Sam Raimi to direct SPIDER-MAN

Yeeeeah baby!

I just hope it don't blows in RAIMI's face like BATMAN did. This is the guy to direct any comic book movie light or dark! He is versatile, creative, he KNOWS fucking cinema! He is filmmaker that brings back the spirit of the greats(that we all know HE loves) Leone, Peckinpah, Hawks, etc. Man. As I said before... I can't express how happy I Am. If this is a lie I will hunt down MORIARTY!!! But for now I THANK you for this incredible news, evil one. I have been saying that RAIMI is the perfect director for years, even when I was a Cameron freak(I was a sinner) I didn't believe he was the right man! The right man is in the chair. Man, this is rare! Congratulations Sam. They didn't let you do BATMAN, but you are doing SPIDERMAN! Gold for gold!!! Man, good luck!!!

How can I possibly believe this is tru after all the other directors that have been "confirmed" to direct this movie. If Sam does direct it could be a really cool motion picture, but I just don't see him going for Spider Man. Maybe he could convince Wes Bentley to play Peter Parker. Until I hear it from Sam himself I will not believe this.

Damn, this is good news. Mamet and Raimi doing Spider-Man? I mean, it doesn't take much brains to put the guy who did the best superhero movie ever (Darkman) and put him in charge, but we've come to expect odd decisions from Hollywood, and I didn't even know he was up for the job. Now, I don't see Campbell in the title role, but he'd make a fine Norman Osborne. It likely won't happen - Raimi the Director doesn't feel the need to engage in as much nepotism and cronyism as Raimi the Executive Producer - but it's a nice thought. Sam Raimi. Damn!

Well top news indeed!! I, like every other comic geek out there, have been fretting over this particular project, and like Harry I think this is fantastic news!!!! Mind you, did anyone else see 'For Love of The Game'? Aw fuck it - Evil Deads, Darkman, Quick and the Dead, etc, etc and the maturity and depth shown by A Simple Plan. Phew! I wouldn't've thought of it, but fantastic!!!!!! Here's to 2 hours of orgasmic crash pan, crash zoom, dolly track zoom, mad and crazy angles! Please God, let it be true?

sorry for blank posting earlier (darn that enter button) He has yet to handle a high-budget project like this would no doubt be (cgi effects heavy). Wouldn't the studio want to go for someone who has helmed a $50Million+ feature AND turned a profit (although I have loved all of his films, they haven't always made big profits)... Mind you, if this is true,he's just GOTTA get Bruce in there somehow (and I don't mean a Fargo-esque blink and you'll miss it cameo).

Now thats is cool news!!!!!!!

Wow! Ooh, ah! I don't dare believe you Harry! After all the bullshit you've fed us in the past, you expect me to swallow this? Sam Raimi? Sam Raimi?!! SAM FREAKY-FUCKING-DEAKY RAIMI???!!! Mother! Mother! The big orange hairy orange man is making me touch myself again! *whimper*

Sorry Ron, sorry Chris, sorry Barry....the fans WIN this time!

This is terrific. Sam Raimi kicks ass. Look, X-Men will suck, but now, hopefully, this has a chance. Bruce Campbell as J. Jonah Jameson, anyone? This is a fan-boy's orgasmic masturbatory wet dream...

Did any of you see For Love of the Game, Quick and the Dead, Heart of Darkness or Evil Dead? These movies just sucked. A Simple Plan was good but doing one or two good movies out of a dozen makes him quite mediocre. Bring on David Fincher, I trust him a lot more than Raimi.

Well, I don't see he in any character in Spider-man. Safe Campbell for Superman or Batman! Fuck Warner! Just to think that BRUCE CAMPBELL would have been BATMAN if they didn't kick SAM in the @SS when he wanted to direct the bats 1989 film. These memories almost spoil my days!Do you know something? Screw that. Forget the past! Look at the future! a SAM RAIMI film Billy Bob Thorton is SPIDER-MAN. Just kidding...

I really don

2 movies??? Do you know anything of SAM RAIMI? EVIL DEAD is a classic terror movie. Corny on its core, showing signs of RAIMI'S humour, but still a chilling horror with great(even that simple) story and inovattive use of camera. Then comes CRIME WAVE. Fun as hell and well crafted. What next? EVIL DEAD 2. One of the funniest movie to ever be made. The same story of the first but with diversity. Creativity. A new film of the same story. How many guys can do that? Right now, I can just remember of HITCHCOCK, right now. (of course I Am being superficial on the matter)What is next? DARKMAN. One of the greatest superhero movies ever. All that BATMAN wanted to be. All that RAIMI could have done with the BAT. Then, ARMY OF DARKNESS. A lot of fun. The worst of the series but that did it's duty: It is a Ray Harryhausen homagem. What next? The shitfest that any LEONE fan like RAIMI should be embarrassed: THE QUICK AND THE DEAD... On this I have to agree with you. what a piece of shit hack job! I hate that film with my guts! Thank god his next film, a pseudo-Peckinpah, was a classic! Man A SIMPLE PLAN is one of the best films of this decade (91-00). A classic of filmmaking. And then comes the KEVIN COSTNER flick. That i haven't seen... I had say it is one bad movie with the possibility of 2. And what are 2 movies in a career?

I have always liked Sam Raimi. the only people who don't like him currently are only the ones who can't understand a movie that is aimed at adults. What the hell is wrong with a director making a couple mature movies. I know that a Simple Plan doesn't have pretty explosions, or martial arts scences, or a cheesy over inflated aerosmith sound track. I like all of Raimi's work, but please do not put the man down because he has made movies that are more adult themed. i swear some of you out there don't want to see an artist grow, but instead to make the same movie over and over again!

Sweet! I am now ready for the Ramii patented web-camera. Yes! Bruce kicks, but I see him as Green Goblin or Kraven the Hunter more than any other Spidey character. Great news for the fans!

Now, if they will just PLEASE cast Xander from Buffy the Vampire slayer (Nicholas Brendan) to be Spider man!!! Then I can die happy.

Why? Well, first, Fincher is the type of director who really hasn't established his voice yet. I'd hate to think that Fight Club, his 4th movie in, was the definitive Fincher movie. it was brilliant, but still, he's early in his career. Raimi is an established fantasist. Evil Dead. Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn. Darkman (still the best comic-book type film ever made - watch it again, and you'll agree). Army of Darkness. Hell, I liked the Quick and the Dead, too. Love that shot of Gene Hackman looking at his shadow and seeing the hole in it. Even the haters gotta like that one. How...well, comic-booky. A Simple Plan was brilliant and dark. Haven't seen For The Love Of THe Game, and really, have no interest in it. The Sam Raimi I like was never in those types of films. Sure, he's stated in interviews that he'd like to branch out into other genres, but you gota dance with the date that brought you, at least for a while. Spielberg had done genre films since Jaws, until The Color Purple, when he stepped out and was trounced by Oscar. Made Empire of the Sun, and was trounced again. His next "serious" film was Schindler's List, almost six years later. Let's have a balls-out Raimi fest like Darkman for this one. This will be the second fun comic-book mvie (right after Darkman, which wasn't really a comic, but I digress...) I for one can't fucking wait.

Sure Evil Dead is GREAT But i think that Fincher has a lot better director! Have you wathc Fight Club ? Even if you do not like the story! The direction is awesome! I do not say Raimi is a bad director and Barry Sonnenfeld should direct (that would really made me angry:)). But i just say that Raimi is overhyped! Yes man he has done great movies but there are a lot of directors that have done great movies. Fincher has more talent and would have loved to see him direct an Action Film! I just wanted to know why is Raimi better than Fincher? Raimi is great (maybe was). But you just have to high expections. Fincher knows how to combinate good effects and a good direction

Man , it is ridiculous this "who is better?", but it is necessary. Let me first state that I adore the films by DAVID FINCHER. But let's put it on the paper: HE IS A SHITTY FILMMAKER. I am not saying he is a shitty director. No way. He is one fucking god as a director! But is not exactly a filmmaker. He has great sense for narrative and visual composition, the darkness in his films is not unnecessary and well done. He is a master at crafting a beautifull image. Unfortunally, the scripts that he work with have been weak(SEVEN is the worst, beside ALIEN CUBE. FIGHT CLUB is very good, but it doens't have a fluid narrative. The buttons are all there. But they are difficult to push at some times), and he is a great adept of pseudo-intelectual scenes(Library on SEVEN. No necessity of BACH. He just uses it to show a intelectuallity that is lacking in the film scripts - like the shallow treatment of the works of Dante and J. Milton). And the thing that take him from cinema and put him in a different area. The intention of cinema is the supression of the cut. The necessity of the sequence without cuts. Is impossible to achieve greatness in doing CINEMA, without it. FINCHER has a incredible necessity to cut all the time. Until now. His only film that came into a cinematic status was THE GAME. Not his best, but his most cinematic. I just think that FINCHER has to find his cinematic self. He is a very talented guy, but he has to lose some of his video manias to actually become ass great as he deserv to be. And now comes why he is not as good as RAIMI for SPIDEY. He is NOT VERSATILE. He is dark. His humor is corrisive, not soft. He would be a hell of a director for BATMAN if you look to his detective film(SEVEN) and his paranoid fantasy(THE GAME). But he just wouldn't give PETER PARKER, the character enough room to breath. Please. FINCHER would be the equal of a dissapointing film like BATMAN(1989). He has to much of an author. Of a creative style and use of camera that don't combines with SPIDEY. His use of cameras is more cut form estatic to estatic(and not like a comic book, like Proyas do), from short camera movement to camera movement. SPIDEY needs the vitality of SAM RAIMI. Spidey needs the great range of cinematic vibe that the guys needs. Spidey needs the dramatic, action, humour and character care that RAIMI is capable of. SPIDEY needs a guy that can adapt the movie to the character o PARKER, and not adapt the movie to himself. That is all. I still love FINCHER and I hope he does the BLACK DAHLIA or ressurrects the a BATMAN FRANCHISE(dream on). Okay? P.S.: Sorry for any mispellings. This comes from the heart!

Darkman? Didn't realize that was him. My Raimi knowledge isn't as great as I thought obviously. This should be good. Of course, until a project is greenlighted or has begun filming, I really think it's too early to say it's a sure thing.

Ok maybe your right! Fincher is dark. But i dont like to hear he must done down his musicvideo style! don

Whos's Better??? WHO CARES!!!! It's like arguing should for AC or DC voltage during an execution! Either way the job will be done and done right!! I am truly happy, this will be a visual feast!You can't look at Sam's earlier works, he has matured as a director. "A Simple Plan" was simply amazing."For the Love of the Game" was great to look at, but suffered from a weak script. But with Mamet writing, Sam will have a great script in hand. I hope he gets a top drawer cast to go with it. They should get great actors, not Big Name movie-stars to be in it. Keep that cost down and spend more on Visual Effects and Production Design. I think Nicholas Brendon would be good choice, as for the villian, I don't know who they have planned. When they set that we'll talk. But Bruce Campbell has to be in it somewhere.I have one extra thought...Will it be as good as the Spiderman segments during The Electric Company on PBS in the 70s? LOL.

'Cause I just shit my pants. This is the scoop of the year. I might've championed Joe Dante in previous talkbacks, but I never thought in a million years that Sam would even be a possibility. I couldn't allow myself to get caught up in imagining the potential. Well, should this all come to fruition, I just want to say that there couldn't be a better fit. Sam, one of the most inventive filmmakers of the last twenty years, tackling *the* superhero in the Marvel Universe. Amy Pascal, all is forgiven. You have done well by the fans on this day.

