the field trip the day he was bitten by the radioactive Spider.

In a break with the comics, it would turn out that Miles Warren created the radioactive spider which in turn, bit Peter .

It soon becomes clear that The Jackal is kidnapping each student, and taking their blood to determine which one of them , was bitten by the radioactive Spider, therefore, is Spiderman.

Peter's love interest would be reporter Betty Brant as opposed to Mary Jane Watson, and Gwen Stacy, who would be absent from the film.

Betty Brant , would in essence, serve the Detective Role and would also be portrayed as an in the field , Lois Lane style ,journalist, as opposed to just being Jameson's secretary .

Peter's supporting cast would include Debra Whitman , Randy Robertson , Flash Thompson and Liz Allen making up the kidnapped students, while Kurt Connors , Robbie Robertson , and Aunt May, would also be featured


The Cast

Spider-man / Peter Parker : John Travolta
As the breakout TV Star made his transition to films, Badham casts him in the part while actors like Kurt Russell and Richard Thomas are also considered for the role.
Travolta very much fits the current Romita era version of Peter additionally, Badham likes Travolta's charm, humor, and dramatic chops , in addition to believably being ,a kid from Queens.

The Jackal / Professor Miles Warren : John Hurt
For the role Of The Creepy yet dynamic Miles Warren , Badham wants a slightly younger actor with the vigor and energy to go toe to toe with Travolta's Spiderman.

While the studio would prefer a veteran like James Mason or Ray Milland , Badham prefers the much younger, scene stealing , John hurt.

Betty Brant : Jennifer Salt
For the role of Betty Brant , Badham wants to cast an actress older than Travolta , having found similar success with Saturday Night Fever .

Travolta's Saturday Night Fever costar Karen Lynn Gorney, and Maude actress Adrienne Barbeau ,are both approached , but both turn down the role .

Jennifer Salt ultimately agrees to take on the part .

Debra Whitman : Charlene Tilton
For the role of Peter's Lab partner , Tilton, an up and coming actress is cast for a perky attitude combined with her obvious beauty.

Randy Robertson : Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
For the role of Randy Robertson , Badham casts Travolta's Welcome Back Kotter costar to play Peter's roommate and best friend .

Flash Thompson : James Daughton
For the role of Flash Thompson , Animal House's James Daughton is cast for his ability to play an arrogant but laughable foil to Travolta's Peter.

Liz Allen : Anne-Marie Martin
For the role of the snobbish Liz Allen Badman casts another young and upcoming actress in Anne -Marie Martin.

Kurt Connors : Alan Alda
TV and Film Actor Alan Alda agrees to play Peter's dry humored and sarcastic mentor , bringing a real world and East coast grounding , to the film.

J. Jonah Jameson : Walter Matthau
Though not a huge role , Matthieu agrees to play Peter's boss as something of a blow hard,
but doesn't veer into all out campy territory .


Aunt May : Jacqueline Brookes
For the role of Aunt May , Badham wants an actress whose old enough to be Peter's aunt as opposed to an actress who looks to be his grandmother, as in the current comics.

At the same time, he doesn't want a beauty queen or stunning middle aged actress .
He casts Brookes for her believability as a working class woman ,who had to raise a young man, all by herself.

Robbie Robertson : Greg Morris

 

[Frodo]

CAPTAIN AMERICA ( 1974)
Director : Sidney Pollack

Story
Redford and Pollack both agree, that they don't want to tell an origin story about Captain America set in World War II.

Instead , they want to tell the story about two Soldiers who take very different paths, and represent very differ ideas of what America is , and what it should be.

In the era of Vietnam, Watergate, and Social Unrest, Redford and Pollack feel it would be naive not to lean into the turbulent era in American history and the divide in the country is represented in these two heroes , turned adversaries.

Steve Fundamentally believes in the good in people , and believes America can be a force for good , if it lives up to it's principles .

John however, see's the worst in people, and feels that's it his duty to use extreme measures, and cross boundaries, to maintain a deterrence against it's enemies .

If Steve Rogers Is Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Than John Walker is Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry .

This contradiction between two men who hold the shield is what leads to the conflict between the two heroes.

On the sidelines is Sharon Carter , who, in this iteration is an advocate for peace , while The President see's John Walker as the ultimate equalizer .

The screenplay would also feature Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson , but Redford insists that no other superheroes be featured, wanting to keep the focus on Steve and John, and wanting the film to be in it's own continuity, where Captain America is the only super powered hero that exists.


The Cast

Captain America / Steve Rogers : Robert Redford
Redford is the only actor who Pollack wants in the role and gets script approval and is a producer on the project .

US Agent / John Walker : Jon Voight
Jon Voight, who had already made a name for himself by playing complex roles is cast opposite Redford, with the two actors being mirror images of each other, but each with clearly a different screen presence and persona.

Shannon Carter : Jane Fonda
Fonda's casting is controversial given her real world politics at the time of the filming.
Pollack , however, against all odds, leans into and defends her casting, as does Redford who made the film Barefoot In The Park with her several years earlier.

Bucky Barnes : Robert Urich
The lesser known dashing actor takes on the role of the more suave and charming Bucky, as opposed to the Robin like sidekick Bucky Barnes was portrayed as in the comics.