Don't get me wrong, Fincher is a wicked director but is so far wrong for this gig, Raimi is the best choice of all the names mentioned by a mile. My god maybe a good superhero movie is on it's way

Wes Bentley as Peter Parker. Jennifer Love-Hewitt as Mary Jane (She just looks like her to me). R. Lee Ermey or the Bruce as J. Jonah Jameson. Mena Suvari as Gwen Stacy. A well-known character actor for Doc Octopus. Kevin Spacey, anyone? Paul Newman as Uncle Ben (mostly a cameo) and (drumroll) Lauren Bacall as Aunt May. Granted, this is fanboy gushing, and I'm aware of that. By the way, it IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SPIDER-MAN ORIGIN MOVIE WITHOUT DOC OCK. Just an observation. Man, I'm excited.

Roli. I Am not saying that FIGHT CLUB wans't great. It was fuckin great. But it wasn't cinema. It was a great 2 hours clip, in style! Let's be honest, you can love the guy, for what he is, like I do. But you have to see that the kind of style that he uses is one of weak resources. If he continues in this path he will soon be a director that has nothing more to do. With a repetitive style. The guy DESERVES to be great. He is very good. He just needs to start doing cinema and forget his manias!!! He is a great director. But to become a film maker he has to grow as one! The guy is stagneted! And this ain't good for him, for me and it ain't going to be good for you, in the future. And please, Roli repeat your question. I didn't understand? P.S.:Raimi as executive producer in Xena an Hercules? Why not as executive producer in THE HUDSUCKER PROXY?

I hate to say it but I told you so just a few days ago. This man is the perfect director. Can't wait to see the result. Cheers.

I love fincher's work. One of my favorite directors working now. Now I agree that sam raimi is better for the job. Spiderman needs a type of energy seen in raimi films. Now hat worries me i that fincher is trying to bring the black dahlia to the screen for some time, i thought that him doing spidey was probably going to allow him to make dahlia afterwards. Moriarty, do you know anything on dahlia

Sam has got to be the happiest guy on earth if this is true. In my heart of hearts, I know he'll treat this material with proper amounts of geekism and professionalism. The perfect choice. Now, let the casting rumors begin!

This is the role Bruce was born to play. Forget about him being Parker or Jameson. Campbell as Doc Ock would be awesome.

It is!

Putting it to simple terms:"FIGHT CLUB" is his "THE THING". "SPIDER-MAN" is that trainwreck in his way, called "CHRISTINE"... "It was KING with a cool director, how could it be wrong." It was. And Carpenter disapointment with himself has brought his career to "classics" like " MEMOIRS OF INVISIBLE MAN", "VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED", "VAMPIRES", etc. But look at the bright side... He has a shitty career, but still has got a style. Unfortunally, style can't save shitty scripts. Understand now! I am in favor of DAVID FINCHER forever! mail: daviop@conex.com.br

I like the idea of Xander playing Spiderman. He has the correct look, and has displayed the ability to handle the type of humour I always associated with Spidey.

I'm a huge fan of David Fincher. I think Fight Club was just fantastic. I also say, and none too glibly, that anyone who says they don't like Sam Raimi doesn't know what they are talking about and are not to be trusted. No comic adaptation should EVER be made without Raimi's personal seal of approval.

This is really exciting. I'll put aside my "good super-hero movies are impossible" mentality aside for just a moment here . . .I'm sure the tone would be closest to Darkman, which is great, I just hope the script is a little more sophisticated. (How many people throw their full-length black raincoats with matching hat into back-alley dumpsters, anyways?) As far as Bruce Campbell, C'mon guys, he is no-doubt, 100% Green Goblin if I ever saw it. Talk about someone born to play a part! Establish Bruce as Norman Osbourne in the first movie and save The Green Goblin for the sequel!

Sam Raimi is one of the best directors of today, along with Tim Burton and Luc Besson. As for Spiderman, lot of you fanboys forget that Sam is exe. prod of Hercules and Xena the lesbian princess, so he's had experiece with comic-book action scenes. And yes, Darkman is sooooo underrated.

In between drinks here at the Diogenes Club, I've been doing some thinking on casting for the Spiderman movie... I've only got a couple of thoughts, but one of the important things is who the villain is. I don't know if anyone has seen/read the Mamet script... if so, who are the bad guy(s)? My suggestion would be to make SANDMAN the bad guy. No not Neil Gaiman's Sandman, but the original Spiderman badguy Sandman... you know, the guy who can turn his body into living flowing sand. After what was done in last years version of 'The Mummy', imagine the sand effects... picture if you will: Spidey confronting a 'human' looking Sandman... harsh language is not going to work, so Spidey swings on his web to kick the Sandman square in the chest. Instead of the Sandman being knocked across the room, he explodes in a shower of sand, and Spidey sails right through him. Spidey lands and looks back to see the Sandman eerily reforming from the pile of sand. As for casting, I'd prefer to stay away from any TV faces we've seen. 15 Years ago, the perfect Peter Parker would have been John Cusack... Perhaps Casper Van Dien could pull it off if he still looks as young as he did in 'Starship Troopers', although Van Dien would make a better Flash Thompson. The man born to play J. Jonah Jameson is R. Lee Ermey, aka Gunnery Sgt. Hartman from Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket'. What do the rest of you think? Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' smarter brother.

SAM RAIMI IS the guy to do comic book films! Independent of it being light or dark!!! Fuckin WARNERS didn't realize that! Are they blind? Of course. Dumb question. Warner executives are all lined-up to play DAREDEVIL... They said they cut his super-senses from the script, of course!!! ------ mail: daviop@conex.com.br

Does anyone here remember those issues in "The Amazing Spider-Man" where the Green Goblin is unmasked, and we see the real guy: hopeless, defeated, and sad? Tell me Kevin Spacey doesn't look exactly like him. (as does B. Campbell, for that matter...)

Okay, I'm on board now. I'll sleep easy now with this tidbit tucked away in my noodle.

This is great news. I hope this shuts up everyone who's been saying that Harry doesn't provide the scoop anymore. Way to go, Harry.

Baa, baa. Sheep every fuckin where!! How about if I turned around and said Sony are going to dig up the bones of ole Orson Welles and bring him into to direct the new Spidey movie? I'll bet you all cream your pants. What's so fuckin special about Sam Raimi? B fuckin movies. The only real decent thing he has going for him in the Spidey aspect is Bruce Campbell. What a fuckin cool actor. Groovy!! I'm a big fan of Spidey, and I don't want no Zombies running around the skyscrapers after the Webslinger. Nor do I want Kevin the Fuckin homosexual Sorbo, or Xena the fuckin Dyke Cunnilingus princess appearing in this film. Luc Besson is what you need. Some atmosphere, some scenery, some Spiderman costume designed by Gaultier. Better luck next time

Raimi is perfect for the job! I can't wait to see what he does with it. As for all these folks who want to see a "dark" Spidey, go watch an Electric Company rerun on the Noggin Channel (call your cable company or satellite provider for details). That's what Spiderman looks like. I believe most folks aren't looking for a new, hip, dark Spidey for the new millenium. They want that guy from the old comics and Electric Co. Something bright, fun and energetic. Sam's the right man for the job. CONGRATS SAM!

BUt plz tell me why everyone says Fincher is to young Fincher is not ready Fincher has not done enough movies bla bla bal blab bla bla can t you get it? OK he has done just 4 movies but they are great!! Fight Club is a masterpiece Se7en is the best thriller i have ever seen and The Game is also very good. So plz don`t say he is good but has do learn more. Just because he knows to move cinema forward and knows how to use cgi as a new type of camera and does not make normal movies we see every day. So thats all! and the Fincher is like Carpenter is a joke ! Fincher has a lot more talent and uniqe style to make cinema look cool and he do not give us the same in every movie, he knows how to give each movie his own style. Fincher is one of the best director out ! its time to realize that. And finally i am happy has turnt down Spider Man and makes good movies. cu

Would someone please tell me what the hell was so great about DARKMAN? It had a cool trailer, but I knew I had been conned as soon as the cheesy looking credits started. This movie had nothing going for it aside from the helicopter scene. And Liam Neeson has always been a dead fish of an actor; he couldn't act to get his scrotum out of a beartrap. Fortunately, Raimi has some other successes to his name.

JSP, I understando your love for THE QUICK AND THE DEAD!!! Maybe you didn't fell offended as did I because you are not a SERGIO LEONE fan, but the film bust me out! I understand that SAM did the film out of passion for the "Dollar's Trilogy" and " Once upon a Time in the West", but he failed miserable. A stinker in a great film maker career, but still one big stinker. He was more sucessful with his homage to Peckinpah in A SIMPLE PLAN. And in a level he excused himself from THE QUICK AND THE DEAD using the "greed theme" from Leone's films. but I understand your love for the film, anyway! Peace!--- daviop@conex.com.br

Yeeeeessssssssss!!!!!!!!! Interesting, if not obvious, choice of director. How about Edward Norton for Spiderman?

OK, I think raimi would be fine. I always thought Fincher would be too dark. I always thought the best choice would have been Zemekis. He handles Character, Humour and Cgi very well and he also has a nice light touch. Just my opinion.

This could be veerrrrry innnnteresting. But schtupid! No, actually, not stupid exactly. Just. . .I don't know, I loved the EVIL DEAD's, ARMY OF DARKNESS, XENA, et al, but. . .Sam Raimi? Won't he make it just a tad *too* "comic book" to take seriously? Not that I want a dark Spiderman or anything like that--he's not Batman after all. Ahh, fuggit; Raimi kicks ass, he'll make a decent flick. But ya know, according to spidermanhype.com John Woo is also being considered, so we'll see.

ROLI, SEVEN is the best thriller you ever watched? My man, you have to watch a lot of movies if so! SEVEN is well direct, but I can say that, to begin, TOUCH OF EVIL is a thriller that is in another sphere. In quality, and as cinema! You are takin what I am saying as ofense to FINCHER, but if he does as will wish he will be as much of a joke as Carpenter is today. I don't know if your memory is very good, but CARPENTER used to be a great director in the late 70's and early 80's. And a superior FILMMAKER to FINCHER. As directors I don't dare to compare , because they are too different, besides the odd endings. Is not the trouble of being "too young". The trouble is that he is not competent for this movie! Is like putting JOHN HUGHES to direct BATMAN! ---- daviop@conex.com.br

Wow! I thought it was a cruel joke when I saw it on the front page! Here Harry had me worried with all of these other crap directors he's been naming, and then this! Now I am happy!

And one more thing. Moving the cinema forward? LOL... He is an excelent director and an excellent user of CGI, but don't overrate him, saying he is the "discover". Robert Zemeckis used CGI in the ways that FINCHER uses it before FINCHER directed SEVEN. In the other hand, do you think that fast cutting editing is what make DAVID FINCHER's products good? This is exact his more distracting and unoriginal feature. These have been used since the 70s. There is no innovation in cutting "como uma porra louca". It is not moving the cinema forward. Just devoring itself until there's nothing left! Like I said. FINCHER is a great director, but a lousy filmmaker. Peace!------- daviop@conex.com.br

This is the best thing I have ever read on AICN...fucking brilliant...love Sam Raimi... I fucking grew up with him near enough... going home happy tonight... good weekend to the readers...!