Sam Wilson : Carl Weathers
Professonial Athelete turned actor Carl Weathers jumps at the chance to play Sam Wilson , and brings a swagger and charm to the relatively new character in the comics

President Of The United States : Cliff Robertson
For the role of the fictional US President, Pollack turns to his Three Days Of The Condor actor Cliff Roberston to play the moral ambiguous US President , which is counter to his All American, Heartland ,image .

 

[Frodo]

THE HULK ( 1978)
Director : John Schlesinger

Project History
Having exhausted their library of classic monsters in the 1930s and 1940s, Universal wants to tell a new Sci-fi , monster story by the 1970s .

After acquiring the rights to The Incredible Hulk character , a feature film goes quickly into production with the hopes of getting a big name actor to play Bruce Banner.

While Warren Beatty refuses the role , Dustin Hoffman expresses interest in starring in the title role as long as his Marathon Man director , John Schlesinger, can direct the feature film .

With Hoffman and Schlesinger on board filming is set to begin in Arizona, New Mexico, and Los Angeles in 1977 , for a 1978 release date.


Story
When a College Professor is exposed to gamma rays , he transforms into a savage beast .
As his best students Betty and Rick try to protect the Professor from Military experiments, three escaped criminals , each with their own power set , wreak havoc across a small city in Arizona .

Now, Professor Banner will need to put aside his pacifistic ways ,
in order to let the beast loose, and save the small city.

Revisiting similar themes explored in Hoffman's Stray Dogs, The Banner of this story is a brillant Professor and pacifist who avoids conflict .

This runs contrary to the beast within, which represents his supressed inner rage , which the Gamma explosion unlocks .

In a break from the comics, Bruce is a brilliant science teacher at a small college , with Betty and Rick as his graduate students and assistants .

The story of course, would still feature Thunderbolt Ross and Glen Talbot as supporting antagonists, with The Leader, Abomination, and Absorbing Man as the trio of villains.



The Cast

Hulk / Bruce Banner : Dustin Hoffman
With Hoffman being the only choice and spear heading the project , other actors are more willing to get on board with the project.

Betty Ross : Karen Allen
Newcomer Karen Allen is cast as Betty Brant after the original choice, Amy Irving passes on the role .
Her youthful energy and naivity make her the perfect casting for the idealistic student ,
of Bruce Banner.

Glen Talbot : Bruce Dern
Though he originally is considered for the role of The Leader, Dern is considered a better fit for the morally ambiguous and ambitious Talbot .

The Leader / Samuel Sterns : Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland , know for playing a variety of characters is cast the classic Hulk villain, bringing and unsettling calm and authority , contrasts with an off beat quirkiness,
that the actor brings to the part.

Thunderbolt Ross : Sterling Hayden
Though a variety of veteran actors are considered , Hayden's portrayal of a General,
in Dr. Strangelove in addition to his imposing stature, make him an ideal contrast to Hoffman's more mild Banner.

Rick Jones : Mark Hamill
Coming off the hit film Star Wars, the young actor is chosen to play Rick Jones as a passionate student and protégé of Banner.

The Abomination / Emil Blonsky : Steven Berkoff

Absorbing Man / Carl Creel : Brion James

 

[Frodo]

MAN WITH OUT FEAR ( 1976)
Director : Francis Ford Coppola
Screenplay : Mario Puzo

Story
In an era of films like Dirty Harry and Death Wish , director Francis Ford Coppola wants to do his own spin on the vigilante genre , in the form of the a film centering on the Marvel Comics character, Daredevil .

However, Coppola wants a much deeper dive and analysis of not only Matt Murdock, but a corrupt and decaying society which creates people like Daredevil, Kingpin , and The Punisher.

Like The Godfather, Coppola envisions a two hour plus epic , featuring well respected actors of the day, and played straight as opposed to the high camp of The Batman TV show.

Films like Serpico , The French Connection , Magnum Force , and The Conversation, serve as influences in terms of the films tone .


The Cast

Daredevil / Matt Murdock : Christopher Walken

Karen Page : Diane Keaton

Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Marlon Brando

Foggy Nelson : Gene Hackman

The Punisher / Frank Castle : Robert DeNiro

Vanessa Fisk : Anne Bancroft

Foggy Nelson : Allen Garfield

Hammerhead : Henry Silva
Jack Murdock : Gianni Russo

 

[Frodo]

THE UNCANNY X-MEN ( 1977)
Director : Irvin Kershner
Screenplay : Nicholas Meyer

Project History
Nearly ten years after their debut in Marvel Comics, 20th Century Fox gains the rights to a big screen adaptation of The Uncanny X Men .

While not household names like Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk, The X Men present the studio with an opportunity to tell a relatively grounded and personal story involving riots, discrimination, and alienation, with elements of sci fi and even horror.

Unlike The Batman show a decade earlier , 20th Century Fox sees potential for a comic book film with a message, much like their successful Planet Of The Apes films.

While several younger and hotter directors like Steven Spielberg of Jaws, Richard Donner of The Omen, and Brian DePalma of Carrie, or all considered for the project , it's director Irving Kershner, who takes on the responsibility of helming the project and bringing it to the big screen.

The production would not be cheap to and save money , the project is filmed in Canada as opposed to New York and London, as originally planned.

The plan is to release the film in winter of 1977 .

Script
The screenplay would be written by author and writer Nicholas Meyer, of The Seven Percent Solution.