If this be the true, ol' Moriarterius deserves the Golden Scoop! BUTT! If this is a "slow news day so lets put up a random Phantom Menace I mean Spiderman posting" there'll be helltapay - HELLTAPAY! Seriously, this is cool news. With Mamet (dammit) and Raimi, I'm thinkin' the depth of A SIMPLE PLAN plus the cartoon visual panache of DARKMAN plus the humor of EVIL DEAD 2/3 - and that's SPIDERMAN, baby! I say give old Ed Furlong a shot at PP, Bruce can play HO/GG, Richard Farina's a shoo-in for JJJ, Robert Bake IS Doc Ock, Casper Van Beethoven for Flash T., Amy Poehler could play Gwen (and Aunt May), Sarah Polley for MaryJane (w/ black hair - youch!), and let's not forget Sarah Michelle Gellar as... THE DISCO DAZZLER! (Surely The Dazzler will make it into Mamet's script.)

Now I'm even more certain that Nicholas Brendan would be the perfect Spidey. As for Fincher, good director yes but wrong for Spidey. There are enough dark of night moody action flicks like this, look at Batman.. that's not Spiderman. Spiderman is FUN. And Xander [NB] would be perfect, he's the right age, the right look, with the right chops for the part. He's been doing action already on Buffy for years. I hope they at least look at him for it.

YEAH BABY YEAH! RAIMI'S GOT LEGS, HE'S ALL OVER THE PLACE! YOU DON'T LIKE THE CUT OFHIS JIB (whatever the hell that means)? TOUGH, CAUSE IT'S THE ONLY JIB HE'S GOT! RAIMI'S MAKIN' GRAVY WITHOUT THE LUMPS! HE'S THE EVIL MIDNITE BOMBER WHAT BOMBS AT MIDNITE AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! I know, that' from the Tick, not Spiderman. But what the hell, this is great news! Raimi rocks!! By the way, the live action Tick series (if it comes about) should be directed by Sam-I-Am as well. BOOM BABY BOOM!!!

The more I think about it the more I like it. Raimi has the ability to make this rule. It's a fucking shame A Simple Plan didn't win Movie of the Year. I really hope this is true.

People - a LOT of you seem stuck with this concept that EITHER of the two directors mentioned are INCAPABLE of doing anything but COMPLETELY re-treading the content and style of their previous output.. granted there *CAN* be similarities in the way they compose images and direct their pictures, but its ALSO entirely plausible to believe that either director will take an approach SUITABLE to the needs of the material that ISN'T A REATREAD OF THEIR WORK!!!! Just coz Fincher is "dark" DOES NOT mean he would go, "Ok, I'm gonna do Spidey, gee.. I JUST HAVE TO DO IT DARK AND BROODING!! Coz I'm incapable of doing anything else.." And the same goes with Sam.. sure, they both have shown in previous works that they have the inventiveness to generate the images and cinema for a spidey pic - but get these re-runs of their previous work OUT OF YOUR HEADS and place more stock in the fact that this will be NEW ground for either director.. (i.e. Spidey is a BIG BUDGET, CGI heavy pic - Raimi has NOT done this before (which isn't to say he won't rise to the challenge) but because of this, he YOU CAN BE SURE he WILL be developing a Spidey pic DIFFERENT from his previous output by simple virtue of the fact that the filmmaking approach *IS* going to be different... For Fincher, it would be the fact that his MAIN mandate as a Spidey director would be to produce some semblance of an "audience/fan" friendly spidey pic - again with MORE CGI & Action than he's handled before (again, I'm sure he'd rise to the challenge) but remember that he too would have to ALTER his filmmaking approach to bring the material to the screen... SO STOP TRYING TO INTERPOLATE THEIR PREVIOUS OUTPUT TO THIS PICTURE, IT CAN ONLY GIVE YOU THE BRIEFEST OF INSIGHTS INTO WHAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE!!!! (just think of Raimi's restraint and "maturity" for A Simple Plan - and all your hypothesising about what he is and isn't capable of goes down the toilet...)

Sweet Jesus, Haleluah! Smart, very smart. I predict this one will blow the socks off of all comic related movies, and set the standard for new character developements and action sequences. Finally a franchise of a comic book done by someone with vision and talent. It'll slay the competition that year...(well maybe not that second little sci-fi movie prequal).

Raimi has punched out some of the most entertaining and visually creative films ever, with some of the lowest budgets this side of Claymation. People deride ED1-2, AOD as corny and cheesy; howzabout you try knocking out something like that in YOUR garage. As Raimi's funding has increased (Renaissance etc.) his films have progressed in leaps and bounds on every front. Give the man access to adequate actors (not an insult to Bruce of course) and technology and I think we'll see something really special.

Can i just interject, i seem to remember Raimi being brought in as a hired hand following the original director being sacked so i can't see him being responsible or that TQATD is a Raimi movie, with regards to this whole stylistic vive battle going on Finchers cuts are too quick for my liking (before someone kicks off i am a fincher fan) whereas just check that disolve in Darkman before the graveside scene thats a rewind me selector edit, good news if it not true then someone will pay :-)

i'm telling you, i love the idea of Nick brendan (always been a big supporter of that casting) and i think that nicky could play young spidey, and if they need an older one, they could have campbell. wow..that would be my dream...

1. Wes Bentley of "American Beauty" 2. That guy from the show "Roswell" ? He's not too famous yet, and he's got that look... We need ACTORS, not BIG NAMES. How 'bout Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Doc Oc? Liv Tyler would make a smashing Mary Jane... she's a better actress than any of the WB TV actresses. Who else is the right age for Mary Jane? Reese Witherspoon? Grinning ear to ear at the Raimi news... The Grin

that should be enough but my ideal cast is still the one in my head(as is the one in all our heads)for me their are only 2 canadites for most of the char.(in some cases 1 and only 1 choice for a part)Nick Bredon, an excellent choice for Spidy, he hasn't done much movie work, he's been holding out just content with Buffy while SMG does crap puesdu teen dramas and Alyson haggin(sp?)does teen comedies, my other choice for PP would be Thomas Ian Nichols, Speaking of Alyson she or Laura Prepron from That 70's Show would be my personal choice for MJ, they both have that sweet girl next door, certifably hottie look that MJ needs, I'm sticking by Shawn hatosy as Flash, Casper Van Dein is I'm sorry like 30 years old, too old for Flash, Paul Newman or Richard Farnsworth as Uncle Ben, I still like Gena Rowlands as Aunt Mae and that's who I'm gunning for, she's aged well, looks like someone's aunt and has that great New York senseablity and is a damn fine actress too, Gwen Stacy=Meni Suvari...R Lee Emery would make a fine JJJ, and as for THE BRUCE, well my vote for him is as Doc Ock or one of the goblins...remember from my previous posts that I'm a life long spidy fan, I perfer the lighter spidy, and that is why I picked the cast I did...I'm also a stuggling actor...Mr. Rami, I know I'm an unknowen, un tested talent but if you're interested I'm willing to work cheap and I have a distincive look, and I love doing comedy...I'll send you a head shot and resume, this would be a dream come true for me, email me with addresses where I can apply at, please sir Spiderman is what I've dreamed about all my life, I don't want to play Peter Parker, but I would KILL for the chance to be in the Spiderman movie, as long as I can remember Spiderman has been THE comic book char I could relate too, as a kid our libray used to have dress up contests during the summer monthes to get kids to come in and I dressed as Spiderman. Even if I was just an extra, the chance to work on this movie is one I cannot pass up. Thanks---ok now that my groveling is over I'm going to head out now---Everett

With Raimi at the helm, the Spidey movie may have some promise. I look forward to seeing some of Raimi's trademark camerawork applied to Spidey. I.E. camera follows web as it travels from shooter to villians face! etc.

Thank fucking God. This is one of the ONLY times I can imagine something that really, really sounds like a impossibly fantastic idea coming together. Kind of like that project Chow Yun-Fat and John Woo are supposed to be working on or Ron Bass working with Ethan Hawke (the primadonnas were made for each other).

Anyone remember Peyton getting P.O.ed in Darkman? The quick zoom-in to his face, explosions going off everywhere????? I can't WAIT to see, for the first time on the big screen, how Raimi will portray Peter's spidey sense.

Wednesday, after reading about the various rumours for the director of SpiderMan, I gave it some thought (as I'm sure a zillion other fanboys did...) I'm not the biggest Marvel fan on the planet, I got my comics start with Transformers and GI Joe, and eventually 'graduated' to X-Men, FF and the occasional Spidey. But I've always enjoyed the various SpiderMan TV incarnations. Anyhow, I went to my trusty VCR to pop in ANH (Damnit, release it on DVD, THEN do the special treatment, you know we'll buy both...) but my friend dropped by, and saw that I had the 'widescreen' verion of AOD. Well after watching this, I remembered that Raimi *IS* capable of the comic timing that embodies SpiderMan, and further more, he could bring along Bruce Campbell, an actor that I don't understand why he isn't more popular. Now, of cource, Ash isn't right for Parker. BUT, imagine our favourite rubber face as the GREEN GOBLIN. He's got the right look the right for that role, and it would be good to see Bruce as the bad guy. AND, this means we get a CLASSIC Spidey villian. AND, Raimi would hesitate to kill off his buddy, so the Goblin could be back in future instalments!

Worst thing ever to happen to this movie, was the loss of James Cameron. Now that I have that out, lets compare the last two films by Raimi and Fincher. FIGHT CLUB was the heart pumping, smack you in the face thriller that we had been missing in movies for years. FIGHT CLUB took cinema by the balls and gave it a good twist. For Love Of The Game was lifeless, it was just two and half of hours of Kevin Costner trying to save his dwindling career. Not even Sam Raimi could save his career. Sure Sam has done phenominal movies (Evil Dead Trilogy) but he doesn't have Fincher's vision, and cinematic flair and that is what spiderman needs.

This is getting a little silly. How many actors have I suggested for this role already? Here's a small list; Vincent Kartheiser, Eli Marienthal, Joseph Mazzello, Wes Bentley, Nick Stahl, Devon Sawa, Chad Christ, Giuseppe Andrews and the list goes on and on. Well, here's a new name to put on that list; Jesse Bradford. I can't believe I didn't suggest him earlier. I saw Steven Soderberg's King of the Hill(not to be confused with that terrible cartoon series) today and in that movie he played a twelve year old boy. That means he should have the right age now. I checked and I was right; he's twenty. He's an incredible actor who starred in William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet & A Soldiers Daughter Never Cries. For his filmography go to http://us.imdb.com/Name?Bradford,+Jesse and for more photographs go to http://www.members.tripod.com/~J_Bradford_fans/gallery.html So what do you think? Is he a better choice than Chad Christ or are both suggestions bad and would you rather have another actor? If so who and why would that particular actor be better? Now that we know the director and writer, the next step will be the actor who'll play Peter Parker. It think Jesse could make it work. Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

I read recently that Raimi, in retrospect, views QATD as a failure. He thinks he blew it, which is odd because I've always enjoyed it, warts and all. Sony, however, has seen fit to give him a second chance, and I know he won't disappoint. You may call that blind faith, but I call it trust in the crazed genius that is Sam Raimi. He's at the perfect point in his career to helm this project. "Hail to the king, Baby."

While all you vision-les, imaginaition-deficient wannabes were talkin David Fincher and Chris Columbus, the suits were doing the right thing by getting the right guy for the job. Now all it needs is Freddie Prinze Jr., Natasha Lyonne as Gwen Stacy, Jennifer Love-Hewitt as Mary Jane, and Daniel Benzali as Kingpin for the villian. Fuck y'all!

I'd much rather see William Shatner as Spidey than any of the names mentioned so far.

Why did I think Raimi to be the man for the job? I think this Spider-Man movie, if it is going to be any good, will have to look a lot like Darkman. Raimi is one of the most innovative and exciting directors out there from the Evil Dead series to Darkman to even the Quick and The Dead which wasn't half-bad. His only film I hated was For Love Of the Game. To me, that wasn't Sam Raimi. That isn't a Sam Raimi film.

Did you even see the movie? Raimi pulled off some of the greatest (and most realistic) baseball scenes of all time. He had a vision, and a love, for the game. It's too bad the script wasn't up to his considerable talent. As for Fincher, the guy flails when it comes to action, and, besides, he's the kind of director we'd rather see experimenting rather than being reined in by a purely commercial project. Let Fincher turn his talents to THE BLACK DHALIA, or, my personal Ellroy pick, THE BIG NOWHERE. Now, *that* would be something to see.

P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Everyone in my office is looking at me weird because I just jumped out of my seat cheering. I'm not even supposed to use the net.

Because if Amy Pascal is as smart as we all think she is right now for hiring Sam 'who-could-have-made-a-good-film-out-of-Jack-Frost' Raimi to direct 'Spider-Man', she'll turn around and make the announcement that Fincher will direct 'Daredevil' (which is a dark, gritty film more suited towards Fincher's visual style. Just look at Alien3, The Game, and Fight Club. They all capture the Frank Miller look of Daredevil.) And hey, who knows, maybe Bruce Campbell can play Venom and Ted Raimi can be Peter Parker... did you ever think of that?

Think about it... Geeky, skinny, athletic? Take a look at Chris Raimi in "Darkman" wearing those dork glasses and that's your Peter Parker!!! Hopefully, we'll get a good villian in the Mamet script. I'll take Doc Ock or Green Goblin please!

Screw Fincher and the other guys! Who else could make an awesome Spidey film other than good ol' Sam "Evil Dead" Raimi? The answer: NO ONE!! This is more like it folks! No more worrys for me. Im happy with this choice 100%! In the immortal words of that legendary pet detective: "Alllllrightty thennnn!!"

I hope that they make Peter Parker the geek kid that he was in the early books. If they go that route I think they should cast the kid from Rushmore.(his name escapes me)He has the look and the build for spidey. They can always put someone in the suit for action/fight scenes.

If so, I won't hold that against him as I go to the theater to see it. Although I hated that movie, I think that the campiness (and downright stupidity) of it is perfect for Spider-man. Maybe toned down a tad.

WELL THANK FUCK FOR THAT!

You didn't like Army of Drakness? The special effects were cheesey, but I thought it was a good film.

Seminole was RIGHT ON! Who better to play the Goblin than Kevin Spacey?? Can't you just see it now? Kevin throwing his little orange pumpkin bombs all over the screen while he howls in nefarious delight! Better than Nicholson as the Joker, let me tell you. Here's hoping Raimi gets Spacey in the mix right away. Cheers!

How about Jude Law as younger spidey? :)

Look I'm not going to pass any judgement on this film until it is completed, but Sam Raimi? I didn't think Fincher was right (James Cameron would have probably rocked), but Raimi? He's like the geek god. All of his films are corny and stupid. I had to endure watching Army of Darkness which was awful, and those Evil Dead films were plain stupid. Lately he's made cliched crap like Love of the Game and Quick and the Dead. Why do people think this is great? Personally I feel it's a dark day for Marvel's flagship character but that's my opinion.

Although he's a great actor and one of my past choices, I don't want him as Peter anymore. Peter Parker should be good-looking enough to get girls like Gwen and Mary Jane. Jason is just too geeky looking. He doesn't look like a boy-next-door. Chad Christ(Gattaca), Giuseppe Andrews(Detroit Rock City) or Jesse Bradford(King of the Hill) would be much better and in my humble opinion perfect. The can act, are handsome, have the right age and additude and have enough movie experience. What more do could you want? And don't say Nick Brendon, because he can act, is too ugly, is too old(28!), doesn't have the right attitude(sure he's funny, but he has the intellect of a mule. Peter is a wizkid) and has virtually no movie experience. Sorry Greengirl, but you gotta admit that Chad, Guiseppe and Jesse would be so much better than Nick. Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

Just kidding. Excellent excellent choice! And for all you who hated Quick and the Dead, see it again! There were many many vintage Raimi coolness shots in there to make it worthwhile. One of my favorites was Keith David getting his head blown off (I don't hate Mr. David, I think he's great, I'm just commenting on the coolness of the shot). And who could forget the sun shining through Hackman's bullet wound as he looks at his shadow? Raimi is absolutely perfect!

I case you forgot about Wednesday, I scooped that story Moriarty! You better know your role, and GIVE ME CREDIT!

I could not be happier about this news. Raimi will make Spider-Man fun, which is what it should be. Now all the project needs is a real story - - the Cameron scriptment was insulting. (Organic web shooters as a metaphor for puberty---Doing Mary Jane on a bridge---PLEASE!!!) After weeks of dubious news, this is truly an exciting day.

Bruce Campbell can't be Spidey, but he must play every other single damn role in the movie! The villian, JJJ, Mary Jane Aunt May, EVERYONE! In fact, make the ending Spidey vs. Ash!

I have sent an army of Deadites to your homes and places of buisness. LONG LIVE RAIMI!

This rumor hasn't been confirmed yet. Don't get too cocky, or someone will be saying "I told YOU so, Golgo 14." Also, if an alien being was to be reading AICN, thinking it was some sort of gateway to humankind's existence (yeah, right), they'd have no choice but to come to the conclusion that the only film directors alive are Sam Raimi and David Fincher, and the only actors alive are Edward Norton and Bruce Campbell.

This is greta news for the movie, I thought it was gonna end up sucking ass. I can't wait to see how the Spidey movie takes advantage of "Raimi Cam". It will be even better if Raimi gives Peter Parker the same "smart assness" of Ash.

With Raimi directing this movie will fucking kick ass. I agree Nicholas Brendan is perfect as the Spman. But I have to disagree with those of you say that this should be an artful,dark gothic, setting/movie. Dark and Gothic belongs in Gotham city with Batman... NY is a modern city, with modern buildings, not with frigging huge statues hanging off everywhere. Plus, unlike Batman, Spiderman is a daytime hero... (as much as Batman is nightime... I know they both come out during the day/night too...) My 2 cents.

Just wanted to point out that Sam Raimi already had a great relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio from "Quick and the Dead" - could this be one of the reasons the studio decided to go with him? Don't count on Gene Hackman being J. Jonah Jameson, though - they apparently clashed big-time during filming. Cograts, Harry, on getting the scoop...I hope it's true. At least Sam Raimi IS a true visionary!

With his recent acquisition of the Spiderman gig, Sam Raimi is going to have to push back production of his eagerly awaited Hong Kong Phooey epic. However, the revered director of A Simple Plan is cautiously optimistic: "I think in the long run, this will be good for the Phooey picture. I haven't done a true straight-up action hero flick yet, and I think Spidey will be a good testing ground. I like to learn from mistakes and I think Phooey will bethe better for it." Though they seem markedly different, the story of a radioactive reporter and the adventures of the legendary janitor-dog/martial arts expert shared one common attribute: both were all but condemned to development hell until recently. In a bizarre coincidence, it would seem that Raimi will be the savior of both. Will these lead to superhero collusion? "It's entirely possible," muses the wily Raimi. "I could see doing this in a trilogy format, sort of like Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy." Raimi alludes to the Southern writer who's All the Pretty Horse will be seen later this year. In the trilogy, the stories of two men are separately told in the first two novels. The trilogy culiminates with the meeting of the two characters in the third novel. "I think that on many levels, the story of Hong Kong and Spidey are very similar. I mean, they both have secret identities and such." Will Raimi remain as faithful to the Webslinger as he promised to be to Hong Kong Phooey? "Absolutely,' says Raimi. "I'm going to keep the Spiderman story very hard edged, the way the fans want it. Of course, we're going to have to update that stupid spider suit, but everything else stays the same. Even that song. You know, "Spider Man, Spider Man, does whatever a spider can."

Yar's posting was probably one of the funniest damn things i seen on AICN for a while. Hong Kong Fooey! LOL!

I think Raimi is the wrong choice. David Fincher would be terrific for Spiderman. A Simple Plan was good, but is Raimi more likely to follow that road or go down the road of Darkman, Evil Dead and the Quick and the Dead, all of which were jokes. I hope this falls through.

Great news, but how long will we have to wait for things to start moving?! Raimi is knee deep into The Gift with Cate Blanchett & Keanu Reeves etc.. Maybe a hot script'll be cooked up while he's filming and editing? Billy Bob Thornton for the Spiderman script perhaps? And okay, Bruce is too old for spidey, but how about as a bad guy!? Come on, they owe him & us at least a cameo !!

Oh well, this sounds like a fanboy's wet dream come startlingly true. As long as its not anyone off of Harry's shit list! As for Nicholas Brendan, I think he's physically too big to be the kind of picked on nerdling kind of guy that is Peter Parker. As far as cynical and sarcastic one liners go though, he's got them down pat. Has anyone been watching Buffy lately? He looks a little bit different now...like not as clean cut and a little more sloppy......oh well.

You have insulted some of Raimi's greatest works! For this the entire group at AICN have given you the sentence of DEATH! You and your veiws shall be disavowed and your family has now stopped loving you. An army of Deadites are headed you're way to terminate you. Solidus420 out!

Man, I haven't seen the tb's buzzin' like this since THE PHANTOM MENACE opened. AMY PASCAL!!!! WILL YOU MARRY ME????? I know I doubted you before, but those were the words of a jealous man. I've done some thinking since then. And, I guess, a little growin' up, and I *know*..... we can make this work. It's not going to be like that time in Macho Grande. I was nothing but a bitter drunk back then. A stupid kid running away from the shadow of a father who never loved him. Those days are gone. I know..... baby, this is hard..... I know I hurt you. I know I said things..... awful things. Things that make me so sick I wish I could smack my hands together real hard, like Mr. Miyagi, and lay them upon your kind, tender soul. I want to heal you, Amy. I want you to know that pain has an end, and I want you to love me the way I still love you. Will you please..... be my wife.

ALL HAIL RAIMI! ALL HAIL CAMPBELL! ALL HAIL EVIL DEAD! Oh yeah, ALL HAIL MAMNET (hopefully)!

i'd like to politely concur with anyone who earlier pledged for Fincher... is he not the greatest film maker of our time? did anyone both read the novel and see Fight Club? Fincher is amazing. it's rare that a movie is more focused, more polished, more refined, than the book. usually the movie just gives us a shard of the book but this time it was the opposite. my main belief is there has *never* been a good comic book movie. ever. okay maybe batman 2 but that's the closest it gets. either the filmmaker assumes we know too much or we get bogged down in retarded one dimensional scripts. i don't want someone who makes "good comic book" movies. I'm really excited to see Spider-Man now that i know it's coming from the same directoral genius that gave us For Love of the Game.

Prop's to Raimi on the grab! Boo-yah!

No he isn't. Don't get me wrong, he's great, but not the greatest. Plus, Raimi is perfect. Just watch the Evil Dead trilogy to learn why. And that goes to all of you! even you people who wandered here accidently while looking for Jerry Maguire 2!