The story would be set in the near future and feature Bobby Drake as our entrance into the world of the X Men , who, in this iteration are more akin to heroes with secret identities .

By day , the members of the team pose as regular human beings , while at night they are protectors of mutants as The X Men , and Xavier offers shelter to Mutants in need or facing discrimination.

In this iteration however, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, and Angel are middle aged , having been X Men since their 20s , and constantly hiding their true abilities for the safety of their loved ones.

Scott Summers is a youth counselor at a High School , Jean Grey a psychiatrist , Hank McCoy is a brilliant physicist , and Warren Worthington is a wealthy playboy and Philanthropist.

Charles Xavier is a mutant advocate akin to Gandhi and MLK .

Our lead character, Bobby aka Iceman is portrayed as a young drifter , scared of his own power and ashamed of being a Mutant.

The villains of the peace would be Magneto , representing a more radical and militant wing of the Mutant movement more akin to The Black Panthers .

They are tired of living in the shadows and set to bring about a revolution which would put them on top.

Iceman finds himself caught between the two dynamic figures, Charles and Erik, while also in love with Erik's daughter The Scarlett Witch, setting up a young love on the run scenario.

Though there are newer characters in the X Men team , the screenplay keeps it's focus to the original five , and with a limited Budget bringing the newer characters such as Wolverine, Colossus , and Storm, would come with a hefty price tag.


The Cast

Professor X : Roddy McDowall
For the role of Professor X , actors as varied as Yul Brynner, Peter Cushing, and John Gielgud are considered .
However, Kirshner turns to Hollywood veteran , Roddy McDowall to play the civil rights activist,
and mentor to the team .

Magneto : Christopher Plummer
For the role of Magneto , Laurence Olivier , Jack Palance , Max Von Sydow, and Christopher Lee are heavily considered , But Kirshner goes with Christopher Plummer , given his chemistry with McDowall , and his ability to play a much more nuanced, and complex , antagonist .

Cyclops : James Brolin
For the role of Cyclops, Kirshner wants a classic leading man type with presence, and the 6'4
Brolin is the perfect choice to play the teams stoic leader .

Jean Grey : Katharine Ross
Katharine Ross, made famous for her work in The Graduate agrees to take on the role of Jean Grey
while working on The Stepford Wives . Actresses like Jane Fonda and Faye Dunaway are also considered , but pass on the part.

Beast/ Hank McCoy : Elliott Gould
Character actor Elliot Gould is Kirshner's only choice for the intelligent and sardonic, Hank McCoy .
Kirshner feels Gould's imposing stature , in addition to his intellect make him the perfect choice
to play the Beast of the script.

Angel / Warren Worthington : Ryan O'Neal
For the role of Warren Worthington, Kirshner and the producers only have one name in mind,
Ryan O'Neal .
The actor agrees to play the charming playboy hiding his secret mutation by day .

Iceman / Bobby Drake : Richard Gere
For the role of Iceman, several young and up coming actors are considered , with the actor Richard Gere gaining the part of the mysterious drifter and romantic lead of the film .

Scarlett Witch / Wanda Maximoff : Olivia Hussey
Having already made a splash in Romeo and Juliet and In Black Christmas, Olivia Hussey takes on the part of Iceman's love interest and Magneto's daughter .

Quicksilver / Pietro Maximoff : Michael Beck
Michael Beck is cast as the moody and mysterious Quicksilver

Moira MacTaggert : Lee Remick
For the role of Moira MacTaggart , The Omen actress Lee Remick is cast as Xavier's partner and one time flame , who has a history with the professor and with his former friend Erik.

SEARCH FOR THE X -MEN ( 1980)
Director : Don Siegal
Screenplay : Nicholas Meyer

Project History
With the first film an unexpected success , Fox quickly greenlights a sequel ,which intends to introduce even more Mutants .

The plan for the film to be a "Men On A Mission" style adventure as The Wolverine, leads a team of new mutants, who wage a daring Midnight rescue of The Original X Men team, who've been incarcerated since the events of the previous film .

Actor and Director Clint Eastwood , expresses interest in the role of Wolverine , though wants his longtime collaborator Don Siegel to helm the project .

Nicholas Meyer remains on the project while, Christopher Plummer, Olivia Hussey, Michael Beck , Ryan O'Neal and Richard Gere are absent from the sequel .

However, McDowall, Brolin, Ross, and Gould all reprise their roles, while the villain of the peace is longtime X Men foe Senator Kelly , the driving force behind the Mutant Internment act .

The original cast is joined by Michael York , Pam Grier , and Amy Irving, as Banshee, Storm, and Shadowcat , while newcomers Rutger Hauer and Arnold Schwarzenegger are cast as Nightcrawler and Colossus , respectfully .

Veteran actor John Vernon , who previously worked with Eastwood, rounds out the cast as the duplicitous , Senator Kelly.



The Cast

Wolverine : Clint Eastwood

Storm : Pam Grier

Banshee : Michael York

Nightcrawler : Rutger Hauer

ShadowCat : Amy Irving

Colossus : Arnold Schwarzenegger

Senator Robert Kelly : John Vernon

Professor X : Roddy McDowall
Cyclops : James Brolin
Beast : Elliot Gould
Jean Grey : Katharine Ross

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN AND THE DOCTORS OF DOOM ( 2006)
Director : JJ Abrams
Producer : Jerry Bruickheimer
Screenplay : JJ Abrams , Alex Kurtzman , Roberto Orci
Music : Michael Giacchino

Story : As Two Of The World's Greatest Minds fight for a Doomsday device ,
they hunt for the scientist , who created it , Dr .Bruce Banner.