How can you people say The Quick and the Dead sucked when Leonardo DeCrapio gets blown away in it? That automatically makes it a hit in my book... Raimi will do a great job with Spidey - I can't wait to see it!

He needs to be the first murder victim of whomever the villian kills! Any objections?

Jimmy, I can't imagine you have spent quality time with any of the other actors you mentioned to play Spidey so how do you know they are intellectually superior to Brendan? Granted, the Xander character is a total goofball, but that doesn't mean he (NB)couldn't act intellectual if he needed to. Watch any episode of Buffy, take Xander, smart him up a bit, and you have Spiderman (personality wise). Physically he looks perfect. He is maybe a bit tall, but he is athletic enough to pull it off. He can be either unassuming or agressive as the situation warrents. Reading this makes it sound like I have a crush on the guy, but I really think he would be an excellent choice.

Just because I like to be contradictory sometimes I'll share a random thought. A semi-announcement like this could be a really good PR trick if you wanted the AICN fans to like you. If you know that a director is going to be tied up with a project for the next year then leaking his name as the likely director for a dream flick lets you enjoy the accolades without making any actual committment. You have plenty of time to have "legal problems" or "scheduling conflicts" that derail the entire project. Even confirmation of selection by the studio and director wouldn't prevent the studio from feeding the fans a vaporflick just for the hype. I liked "For Love of the Game", but I like almost everything I see and I haven't seen any of the Dead or Darkness movies so I'm no one to comment on Raimi's appropriateness as director. Still, it sounds like you all think he could be adequate so I'll go with the flow. My cynical side just notes that a director starting a different project is far away from beginning this one.

It seems to me that the studios wouldn't commit a big director to a big budge without a semi-bankable star with name recognition to anchor it all down. Which lends fears to the thought that they're going to go with some popular teen-idol pretty boy who's going to try to act all nerdy, but in any conventional stretch of the imagination would never be a nerd. Of course, Nicholas Brendan is recognizable to teen viewers, but for an action comic-type vehicle, they're going to want to attract the adults, too, and Brendan might not have as much draw power in that arena. Another thing is that he's never anchored a film before, which would make the studios wary of his ability to lead their bid budget baby.

Someone said that in the Spider-Man movie, Spidey shouldn't be framed. I actually have to disagree, because that's one of Spider-Man's key things. He's absolutely hated by the media, especially Jameson. In fact, if there was a real-life superhero, he most likely wouldn't be embraced by the world, like Superman, but hated and feared, like Spidey!

Sure, Brendan might not be recognizable to adults, but neither was Harrison Ford when Star Wars came out. In fact, Lucas was considering going for Burt Reynolds to play Han Solo! Maybe another star could be born!

...maybe Bruce Campbell can play Spidey! That would be appropriate, no?

Thank you Moriarty for this great news. I haven't been so excited since the official announcement that Peter Jackson would direct LOTR. And please give us the next part of your 90s retrospective soon. The first one was great!

I was indeed refering to the character he plays on Buffy and for this time it's the only part you know him from. I don't know for sure he couldn't act intellectual, but I do know my choices can! They have played a wide range of characters unlike Brendon. He only played one character; how can you know this guy is talented enough to portray Peter Parker and star in a hundred million dollar film? Don't even say that he showed acting talent in Buffy, because that is an oxymoron. Give me one good reason why Brendon would be better then Chad Christ, Jesse Bradford and Guiseppe Andrews. Xander is nothing like Peter. Xander is a geek, Peter is an outsider. Xander is dumb, Peter is smart. Need I go on? He's also way too old and nobody would believe that he is a highschool kid. Point is I'm not even thinking about Brendon for the role of Peter Parker before it's certain Chad Christ, Jesse Bradford, Guiseppe Andrews, Nick Stahl, Wes Bentley, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Jackson or Topher Grace won't get the role, because these actors would be better suited in the role than Brendon. Somebody please back me up on this. Also I still don't understand how somebody could be a fan of an actor who only played one role. I asked this question to several Brendon fans; Are you a fan of Nick Brendon or Xander? Remember it's only make believe. Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

...you were excited to hear that Peter Jackson was doing LOTR??? Are you joking?!?! That's gonna be a shit show! It seems that every decision he is making with regard to LOTR is a horrible one! Have you seen the shit bag set sketch of Denethor's tomb??? Have you heard about all of the parts from the books which PJ is going to exclude from the movies??? Have you heard about all of the parts which PJ is changing??? They should just shit can that entire project!!

I love Fincher but he was ALL WRONG for Spiderman. Spidey is a lighthearted fun hero who always has a wisecrack. Fincher would be far more appropriate for a Batman movie. Fincher's style is very dark. Dark works for Batm,an, NOT Spidey. Despite what some ridiculous protesters have to say SOnnenfeld would have nailed Spidey just perfect.His Addams Family films and Men in Black prove he is an excellent director, and he would have been PERFECT for Spidey. Didnt care for thge idea of Chris Columbus or thgat mega hack Jan DeBont doing this. But Sam Raimi. Now that is cool. I can now breath a sigh of relief. Now I just hope they cast Peter Parker right. My choises: Nicholas Brenden (Buffy), Tom Evvert Scott (Dead Man on Campus), or Seth Green (Buffy, Austin Powers)

Okay, now just don`t anybody go changin` their mind about this at the movie studio! Sam Raimi is the man for Spidey, and yes, Bruce Campbell must at least have a villain or supporting role. Cmon, Sam, Bruce made your 'Evil Dead' movies so cool, now give him a role in your first REAL big blockbuster!

Could someone tell me who the hell ANY of those people who Jimmy the Saint named? Even though Brendon would be considiered an unknown to most people, at least his name isn't as unknown as ANY of those names. Probably has more talent than them anyways!

Sam Raimi. Hmm. With Mamet confirmed to be doing a rewrite (even if it is a new script that he's doing from page one, can it be called a completely new draft if it's based on the sciptment?). Well, I guess that we don't have to worry much anymore that Spiderman will suck. Of course, I can't really imagine Raimi's version. Fincher's, I could picture. But I'm more optimistic then I was before. We'll see how this goes. Imagine the reactions of all the TalkBackers that had wanted Sam Raimi before he was even announced.

I can just picture the lights dimming in my local theater and then hearing the first few explosive bars of the spiderman theme song (You know the one that I am talking about) in a kick ass fast paced in your chest thumping bass fusion jazz version ala Jim Zorn with all sorts of images of spidey swinging all around New York City. The REAL New York City. If they dont re-vamp the coolest cartoon theme song ever I will be sorley dissapointed.

Hmm ok i will not lose a worth about (the great) Mr. Fincher:)) But after i thought for a while about Spider-man The movie. I realized i just can

If this news is true, it's great. DARKMAN was a great little comic-book film that proves Raimi's worthiness in the genre- he can do just the kind of action and thrills that a comic book film should deliver. Fincher always seemed a bit too dark for Spidey, so this is a better fit. Here's hoping...

There is no Fincher vrs. Raimi, they both have they're pluses, neither have any minuses, they're both brilliant, why the fuck is this even a debate, as far as directing Spider Man, Raimi is obviously the better choice, it's a comic book, not Fincher's thing, anyone who's ever seen a Fincher movie knows he's wrong for this movie, Raimi on the other hand, is godsent.

I haven't got the time now to read all of this huge talk-back, but I was seeing this tendency now, and wanted to drop a comment on that (no critisism, just comment). Personally I think that Fincher IS in fact the more gifted director of the two, but that really doesn't matter. 'Cause he already stated (if you can trust this very site), that Spidey just isn't his "thing!" Exactly THAT'S the way more important contribution to a real comic-movie: The feel for that strange world of comics, where realism exsist, but has that strange little twist, that cannot be defined and makes us wanna read /experiance more of that. NOW!! And thinking of the pure energetic style of Raimi's and all of his filmed material... Whoah! Schudder! There you have it: the perfect so-called "darker McFarlane-style" (and what a stupid stupid phrase that is). BTW. Who had the Idea of Bruce playing Jameson?! I LOVE IT!!! That idea flashed the images of Bruce's appereance on the "Homicide" TV-show into my brain. Some make-up... A partly grey wig... Wow!! He can do it!! He could easily have at least four nervous breakdowns in just one Spiderman-cursing scene! Thank you very much! Now whoever gets that part can't live up to that image... That's all - sorry for my horrible english typing.

I just snorted three fluid ounces of iced tea out my nose! Hot diggety damn! Sam Fucking Raimi indeed!! Now Nicholas Brendan just needs to be cast as Spidey himself (or rather PP, to be more precise), and I'm sold. (And to the poster who has the Bruce as Doc Oc, brilliant! ... Or maybe the Goblin?! As anybody! Hell, why not as Spidey's love interest, just get him in the movie!) If this all works out, then I just might actually go see a movie other than Lord of the Rings in 2001. Thanks for the scoop harry/moriarty. -CG out.

Newbie here. As with many here, I think Raimi would be a great choice for Spider-man. However, I'm withholding any joy until I see a Sony or Marvel press release on the subject. Some people here have suggested that Kevin Smith would be a better choice for this movie. I disagree. In fact, even Kevin Smith would admit that he is not a good director for this type of movie. In fact, on an appearance on Howard Stern recently, Smith admitted that he would not be a good director for the next Superman movie simply because he is just not that great with the camera. I can't imagine he would think he could do Spider-man. I'm a huge Smith fan and think he's a great writer, but his skills with a camera are not that good. He is just starting to move beyond the point and shoot of directing. A heavy action-CGI film like Spider-man would be beyond his current skills as a filmmaker.

Who are those people that I keep suggesting? Here we go; Chad Christ: He played young Vincent(Ethan Hawke

I've gotta say thanks a bunch for the Nick defense. I have gotten into this discussion with Jimmy regarding Nick to no avail. Jimmy thinks buffy is a dumb kids show, so he misses the point entirely. Xander is indeed a great character, and while yes the writers give them words, it is up to the actor to make or break the performance, and in my, and apparently many others opinions, Nick does an excellent and consistent job week in and out. Jimmy, as for Nick, i have met the man, he is funny, good natured, mature and very smart, while still being a smart ass. I was more impressed than ever when i met him. Just because he's only had one role means nothing because i think he has the potential to be a big star, and i support him now. You can name all the people you want, but how many people have said Nick would be a great choice compared to ANYONE on your list?

When did you ever become a fan of the show? why just a month ago you said it was a stupid kids show. Joss has said countless times how amazing he thinks Nick is, all the writers have. They constantly praise him for giving xander such a wide range. Also, i wouldn't use Hackers as a reason someone should be cast in anymovie. Angelina Jolie is most likely trying to hide that little gem with every fiber of her being, but that kid played the same role in BOTH Hackers and R+J. Sure he got a break out performance with King of the Hill, some just get their break out performance earlier in their careers than others. Some never do, either because of their lack of talent or being unlucky. I dunno, but i feel Nick deserves to be given his breakout performance, and i think this could be it.

Sam Raimi is an excellent choice and this can save him from wretched star vehicles like "For Love of the Game" and "The Quick and the Dead". For Peter Parker, how about Joseph Gordon-Levitt from "Third Rock From the Sun". Past Raimi actors for villains: Bruce Campbell as The Green Goblin and Billy Bob Thornton (no kidding) as Doctor Octopus. Sam and Ted Raimi should write the script, or I'm available.

This is almost too cool to be for real ! With Raimi at the helm, it's almost guaranteed not to suck !