Banner hides with the aid of his former student, Peter Parker .

Now , Spider-man must protect the world from the combined threats of Doctor Octopus and Doctor Doom,while contending with the unpredictable beast ,
Which Banner is trying to hide.


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Doctor Octopus : Russell Crowe

Doctor Doom : Mads Mikkelson

Grey Hulk / Bruce Banner : Hugh Dancy

Mr. Fantastic : Patrick Wilson

Iron Man : Colin Farrell

Thunderbolt Ross : Stephen Lang
Norman Osborn : Neal McDonough
Captain America : Paul Walker
J. Jonah Jameson : Hugh Laurie
Aunt May : Joan Allen

SPIDER-MAN AND THE MYSTERY OF MADELINE PRYOR ( 2008)
Director : J.J. Abrams
Producer : Jerry Bruickheimer
Screenplay : JJ Abrams , Alex Kurtzman , Roberto Orci
Music : Michael Giacchino

Story
A woman without an identity,

A Secret Society in the Heart Of Manhattan,

And Humanitarian with powers so great,
even Mutants fear him

All come together as Spiderman is thrown into a mystery ,
involving the mysterious Madeline Pryor,

whose ties to a Sinister Corporation, and to an old foe of Spider-man

could trap Peter in a tangled web ,
that he can't escape.


The Cast

Spider-Man /Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Madeline Pryor / Jean Grey : Keri Russell

Mr. Negative / Martin Li : Rick Yune

Mister Sinister / Nathaniel Essex: Richard Roxburgh

Sebastian Shaw : Jason Issacs

White Queen : Rosamund Pike


The Jackal / Miles Warren : David Thelwis
Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Harry Osborn : Adam Brody
J. Jonah Jameson : Hugh Laurie
Aunt May : Joan Allen
Cyclops : Matt Bomer
Professor Charles Xavier : Charles Dance

 

[Frodo]

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ( 2017)
Director : J.J. Abrams
Producer : Amy Pascal and Avi Arad
Screenplay : JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof

Project History
After the disappointing box office results of The Amazing Spiderman 2 , and tensions with director Marc Webb and lead actor Andrew Garfield, Sony feels that the best way forward , is yet another Spiderman reboot.

While Kevin Feige wants to both reboot and incorporate the character into The MCU , Sony is reluctant to share the profits with Marvel .

At the same time, Sony execs feel that the franchise still has potential without relying on Spiderman teaming up with The Avengers .

Director JJ Abrams agrees to rejuvenate the franchise to balance both the light hearted elements of the Raimi Spiderman films, with the more serious elements of The Webb films.

The Spectacular Spider-Man goes into production in 2016 for a May 2017 release date.

The third version of Spiderman, by Sony, is meet with skepticism and derision from fandom.

While Many or disappointed that the ASM series won't continue, and others are disappointed that the character won't appear along side of The Avengers, some fans are optimistic about the new direction of the series.

Script
Though the new film is a reboot , rehashing Spiderman's origin is out of the question.
Instead, the film features an already established , grad student Peter Parker , whose Rogue's Gallery largely exists .

The Peter Parker of the script draws influence from both The Spectacular Spiderman cartoon in addition to the Spiderman Animated Series from the 1990s .

Instead of pining after Mary Jane ,or grieving Gwen Stacy , Peter is dating Liz Allen , much to the chagrin of her brother Mark Allen.

Mark is dating wealthy Influencer Felicia Hardy

Peter's roommate and best friend is Randy Robertson , while Peter's " Commissioner Gordon" of sorts , is Jean DeWolff.

Taking the Place Of Norman Osborn, is The Wealthy Industrialist Adrian Toomes who is poised as an emerging threat in the new series of films .

One of the goals of the film is to establish a new supporting cast and social group for Peter as opposed to repeating the same Peter/ Harry/ MJ/ Gwen dynamic of the previous films.

The new film finds Spiderman and Adrian Toomes facing the wrath of Caroline Trainer aka Lady Octopus , one of Octavius's proteges , seeking to avenge her incarcerated mentor .

Physically enhanced and more lethal than the original Doc Ock , Lady Octopus is determined to smoke out the wall crawler by using Peter Parker, and all those he cares about , as bait .

In the film's finale, Peter would be forced to face both Trainer and Octavius with the lives those Peter loves in the balance .

Abrams and The Producers feel that the best option is to return to a popular villain in Doc Ock, with the added twist of the female as the main protagonist , and "fangirl" of the original Doc Ock.

While Spiderman's other rogues are name dropped, Abrams wants to generate interest by bringing back The Doc Ock character.



The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Logan Lerman

Doctor Octopus / Professor Caroline Trainer : Eva Green

Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavius : Russell Crowe

Liz Allen : Lindsey Morgan

Felicia Hardy : Samara Weaving

Mark Allen : Taylor Lautner

Randy Robertson : John Boyega


Adrian Toomes : Mark Strong

Aunt May : Frances McDormand


Jean DeWolff : Naomie Harris

J. Jonah Jameson : Bryan Cranston

 

[Herofan]

Good except for Lautner, even he not bad but all the fans who complained that TASM was/were too Twilight-y (I did feel they were at least a bit too much so) would really complain this was not really reboot, was really more of same or worse. And focusing on Liz as love interest would feel a bit weird, a bit different for sake of different, but not too unexpected especially if it would likely be brief leading to focus on Felicia though many fans would want to just have Mary Jane again or both Mary Jane and Felicia.

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT ( 2017)
Director : Denis Villeneuve
Screenplay : James Vanderbilt

Project History
As Sony struggles to find the correct path forward after The Amazing Spiderman 2's disappointing performance , several ideas for the next Spiderman film are tossed out .

One idea that gains traction over the rest, is the idea of a low budget, darker, street level adaptation of Kraven's Last Hunt .

The film would be a stand alone project unrelated and unconnected to Webb or Raimi films , thus Webb and Garfield aren't asked to return.

Though it wouldn't be the big budget extravaganza that the last few Spiderman films were, Pascal and Arad are open to telling a smaller story , if for nothing else , to keep the costs down .

The project receives the green light with Denis Villeneuve agreeing to direct the film, while James Vanderbilt returns to pen the project .

The next Spiderman : Kraven's Last Hunt film swings into theaters in the Summer Of 2017.

Script
Set in a new continuity, the story features a late 20 something Peter , who , by this point, has already had several encounters and battles with the on edge Kraven .

The film would stick fairly closely to the comics adaptation , but would delve much deeper into the motivations of Kraven and Peter , and their own struggles as they face off .

However, unlike the comic, Peter's loved ones would be pawns and serve as bait after Kraven Discovers Spiderman's true identity.

B Peter wears a Black Spiderman suit and is married to Mary Jane , though there marriage is on the rocks .

The story features a Professor Peter Parker , whose ready to hang up the web shooters, feeling that , ultimately, Spider-Man hasn't made the difference he had hoped, and that his presence has only caused those he's loved , pain.

Though Peter doesn't explicitly refer to Ben , Harry Osborn, George and Gwen Stacy, it's inferred that they are apart of this Peter's history, and factor into his eventual decision to retire.


The story also would feature Sasha , Kraven's wife , in addition to the Chameleon and The Black Cat , who were absent from the original story .

The story is a much moodier and darker story than any of the previous Spiderman films, with Peter learning to find the will to keep moving forward after he nearly losses it all , while Kraven succumbs to the madness and darkness inside of him.

While the story is very much a standalone, the door is left open to a potential sequel .


The Cast



Spider-Man / Professor Peter Parker : Joseph Gordon Levitt

Kraven The Hunter / Sergei Kravinoff : Michael Shannon


Mary Jane Watson : Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Sasha Kravinoff : Eva Green

Black Cat : Rachel McAdams

Chameleon : Cillian Murphy


Aunt May : Ellen Burstyn

 

[Frodo]

THE MUTANTS ( 2000)
Director : Kathryn Bigelow
Producers : James Cameron and Lauren Shueller Donner
Screenplay : Andrew Kevin Walker

Project History
After nearly a decade of Development hell Kathryn Bigelow's X Men , now titled, The Mutants, gets off of the ground with a script by Andrew Kevin Walker.

James Cameron and Lauren Shueller Donner serve as the film's producers.

The film is set to be more of a drama with action set pieces as opposed to a typical CBM with some dramatic elements .

Bigelow looks to films like Bladerunner and Alien Nation for inspiration , with the film being set in a world 20 years from the 1990s .

Bigelow fills the cast with a combination of veteran character actors and the days up and coming talent comprising The X Men and The Brotherhood .

The film shoots exclusively in Canada as to keep the costs of the massive project down .

The film is set to be one of the most ambitious CBM's to date , and clocking in at 2 hours and 30 minutes, attempts to be one of the longest ,with many subplots left for an eventual directors cut.

The film is made as a one shot with the possibility of a sequel should the film be a box office smash.


The Cast

Professor X : Ben Kingsley


Magneto : Jeremy Irons

Kitty Pryde : Natalie Portman

Nightcrawler : Heath Ledger

Wolverine : Russell Crowe

Cyclops : Brenden Fraser

Jean Grey : Connie Nielsen

Storm : Angela Bassett

Beast : Vincent D'ONofrio

Rogue : Charlize Theron


White Queen : Cate Blanchett
Juggernaut : David Morse
Quicksilver : Jude Law
Scarlett Witch : Kate Beckinsale
Toad : Joaquin Phoenix
Reverend William Stryker : John Hurt

 

[Herofan]

Kitty Pryde : Natalie Portman

She was considered to play Rogue, though she could have done well I think it just would have been way too soon after Padme in TPM, really shouldn't be in two huge sci fi fantasy films two years in a row (especially as even somewhat similar characters).

Fraser as Cyclops a year after The Mummy would similarly feel a little weird and reminiscent-of-last-year though there those roles are, likely would be really different and even the genre more different.

Wolverine : Russell Crowe

Interesting to think he was wanted for, could have played him, he sure did go from liked, respected, rising but still rising, still not really widely known actor to huge star to huge star with Gladiator. And though he is still pretty associated with it I get the sense he doesn't really generally like action movies or blockbusters (though he will still take role in some, LOL).