The Butcher says this is going to be the best comic book movie ever made. Sam Raimi is the best choice for this movie and I would have never thought of him in a million years. Forget the X-Men it will suck! Spider Man is not dark and everyone involved needs to remember this. He is lighthearted and always joking. He is probably the exact opposite of Batman. I can see Bruce Cambell as the Green Goblin. I cant wait to see the sinister six--ELECTRO, THE VULTURE, THE SANDMAN, MYSTERIO, DR. OCTOPUS, AND THE GREEN GOBLIN. These are Spider Man's villains just like The Joker, The Penguin and Catwoman are Batman's enemies. Let's all hope and pray that this is nothing like the awful 1970's live action spidey where Peter Parker lived in LA. Probably the best live action Spider Man I have seen is the one from the Universal Studios Islands of Adventure comercial where he is fighting DR. OCTUPUS on the side of an airplane. That was awsome. The Electric Company version of Spider Man was cool too, who could forget the bookworm and the guy with the top hat that covers his face and when he would lift it he could freeze people like Madusa. I can't wait.

Wow, well I had held the opinion that Fincher would be the man for this project, but after reading this HUGE scoop and reviewing Raimi's work a bit more, I concur with the majority now that Raimi is capable of offering up an energetic, humorous, and kick ass Spider-Man which could be a perfect adaption of the Ditko era and classic comics (what a lametastic run-on sentence eh? Pants, that's right... PANTS). I really hope this is true... but if it's not as long as it's Fincher and not someone else (pants) I will still be ecstatic. I hope this is made official soon so we can get into casting (pants). Here's how I think the franchise should go, not to be looking too far ahead but hey I'm a dreamer. The Amazing Spider-Man - Spidey's origin. Villain - Doc Ock or/and the Green Goblin. I like the idea of Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Doc and Kevin Spacey or Bruce Campbell as the Goblin. The Amazing Spider-Man Part II: Venom's Wrath - Origin of Venom. Peter will be out of school and working at the Bugle and will meet Brock and the origin according to the comic will occur. The symbiote suit will have to be explained some other way besides the Secret Wars though I'm sure... maybe Peter finds in a crashed UFO or something (I know it sounds corny but, well, PANTS) Howie Long as Eddie Brock, or, preferably, a much better actor who resembles Eddie as closely as Howie does. The Amazing Spider-Man Part III: The Hobgoblin - Just shoot the film based on the excellent story leading up to the Hobgoblin's supposed death in the van running off the dock... John Malkovich or Bruce should play Hobgoblin. The Amazing Spider-Man Part IV: Carnage - I think it would be interesting to see Jim Carrey play Carnage... Would be difficult to avoid an R rating. The Amazing Spider-Man Part V: Mysterio is the villain... should be awesome visually, big special effects opportunity. The Amazing Spider-Man Part VI: Kraven the Hunter - The darkest of all, should be the story where Spidey gets buried alive. Would kick SO much ass. Sam Raimi is the man! Yeah baby yeah!!! Spider-Man WILL be the greatest comic book film of all time!!!!

sam's the man as long as he get's the bugdet. spider man is difficult but he's bopped around (with varying success) in enough genres to be able to create the perfect mood with a good script and actors of course. Bruce Campbell? Look folks, he's a wonderful comic actor and i love his work but the Green Goblin? Think like a casting director on this one and ask yourself if he's REALLY right for the part. You'll probably realize deep down that he's not but we can all disagree on that. I hope he works his way in as much as the rest of you but in the right part, maybe a JJ Jameson would be cool for him....mixing his deep sarcasm with a more passionate fury i'm not sure he has but can hope for. Cole...I agree dead on although I've just resigned myself to take what they give me with Rings. A number of months ago I was all worked up over the exclusion of Tom Bombadil but, having lost that ideological war, can only quiet myself, know the book will always remain and harbor a little hope for it.

They have made an excellent selection.

While I don't agree with all your choices for Peter Parker I will say that I like a lot of them, including Topher Grace and Jake Gyllenhaal, but I don't think you should discount Nick Bredon, every actor has to get their start somewhere and the unfortunate part about being on a HIT TV show, one weather you like it or not, is that you have a tendency to get typecasted. Interesting how the male actors(except for Josh Jackson) seem to be a little more picky about the roles the choose for the big screen. You raise some valid points about all your choices however my four top contenders for the role of Peter Parker would be Thomas Ian Nicoals(American Pie), Nick Bredon(Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and your two choices of Jake Gyllenhaal and Topher Grace. I watch a lot of moives and the other names you mention while I've seen their movies, their names don't jump out at me as familar works but I'm sure a lot of the names I've mentioned don't sound familar to you or to others. Calm down about this, this is just fantasy casting on our part, rarely does fantasy casting happen the way we ALL want it too. As a side note, I'm curious as to your choices for some of the other roles in the movie though. You're foucsing on Peter Parker and while he is intergral, the entire movie cannot revolve around him and a villian(i.e Batman-89) You have to have a strong supporting cast and I'm curious as to who your choices would be

This is the best fucking news I've heard in my entire life. Fuck James Cameron. Fuck Jan de Bont. THIS IS WHERE ITS AT, PEOPLE! Just try to imagine it, Sam's trademark fast-and-jerky cinematography following Spidey as he swings through the streets of New York. Just thinking about should bring tears to your eyes!OH FUCKING SHIT ON A TOADSTOOL THIS FUCKING ROCKS!!! Hail to the king, baby. Hail to SAM RAIMI! LONG LIVE TROMA!

Fan is a big word, but I never said it was a stupid kid-show. But you can't deny the fact that it was intented for teens. Sure thirty-somethings watch the show too, but a majority of the viewing public are teens. Now I don't want Spiderman to become a teen-movie in the same vain as Varsity Blues and She's All That so I don't want bad teen actors. As for Brendon; HE'S TOO OLD! I can't believe this is such an issue. Twenty eight is just too old. Live with it. Don't tell me; "he played a believable teenager in the show", well not anymore. He's a college guy now and he still looks old. It's not that I don't want Brendon on the big screen, but I just don't think he's right for the part. Hackers was a bad movie, but William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and King of the Hill are decades ahead in quality compared to Buffy. And don't forget about the straight-to-video trash Children of the Corn 3 starring Nicholas Brendon. Everybody has a skeleton in their closet. "some just get their break out performance earlier in their careers than others" Why do you think that is? Talent! Brendon started his acting career years ago(remember Married with Children?), but his first big break was Buffy. And I haven't even started talking about my other choices. And about that last remark;"You can name all the people you want, but how many people have said Nick would be a great choice compared to ANYONE on your list?" That's because a lot of these people are teens who only watch WB shows and movies like American Pie and Varisty Blues. They don't know many movie actors. My choices were hard to find, believe me, and I'm not surprised that a lot of people have never heard of them, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be great. I doubt anyone would have suggested Chris Reeve when Superman was coming. If they did check my choices out(I suggest you should too before saying that Brendon is better) they would probably agree with me. Come to Spidermanhype sometimes. Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

Well, well, well. This might not be so bad after all. I have a reknown sense of faith in this project. Tonight, I am seeing Magnolia!

Peter Parker: Chad Christ(Gattaca), Gwen Stacy: Kirsten Dunst(Dick), Aunt May: Patricia Neal(Cookie's Fortune), Uncle Ben: Phillip Baker Hall(Magnolia), Doc Ock: Bob Gunton(The Shawshank Redemption), The Green Goblin(Norman): Nick Nolte(Affliction), The Green Goblin(Harry): Shawn Hatosy(Outside Providence), Captain Stacy: Mitchell Ryan(Grosse Pointe Blank), M.J.: LeeLee Sobieski(Eyes Wide Shut), Liz Allen: Mena Suvari(American Beauty), Flash: Dash Mihok(The Thin Red Line), Betty Brant: Natasha Gregson Wagner(Another Day in Paradise), J.J.: R. Lee Ermey(Dead Man Walking), Robbie: Albert Hall(Malcolm X). If you want to talk or read about the Spidey movie go to Spidermanhype.com Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

i think raimi would eb a cool spidey director. i have seen his darkman and i belive if the guy as the money and the right script it could be a hell of a ride. bruce campbell for spidey---please no--he is too old---maybe as a vilain yes---electro maybe... burt ryenolds as jjj he absolutely is the good guy for the role. for peter i don't know- please pic a young kid---like i said before a 30 year old man cannot look like a 17 years old----no matter how much make up you put or the haircut- scrap the rumors of the following for the tittle role of spidey jim carrey---too old-- bruce campbell---too old jack nicholson as a vilain---too old we need a young---really young face for spidey---any suggestions. if the deal with raimi as been signed it might mean that something might really happen after all. i think they want to compete with star wars...if i am correct..both movies would come out next year...then again i may be wrong. casting suggestions anyone? darth out.

Just so you know: Nicholas Brendon was never on "Married With Children." That was David Boreanaz--the guy who plays ANGEL. Nick Brendon plays XANDER. Learn this. Live this. Know this. Brendon got his start as a production assistant on the Harry Anderson juggernaught "Dave's World" based on the life of humor columnist Dave Barry. Eventually Brendon worked his way up to doing random acting spots on the show, but nothing regular. After that, it was Buffy. And yes, at some point in his career he was in "Children of the Corn 3: Urban Harvest." Like you say, everyone has skeletons. But just remember, dumbass mistakes and oversights in otherwise cogent and well-reasoned posts really hurt your credibility.

Nicholas Brendon- Notable TV guest appearances; "Married... with Children" (1987) playing "Guy In Ray-Ray's gang" in episode: "Hood in the Boyz" (episode # 8.2) 9/12/1993 source IMDB. What was that you said dumb mistakes and oversights? Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

And there's no way it will happen if they cast Nicholas -- their characters have too many similarities. And he's pushing the believablility envelope as a high school student. His age is starting to show. There are a whole slew of young, talented, UNKNOWN actors that deserve a chance at this part. I also like the idea of Tom Skeritt playing Jameson. As for Mary Jane, the woman from That 70s Show looks too old and Amazonian. I think they need someone a little more delicate for MJ.

some good choices there, you've seen my picks for Peter Parker as for Uncle Ben I'd like to see Paul Newman, as for Aunt Mae I'd like to see Gena Rowlands...LeeLee is a good choice for MJ one I hadn't thought of because she's not a natural red, I was thinkinkg more on the lines of Larura Pepron(that 70's Show) for MJ...Shawn hatosy is a good choice, although he's my choice for Flash an dI was think Meni Suvari for Gwen Stacy, kirsten Dunst, I think maybe is a bit too, girl next door looking for Gwen who needs tocarry an air of snobbory around her

Raimi, director of Spiderman? This is the one. This'll be the masterpeice the man's been threatening for years. Fuck Fincher. A great stylist but no heart. Anyway give 'im 'Daredevil'or something...or give 'im the sequel if the first one does'nt quite work out (yeah, right!)or if Raimi decides (with his soon-to-be-acquired fame, wealth and power), to finally give us that big-budget Evil Dead 4 he's been dreaming about. This could be the creative peak of a long and fascinating career. All his stuff has been moving towards this moment. If anyone at the studio is reading this and putting these rumours out to test the fan waters then stop here. Do it. Sigh Raimi and get on with it. This is soooo cool.This has gotta be true. Oh Please, oh please....