Joaquin Phoenix could be interesting as Toad, also as a young Gambit, either having cool parallels with his role in To Die For.

I think there would be a lot of excitement for Charlize Theron as either Rogue or Mystique.

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : CROSSROADS ( 1986)
Director : John Hughes
Screenplay : John Hughes and Chris Columbus

Project History

With Canon films dealing with financial troubles and debts , the Spider-Man film rights ,are attained by Universal Pictures .

The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles director John Hughes is chosen to helm the teen ,superhero flick ,after a pitch inspires producers to give his story the greenlight.

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


Story
It's Peter's senior year of High School, and as he finds himself at a crossroads , as he has to decide between going to College or Getting a Job to keep Aunt May from losing the house.

All the while, he still pins away from the unattainable Liz Allen , while painfully unaware of his tomboy friend MJ, whose blossoming into a beautiful woman.

At the same time, Peter's best friend and fellow outcast ,Max ,fights back against the Bullies in the popular crowd , as the superpowered villain Electro .

Now , Peter will find himself having to confront his best friend and while protecting the same Bullies who've tormented him .

Script
The film forgoes the origin all together and instead, we meet an 18 year old Peter whose been Spiderman a couple of years .

Hughes's script makes several changes from the comics and amalgamates the characterizations several of Peter's supporting cast .

Max Dillion is a highschool student who becomes Electro after an accident at his factory job .
Max is characterized as an outsider , and with Peter and MJ, make up a trinity of outcasts.

However, after attaining the power , he adapts the Electro persona , and seeks revenge on those who've tormented him.

The Flash Thompson is no longer the Jock and physical threat he was in the comics, but instead, Is the head of the popular and wealthy crowd at Midtown high , who looks down on the working class Peter, MJ, and Max .

His characterization is much closer to Jason Macendale than to the Flash Thompson of the comics.

Hughes's uses Flash and Max to emphasis how class divisions is a much more potent a divide at Midtown high .

Harry isn't Peter's friend in the script , but is instead apart of the popular crowd , until Peter saves his life from Electro in the third act , after which , he begins to form a respect for Peter setting up their eventual friendship from the comics.

Liz , is Peter's superficial childhood crush , where as MJ is closer to the tomboy figure of Molly Ringwald's Pretty In Pink.

Peter sees MJ as a buddy and not a love interest and it's only on Prom Night , when he begrudgingly takes her to the prom at Aunt May's urging that he begins to see her in a different light.

However, Max has always loved MJ , and see's Peter taking her to the prom as a betrayal .

The script features Norman Osborn as Harry's demanding father, demonstrating that Harry's life isn't so charmed .

Aunt May is a supporting character , though is not the senior citizen of the current comics, but instead a woman in her 50s .

Absent is Jameson and the Daily Bugle, since Hughes wants to focus on Peter's highschool life setting up a future job at the Bugle in a potential sequel .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Matthew Broderick

Mary Jane Watson : Lea Thompson

Electro / Max Dillion : Eric Stoltz

Harry Osborn : Judd Nelson

Flash Thompson : James Spader

Liz Allen : Mia Sara

Norman Osborn : Paul Gleason

Aunt May : Grace Zabriskie

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : CROSSROADS ( 1986)
Director : John Hughes
Screenplay : John Hughes and Chris Columbus

Project History

With Canon films dealing with financial troubles and debts , the Spider-Man film rights ,are attained by Universal Pictures .

The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles director John Hughes is chosen to helm the teen ,superhero flick ,after a pitch inspires producers to give his story the greenlight.

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


Story
It's Peter's senior year of High School, and as he finds himself at a crossroads , as he has to decide between going to College or Getting a Job to keep Aunt May from losing the house.

All the while, he still pins away from the unattainable Liz Allen , while painfully unaware of his tomboy friend MJ, whose blossoming into a beautiful woman.

At the same time, Peter's best friend and fellow outcast ,Max ,fights back against the Bullies in the popular crowd , as the superpowered villain Electro .

Now , Peter will find himself having to confront his best friend and while protecting the same Bullies who've tormented him .

Script
The film forgoes the origin all together and instead, we meet an 18 year old Peter whose been Spiderman a couple of years .

Hughes's script makes several changes from the comics and amalgamates the characterizations several of Peter's supporting cast .

Max Dillion is a highschool student who becomes Electro after an accident at his factory job .
Max is characterized as an outsider , and with Peter and MJ, make up a trinity of outcasts.

However, after attaining the power , he adapts the Electro persona , and seeks revenge on those who've tormented him.

The Flash Thompson is no longer the Jock and physical threat he was in the comics, but instead, Is the head of the popular and wealthy crowd at Midtown high , who looks down on the working class Peter, MJ, and Max .

His characterization is much closer to Jason Macendale than to the Flash Thompson of the comics.

Hughes's uses Flash and Max to emphasis how class divisions is a much more potent a divide at Midtown high .

Harry isn't Peter's friend in the script , but is instead apart of the popular crowd , until Peter saves his life from Electro in the third act , after which , he begins to form a respect for Peter setting up their eventual friendship from the comics.

Liz , is Peter's superficial childhood crush , where as MJ is closer to the tomboy figure of Molly Ringwald's Pretty In Pink.

Peter sees MJ as a buddy and not a love interest and it's only on Prom Night , when he begrudgingly takes her to the prom at Aunt May's urging that he begins to see her in a different light.

However, Max has always loved MJ , and see's Peter taking her to the prom as a betrayal .

The script features Norman Osborn as Harry's demanding father, demonstrating that Harry's life isn't so charmed .

Aunt May is a supporting character , though is not the senior citizen of the current comics, but instead a woman in her 50s .

Absent is Jameson and the Daily Bugle, since Hughes wants to focus on Peter's highschool life setting up a future job at the Bugle in a potential sequel .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Matthew Broderick

Mary Jane Watson : Lea Thompson

Electro / Max Dillion : Eric Stoltz

Harry Osborn : Judd Nelson

Flash Thompson : James Spader

Liz Allen : Mia Sara

Norman Osborn : Paul Gleason

Aunt May : Grace Zabriskie

SPIDER-MAN : FAMILY BUSINESS ( 1989)
Director : Cameron Crowe

Project History

Though Spider-Man : Crossroads is a huge hit , plans for a sequel move at a snails pace at Universal.

John Hughes see's his Spiderman film as a one off and passes on the sequel, while Broderick also moves on, not wanting to be type- cast .

While several proposes sequel scripts are written , execs aren't satisfied , until Writer and Filmmaker, Cameron Crowe , pitches his own idea for a Spiderman film,

While technically a sequel , is it's own standalone story as opposed to continuing the threads left from the first film.

Universal signs the director and the sequel to one of the biggest hits of the decade finally begins to take shape .

Taking over the webshooters is John Cusack playing opposite veteran actor Brian Dennehy as Kingpin and newcomer Heather Graham as Felicia .

Grace Zabriskie is the only returning actor from the original film,
reprising her role as Aunt May .

Script

Taking place a few years after Spider-Man : Crossroads, the story finds a Graduate Peter Parker working at The Daily Bugle aunder the wing of J. Jonah Jameson ,as Jameson wages a crusade to take down the untouchable Wilson Fisk .

All the while , Peter has fallen head over heels for Fisk's naive and spoiled daughter Felicia, who is unaware of her father's darkside .

Ultimately, Peter wants to take Felicia away from the shady Fisk , While she is torn between the young man she loves, and her doting Father , who see's Peter as a loser .

In their alter egos , Spiderman and Kingpin have been in a constant battle , as Spider-man has taken down several of The Kingpin's minions .

Ultimately, Fisk wants Peter Parker and Spider-Man eliminated, and hires the ruthless and unpredictable Bullseye to eliminate Spiderman and The Daily Bugle team, as he prepares for a Gubernatorial Campaign.

As in the first film several of the films characters are amalgamations of characters from the comics .

In Crowe's script, Jameson is a combination of his comicbook counter part and George Stacy.

As opposed to being comic relief, he's a hard driving newspaper editor, and mentor to Peter, asking him to look at the world critically and hold the powerful, including Spiderman , accountable.

Felicia is now Fisk's daughter and is , in many ways, a blend of Gwen Stacy and Felicia Hardy, and unlike Liz Allen in the first film, is a more complex character despite her blind faith in her father .

Kingpin too, is also portrayed as a far more nuanced villain than in typical CBM of the 1980s.

While Fisk is clearly a manipulator and a cold and calculating criminal, he also loves his daughter and his estranged wife , and genuinely feels Peter isn't good enough for Felicia .

Crowe wants to tell a smaller ,and more personal story than the original film, and as such, wants to use a villain like Kingpin, with Bullseye serving as his costumed enforcer .

While characters like Shocker, Scorpion, and Rhino are considered as Kingpin's henchmen, Crowe ultimately wants the focus to be less on costumed theatrics and spectacle , and more on interpersonal relationships and visceral , physical confrontations.

At the same time , as is the case in Crowe's other films, the script still features its share of humor and lighter moments, but is overall, much more of a drama than Hughes original film is .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : John Cusack

Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Brian Dennehy

Felicia Fisk : Heather Graham



Bullseye : Benicio Del Toro


J. Jonah Jameson : James Woods

Vanessa Fisk : Mercedes Ruehl


Robbie Robertson : Paul Winfeild

Aunt May : Grace Zabriskie

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN ( 1987)
Director : Joe Zito

Project History
Though there are several false starts , Joe Zito's Spiderman film eventually gets off the ground in
1985 with the intention of a Halloween 1987 release date.


Script
In the context of high crime in 1980s Manhattan, Spiderman is transformed from the light- hearted , wise cracking kid from Queens, into an avenging vigilante much more akin to 1980s film antiheroes.

Making a sharp divergence from the comics, Peter is a scientist , mourning the senseless murder of his fiancee' Michelle ,when he's bitten by a radioactive Spider and eventually adapts the identity of Spider-man ,in search of her killer , and to punish the low lifes in the city.

The Peter of the script is a haunted man , reliving his lover's murder , further fueling his rage .

Absent are Uncle Ben and Aunt May , though Peter still works as a Photographer at the Daily Bugle.

Instead of the classic Blue and Red suit, he wears the Black Costume with the white Spider emblem, emphasizing that this is a much darker character.

Instead of battling Doc Ock, Green Goblin, or Mysterio, is instead the serial killer The Sineater , a figure more akin to the Zodiac Killer, who stalks his victims and taunts the press and the police with his exploits.