Raimi has the kind of style to do this film. Fincher made Se7en which was very good and very dark s terrible Aliens film, a awful film called the Game and Fight Club which I disliked (people say it has a point but frankly it seemed very shallow to me, maybe you have to live in the US to understand it) his style is more Batman than Spidey. guys like John Carpenter shouldn't be written off by people as hacks because everyone makes the occassional bad film (or a film that just doesn't quite work) but he is the guy who made Escape from New York, Halloween and the Thing and those films still stand up well. As for casting Brendon could do it well as could some of the others mentioned, Ed Furlong as Harry Osborn, the guy from American Pie who played Oz as Flash, the girl from that 70's show as MJ, Sarah Polley as Gwen, Bruce Campbell as Norman O (save GG till a sequel), Gena Rowlands as Aunt May, Burt Reynolds as JJJ (he actually looks a lot like him in Boogie Nights especially) and Jon Voight as Doc Octopus.

Hmm. Sam Raimi is an excellent choice. Years ago I said he'd be great to produce a Spider-Man TV series. Now he might direct the movie. This news is about as equally good as Singer doing X-Men. There is a good chance it'll kickass, but at the same time, it may suck. With Fincher, I'd feel Spidey were in safer hands. His last 3 movies were amazing. Raimi can get tiring. But hey, as long as Chris Columbus isn't touching it, and that damn guy from Buffy isn't in it!! What are some of you guys smoking? I've read some of the worst casting ideas of all time on this Talkback. Reese Witherspoon as Mary Jane !? What the fuck is that!? Bruce Campbell as JJ Jameson !?! That shit makes no sense.

Yes, the studios have made a great decision here. Raimi is the man for the job. He has the tone for it and the chops to back it up. I wouldn't have minded seeing finchers vision but I think Raimis lighter tone will be better for spidey. Great news to hear sonnenfeld and Dabont were out of the picture.

Okay, I've only read the first 50 posts so far but I think I've got the gist of the deabte here between Fincher and Raimi. I'll just say that I think Rami is better for the movie and, persoanlly, at this moment in his career, I don't THINK Fincher has it in him to do a non-dark/bleak movie. He's Like Peckinpah in that way. I don't think he could come up for sunshine or, Hell, even a mildly clouldy day. I'd love to be proven wrong, though. Also, I always thought of 'Darkman' as the proper way to do the 'Shadow', not 'Batman'.

Here it is! www.somethingawful.com/jeffk P.S. This site actually exists! Though HARRY IS STUPID might get mad about it

His character from 90210 is EXACTLY how I see Flash Thompson to be. Now if we can cast Iceman(... maybe Matt Damon?)and Firestar (... how about Alicia Witt?) then his amazing friends can join along!!!! Hey, y'know Monica Lewinsky has slimmed down enough.. her presidential cum-licking smile looks just like the MJ that Ditko (and Romita Jr) used to draw.

How about this? Let's have the "superhero voice" done by Bruce Campbell. He'd do awesome. If only Bruce were 20 years younger...

First Everett Robert; Paul was originally my choice for Cap Stacy, but I prefer Mitchell Ryan(he's cheaper). I don't think Paul looks as much like Ben then Phillip Baker Hall. Also I tried to avoid big pay cheques by picking actors who looked and acted as much like the character as possible. Gena Rowlands was also my original choice for May, because she played a character like May in The Mighty, but Patricia Neal captures more of the vulnerability May obviously has. I also like Olympia Dukakis and Frances Steenhagen(Misery) for the role. The reason why I picked LeeLee is only because I doubt Sony will included Gwen in the first movie and I think LeeLee captures the sophistication of Gwen AND the wild side of Mary Jane. If Gwen wouldn't be ignored Laura would be my choice aswell. Stop by Spidermanhype sometimes. Second Artaud in Bottle; Concerning Chad Christ; did you see Jawbreakers? You gotta admit he looked just like Peter in Gattaca. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet cotton-candy? Well, opinions are like ass-holes...you know the rest. The reason why I mentioned Hackers was because I thought the chance would be bigger that you guys had seen that movie, then the excellent A Soldiers Daughter Never Cries. And I was right. And don't you think NB is too old? Last but not least ; Jimmy Ryalto;"Are you fucking kidding me?" I kid you not. You can't tell me that when I suggested Chad Christ you didn't immediately searched his name on IMDB. Answer to another question yes I have watched several Buffy episodes and liked them, but I would like to believe that the Spiderman movie could have a higher quality(no offence. And I mean it). "People here like Buffy because they're smart enough to recognize a good show when they see one and not immediately pigeonhole it in with the crap because it's on the WB." For those of you not informed I'm not from America, so I don't care whether or not the show is aired on the WB network. I like Buffy, but I expect more from Spiderman. "And Shawn Hatosy?" See Outside Providence and you know what I'm talking about. Gentlemen It has been a pleasure. Boat Drinks! Jimmy the Saint

It's a love-it-or-hate-it type of movie, but I thought it was the best of the year, supplanting Fight Club for my personal #1 spot. (Yes, I am on Oscar time.) Tom Cruise as Frank "T.J." Mackey was his best role ever, though I also thought Philip Baker Hall as Jimmy Gator was powerful too. I loved this movie - check it out. And Harry, post your review!

Hi there, asshol. I theeenk that Jim Henson should direkt this movie becose I understahnd his films, unlike those realy intelajent ones, like "Aladin", and "the Powrpuf Girls". Fags, Raimi and Fincher both suk, cause i nevr hurd of them. And the besst Sipdrmahn evr wold be the Anikan kid from Star Wars. He's sooooo dreamy! Later fag assholes!

The fact that I was listening to my newly acquired "The Sopranos" soundtrack whilst obtaining this news made it a very cool moment. Now, just get Noah Wyle into the Peter Parker role and Campbell as Hobgoblin and we's gots ourselves a decent Spidey movie!

Didn't he play Steve Jobs in that TNT? Peter may have started out as a nerd, but not THAT nerdy!

What's it like being a moron?

i mean we all know that spidey is gonna be in. probably jjj aunt may uncle ben. but what about the rest of the cast...supporting cast and vilains. there are lots of names thrown here. probbly most people here did not bother to read the scriptment at spiderhype.com not all the spidey cast would be in the movie if they go by the scripts. but we need some good actors... yound kid like that amercian pie movie. after all peter is 16 or 17 when he gets his power. it would demolish my faith in hollwood to have a 30 year old guy play the major part and that the story would try to make us belive that spidey is actually 30. this ain't no superman or batman flick you know. burt reynolds for jjj malkovich for a vilain. can someone post pics of the cast contenders somewhere it would be nice to put the faces with the names. darth out.

Don "The Dragon" Wilson. That guy is one talented son of a bitch. From his breathtaking performances in "Born on the Fourth of July," "Batman Forever," and "Bloodfist VIII" Don "The Dragon" Wilson has made us laugh, cry, and question who we truly are and where we are going. I think we all know that this is a golden idea. We salute you Don.

Casting anyone other than Christopher Daniel Barnes as Spidy would be a crime... And Jimmy the Saint... Your suggestion of Leelee as MJ is, uh... "Amazing." Leelee is an actress I haven't the words to describe... She totally blows me away in every facet of the actress category... Truly unbeleivable... Oh, and I'm disapointed to hear that Fincher ins't a go... Oh well, as long as they can get Leelee I'll be happy :)

I still have my doubts about Raimi doing this film. It seems too large. Not a slight on Raimi, I just think that there will be too many hands in this pot for his liking. Now Fincher has shown nothing but brilliance. All you haters of Aliens 3 need to rexamine that film again. Spider-Man, however, is not the super hero film for him. Batman is for him. In my dreams of a perfect world this is his next film. While the Black Dalia film sounds cool, what about the rumored 1984 remake he wanted to do with Pitt & Geoffrey Rush? That would be awsome also. JediLeo@aol.com

I've never felt so sick in my life! Well not since Joel Shumacher molested the batman series. This will suck. Sam Raimi was supposed to take over for Resident Evil! What a fucking downer. Why not have two excellant movies instead of one fairly good movie. Damn you Sony. Don even think of Leo for this shit. Maybe Norton, Pitt or Reeves though. What about Affleck or my personal favorite Jude Law. Never going to understand this..

Not particularly, no. I found it annoying, and unfunny. I realize it's one of those movies that try to make fun of itself, and the genre it's in, (Sci-Fi, Horror, whathaveyou) but it didn't appeal to me at all. (I guess it's an aquired taste, yes?) I'm not against all parody-type movies. I do like "Rocky Horror Picture Show".

I will say this though, he *IS* better than Jan DeBont and Barry Sonnenfeld. And, to some extent (in comedy only) he's better for the project than David Fincher. Spider-man is a comic superhero. hero. The "Seinfeld of comics". A comedy director is much more suited than a dark, depressing director.

Damn! This is the best news to come from this Spider-Man story yet.I am Sam Raimi's biggest fan and love almost everything he has done,everything except that Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman western.

First, off, if your opinion of me was determined by the HARRY IS STUPID simulation, that was actually a dis on how stupid HARRY IS STUPID is. Secondly, define any other grievence with me!

Billy Crudup - I know some of you are gonna say "who the hell is Billy Crudup?" Well, he's the guy in the well made but barely seen Without Limits. He's young, he's tall, he's lanky, and can come off as some spoken but powerful when necessary. Look at him and you'll see Peter Parker, so long as Raimi doesn't a shitty route like other recent comic book movies have.

Man, I am freakin' out. I just want to see Spidey on the big screen. In his red and blues!! And one more thing, Nordling, it is possible to have a Spidey origin without Doc Ock; and it should be done without him. John Byrne screwed it up and made you THINK you couldn't do it without him. MAKE MINE MARVEL!!

sam raimi doing spidey is a step down from fincher in my eyes. darkman and the army of darkness, while cool, were hokey & laffable a lot of the times. bruce lifted army a little, but raimi's style of filmmaking is apt to put a lot of unecessarily zany material in a spidey film. he has a knack for making the absurd watchable. but i don't wanna see anything absurd in a spidey film. the only good thing you can take from the darkman film would be LARRY DRAKE AS DOC OCK!

And you all know it! This guy can play "nerd" with the best of them.

I am sooo happy you have no idea. Does this mean I win something because I was one of the first to say Sam Raimi was perfect for this. Does someone in Hollywood actually know what they are doing? I am shocked at such great news!!! Someone deserves much buttkissing.

Personally, IMO, I would much more like this film to deal with the 1) Alienation of both Peter and Spidey. 2) The only female lead being the character of Gwen Stacy with absolutly no MJ. 3) Have the story end with the death of Capt. Stacy. (Leading to a sequel where Peter has become closer to Gwen in the interim...IN THE SEQUEL, have Goblin kill her in the end, which I think would have more impact than killing her in the first film just as an excuse to bring in MJ in the sequel. Also, I think the guy who played Finch in American Pie would be the perfect Peter. He's small, a little geekish, and seems the perfect target for ridicule.

I still am a huge Fincher fan but this is a much much better idea for this movie.

This is cool. Did anyone else see 'Crimewave'? A real low budget Raimi-directed flick. About a geek who becomes a hero and gets the girl. Same "basic" deal as Spider-man. I remember seeing that around the time this whole SPIDEY debate came up and then Raimi's name was mentioned in Talk Back and I thought COOL! And now, it IS cool. Remember, he DID do Darkman. Sure, it wasn't successful, but I remember liking it. So. I suppose Spider-man is going to land on that yellow CAR that Raimi puts in ever movie, huh? Can't wait. Oh, and LEO would make the best Peter Parker. Right age, and he could be geeky, and it would get FEMALE asses in seats. They already got the teenages and geek guys. Women go to movies too, ya know. 2001 is gonna be THE year!