Taking the role of Peter's Love interest is tough as nails Detective Jean DeWolffe, who falls for the grieving Parker but wants to hunt down The Spiderman .

The script features characters such as Jameson, Eddie Brock ,and Betty Brant in supporting roles .

The screenplay is a much darker story than previous drafts considered by Canon, and is written with the idea of making a low budget thriller , common in the 80s as opposed to an sweeping Epic like Donner's Superman : The Movie .

The screenplay features violence, adult themes, and cursing, and though the film feels more Daredevil , than Spider-man Marvel Comics is desperate to being exploiting their characters on the big screen, so protest very little to the radically different interpretation of the classic character.

Story
As a sadistic serial killer , The Sineater, stalks the streets of Manhattan , he soons finds himself prey of a relentless avenger , scientist Peter Parker , aka , The Spider-man .

Having lost his fiancee to a random act of violence, Peter has vowed to use his new abilities to instill fear into the hearts of the underworld .

All the while, he's also being hunted by Detective Jean DeWolffe who wants Spiderman and The Sineater of the streets.

Now as the Sineater's reign of terror reaches a fever pitch , Spiderman, Sineater, and Detective DeWolffe are destined to meet in a showdown at high midnight , on the subways of Manhattan .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Michael Biehn

Sineater / Stanley Carter : Rutger Hauer



Detective Jean De Wolfe : Ellen Barkin

J Jonah Jameson : Richard Roundtree


Betty Brant : Nancy Kyes

Eddie Brock : Martin Kove


Michelle in Flashbacks : Rae Dong Chong

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN VS THE HULK ( 1992)
Director : Ron Howard
Producer : Brian Glazer
Screenplay : Michael France and David Koepp

Project History
After years of both Spider-man and Hulk film scripts languishing in development hell , Universal Pictures and Columbia pictures decide to work together to develop a Spiderman vs The Hulk film , that would serve as a launching point for both franchises .

With Ron Howard agreeing to direct the project , Tom Cruise expresses interest in playing Spiderman , in a surprise move .

The actor's love for the classic Marvel comics characters , in addition to working with Howard on his upcoming film Far And Away , gives the actor confidence the filmmaker can pull off a complex character drama in addition to some stunning action.

With Tom Cruise attached to the project , his wife , Nicole Kidman , soon joins as Mary Jane Watson .

Hot off of Silence Of The Lambs, Anthony Hopkins is cast as the villainous Dr. Octopus ,
while Robin Hood : Prince Of Thieves actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is cast as Betty Ross , while character actor David Stratrain is cast as Bruce Banner .

Rounding out the cast is Edward Furlong as Teen Rick Jones, Maggie Smith as May Parker , Tommy Lee Jones as J. Jonah Jameson, and Christopher Plummer as Thunderbolt Ross .

The film is set for release Fourth Of July weekend in 1992 .

Story
As Bruce Banner and his former student , Peter Parker , work to find a cure to his Hulk condition , The villainous Doc Ock creates a device to control the Green Goliath , and set him loose on New York City , to destroy Spider-Man.

Now, caught between his greatest nemesis , a trigger happy General , and the deadliest creature on Earth, Spider-man must not only fight to save the helpless Dr. Banner , but to protect the City and succeed against impossible odds .


The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker: Tom Cruise


Hulk / Bruce Banner : David Stratrain

Doctor Octopus : Anthony Hopkins

Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman


Betty Ross : Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Rick Jones : Edward Furlong

Thunderbolt Ross : Christopher Plummer

J. Jonah Jameson : Tommy Lee Jones
Aunt May : Maggie Smith

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN VS THE FANTASTIC FOUR ( 1994)
Director : Robert Zemeckis
Producer : Brian Glazer
Screenplay : Michael France and David Koepp

Project History

With Spiderman Vs The Hulk a box office sensation, Producer Brian Glazer see's the potential of using The Spiderman character as a launching point into a larger , Marvel, Cinematic Universe .

Further, Spiderman could serve to introduce other Marvel characters whose films were stuck in development hell .

For the follow up , Spiderman vs The Fantastic Four, Forrest Gump director Robert Zemeckis agrees to helm the project taking the reigns from Ron Howard .

With stars like Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan , Brad Pitt, and Daniel Day Lewis already agreeing to co-star along side Cruise , the film looks to be an even bigger event film than Spiderman vs The Hulk .

Story
When The Fantastic Four , returns from Space with a sample of an alien symbiote , Doctor Doom will stop at nothing to retrieve it .

But after the symbiote Bonds with Peter Parker , Spider-Man becomes a more aggressive and unstoppable force.

As Peter struggles with his dark side , The Fantastic Four must fight to get it away from him , all the while , Doctor Doom his enlists Sandman and Electro bring Spiderman in .

But as Spiderman faces off against his old friends, The Fantastic Four , his old enemies , Doctor Doom, Sandman and Electro, he'll find that his greatest enemy is from within .
The Cast

Spider-Man / Peter Parker : Tom Cruise


Mr. Fantastic : Tom Hanks


Doctor Doom : Daniel Day Lewis

Invisible Woman : Meg Ryan


Human Torch : Brad Pitt

Mary Jane Watson : Nicole Kidman


The Thing : John Goodman


Sandman : David Morse


Electro : Michael Wincott

J. Jonah Jameson : Tommy Lee Jones
Aunt May : Maggie Smith