Sam Raimi or Robert Rodriguez are my best picks, I am glad they took Raimi. As for all the Fincher nuts... Yes I thought Fight Club was a great movie but he is totally wrong for Spiderman or any real mainstream type movie. Anyone remember the mess of Alien 3? As a cutting edge drama director, he's excellent.

Obviously this excites the Rami/Campbell fans..Rami is fine director..Campbell is a good actor(for cheese flicks)..but the two of these for Spiderman?..come on get real..this is the worse than any rumor I have heard so far..and only lends credit to the one fact in Hollywood..Hollywood CANNOT make a decent comic adapation..plain and simple..when BLADE or 70's Superman is closet they can come..thats pretty pathetic..the talent is up there..the execs just dont have a single clue how to put it together. Btw..first time on here posting... I think Harry is such an arrogant fanboy dick its not even funny..so I have never replied ..but I had to reply to this outrageous BS since he has such a hard on for Rami and I cant think of a worse choice.. Peace out.. to the normal people here.. Seek therapy to Harry and his loyalists..

I don't want to pee on anybodys "Rice Krispies", but until your standing in line with a ticket in your hand, anything can happen between now and then. Has anyone reading this ever watched the short lived series "Action"? Or read the book "Adventures In The Screen Trade" by William Goldman? That's how things get done in Hollywood. There was talk about a "Batman" movie soon after the Adam West series ended. Look how long that took. "Bladerunner" was in and out of production with a long list of studios, producers, directors, writers and stars behind it for twenty years before it got made. At one point even Dustin Hoffman was being considered! Watch out for CREATIVE DIFFERANCES! Raimi might not like Mamet's screenplay. So, bring in another writer. Now you have to cast it. STUDIOS LOVE STARS! They put butts in seats! Expensive movies need to sell overseas. Is Tom Cruise avilable? The star want's to see a few changes. Bring in another writer! Raimi is not as powerful as say Cameron is. WATCH OUT! CREATIVE DIFFERANCES! Out goes Raimi. Producers can get busy with other projects in the meantime, they have to make a living too. UH OH! The new studio head thought the last one was a prick and cancels all the projects he GREENLIGHTED! And so it goes..... By the time this movie makes it to your local cinema, Jake Loyd will be playing Peter Parker!

I like your outline for the Spidey movies. Uncle Ben has to die in the first movie, so killing Gwen in the second would be great. (sorry Gwen) Also, THEY NEED TO CAST YOUNG. Dicaprio would've been great back in '94, but now he's like 25 years old. Too old. Spidey needs to be 17, like Cameron had planned. He's an arrogant kid when he get's the powers, and he learns a painful lesson when his uncle dies at the hands of a criminal he let run right past him. Spidey should be written as a trilogy, or made into a TV series. It is way too rich a storyline to just pull a Batman.

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Star/5464/SPIDERMAN.htm and give me some suggestions here for casting.

Or do we have to go to the Phantom Menace heyday for that? Damn, this is huge. Hell, I posted on here 4 times already, but the fucker just keeps getting bigger. Old school friends like Warrior, SSzero, Eternal, Darth Siskel, Niiice(is that enough i's?)- you should check out the AICN screensaver and see our beautiful names up in lights. Pretty cool.

I was actually told it was supposed to be Chris' O'Donnell to star as Parker, but Brucey Baby ? Wow! All I need now is Ted and the old team'll be back together... Ted Raimi to play ... well...anyone! Plaese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nick Brendon is perfect for the role, although I still think John Cusack should be Peter. Sam Raimi is a great choice, and I think Robert Blake would make a great doc ock. Out

Michael J Fox as Peter Parker. He can play young.

You mean Shitbreak? LOL! He might actually be good as Peter Parker, but he is kinda short, isn`t he? I haven`t seen "AP" in a while.

I mean come on..."Spider-Man" or "For the Love of the Game 2: Dead by Dawn", I think the choice is pretty clear. I see the story having Costner and Kelly Preston going to a deserted baseball field in the woods and playing a little game with the Deadites.

Nicholas Brendon -- Peter/Spidey Bruce Campbell -- J. Jonah Kevin Spacey -- Green Goblin Phillip Seymor Hoffman -- Doc Ock

More important than casting and should be more important than who directs: the script! Lem Dobbs, writer of THE LIMEY, DARK CITY, KAFKA and ROMANCING THE STONE, should write every movie and especially this movie, unless Sam & Ted Raimi write it.

Well, I think that says it all for casting. Tommy Solomon himself as Spidey. Seriously. He's perfect. A regular kid, which is what Peter Parker is supposed to be. Tony Shalhoub should be in every movie and since I've never liked Mary Jane Watson Parker, Spidey's girl should be Gwen Stacey who was killed by the Goblin on the Brooklyn Bridge.

I don't think age ever plays a role in deciding who gets parts anymore....remember, teens willingly beleive that these 21 year old actors on Dawson's Creek are actually 16 year old juniors in high school.......yeah. Let's not forget the eternally youthful Johnny Depp who, nearing 30, played a rebellious teenager in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and I think Leo was about 16 or 17 when he played the mentally retarded younger brother. So, the whole age thing in Hollywood is pretty much screwed up.

My unofficial count is 235..what's the record?

People complain Fincher is too dark yet Raimi isn't? Come on, his movies may have that dark or twisted sense of humor but he is not exactly right for Spider-Man either. His movies are dark too. I trust Columbus because at least in his career he's had some hits and I trust him with a light-hearted Spider-Man he's willing to do. He respects the character a lot like Donner did for Superman so I'd definately want him. Fincher at least has done interesting movies, and his style of directing is always good. The script may be bad but its his direction that gets attention. When did Raimi ever have major hits? He's had very few movies that get attention. Sure Fincher isn't exactly blockbuster material but he seems to be evolving and would be good too. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually glad Raimi is the director if its true. He's better than De Bont and Sonnefeld, granted Sonnefeld only really failed once but for the most part I can't see him doing this. Raimi is an interesting choice, and if he truly has it I'll back him up 100% but Columbus would've been a lot better. Fincher and Raimi are not all that different in the mood and tone of their movies, sure Raimi did "For the Love of the Game" which isn't dark but he's pretty similar to Fincher.

As any loyal Spider-man reader would, the soundtrack would need to include Spider-man's favorite band: HYPNO LOVE WHEEL!!!!!

My pants dropped around my ankles. Raimi is perfect for this movie. I just got Army of Darkness limited edition 2cd DVD the other day, now this. Oh yeah!!

I'm sorry but Spider Man isn't that great a comic (maybe it was), and getting excited about this project when Hellboy, Preacher and The Sandman are out there just seems pointless. Spider Man could be an entertaining film, but it wouldn't match the veiwing experience that these comics could inspire on the big screen (not to mention the superior stories).

You my friend are right, Nikki Cox is simply delicious. And best of all, she looks so dumb anyone could convince her to let you have her "Backdoor". BTW I add Tim Burton to the list of guys AICN talkbackers would like to try homoerotic activity with. The big question for all of you is, Will Tim pitch or Catch?

Could somebody please protect us all from another piece of CGI-driven dogshit? We all know the script is going to be firmly aimed at 12-year-olds who want to get their Big Mac tie-in figure, with no content fit for anybody with an IQ greater than their age. Can we say Godzilla, children? After the understated brilliance of 'A Simple Plan', this would be a *miserable* return to comic-book tat for Raimi. Have you all forgotten DarkMan? I haven't (shiver).

Forgive my pessimism, but has any of this been officialy anounced? Raimi would be almost perfect for Spidey with is ability to blend action and humor. If this turns out to be true the only way to fuck up this movie is if they cast some 30-something actor as Spider Man. As for Fincher, the only better matchup of a director with a movie then Raimi and Spidey is Fincher and Batman..........man, I would blow a load in my pants if that ever happens

Seth Green is the perfect Spidey!He's 5feet5 and 130lbs.How about Bud Bundy?Instead of people from the Buffy TV show,how about people from the movie?Luke Perry is Peter Parker!Kristy Swanson as MJ,Pee-Wee as Venom,Rutger Hauer as the Green Goblin and Donald Sutherland as JJ or Uncle Ben.Or how about Jenna Jameson as J.Jonah Jameson?Now we know what the J stands for.Harry Reems as Spidey, Chasey Lain as MJ,Traci Lords as Gwen and Ron Jeremy as Doc Ock.That's not a tenticle!If Elvis was alive he'd be perfect for Spidey!How about Ashton Kutcher(Kelso from "That 70's Show) as Peter Parker.Laura Preppon would be perfect as MJ and Kurtwood Smith as Norman Osborn("I work for Dick Jones!")No,I really see Fez as Peter Parker.Danny Masterson(Steve Hyde) would be perfect for a movie of "The Greatest American Hero".Can you see Regis Philbin as Norman Osborn?How about Wil Smith as Pete and George Clooney as Norm?Thank you for suffering through my ramblings.

Give Campbell a military haircut, a hitler moustache, and a vest. He's our Jameson. I can just hear that voice now, " Parker, you primitive screwhead, this is my newspaper. GET ME SOME DAMN PICTURES OF THIS SPIDER-MAN!!" That would be a sight to behold. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. YOU GOT THAT?!?!

This is the grooviest movie news I've heard in a long time. Now that Sam Raimi is *hopefully* at the helm of the ship, let's get these people on board: Nicholas Brendon as Spidey/Peter Parker - as many of you have said, he has the looks, the acting talent, comic timing and age to pull this off in style. Bruce Campbell as J. J. Jameson - Imagine him playing off Brendon with wisecracks...wow. Or as the Green Goblin? Juttin' chins and purple hats ahoy...maybe not. Jennifer Love as Mary Jane - cute as hell...don't know how she'd gel with Brendon though...maybe get someone a little more awkward to match his edgey onscreen persona. OK, don't fry me. Arnie as Doc Oc. Why not? Aww, come one, imagine him beefed up even more with CGI, with tentacles coming out and grabbing Spidey and chucking him against a wall. Cool as hell! What about music? Joe LoDuca, Sam Raimi's life long buddy? We need something catchy, kitschy, heroic...not sure about this, although a team up between him and Danny Elfman (ala Army of Darkness) would be superb. Anyone else any thoughts on music, or art direction?

Raimi and Mamet would be an unbelievable combination on this movie. They could call it SPider-Man: The Movie or Glengarry Green Goblin. What do you think?

Wow . . .Raimi at the helm of Spider Man. Fantastic. I really think that's an ideal choice. His style (when it's at its most comic-bookish) will compliment a Spider Man story perfectly. Fincher would make the story too dark, which isn't in the Spidey style. Now, talk about things like saving the Batman franchise . . .I say if Burton won't do it . . .Fincher can.

Judging from some of their previous films, Fincher would have been the ultimate choice. Sam Raimi used to be good but now he is heading in a different direction. A Simple Plan was good but did you guys see his last snoozefest with Costener!!!!! Unless, Raimi heads back to his roots and makes Spiderman in the same way as he made Darkman, this movie wont be any good.

I was hoping that Spidey would be made in a way that would be a lot darker, than the previous incarnations we have seen. So many superheroes have been translated in a dire way that it would be refreshing to see a grittier version. I hope that this is considered. I take some solice in the fact that at last we are seing better action sequnces coming into play. My idea of a superhero fighting was touched upon in the Matrix. Only in the last five years have we started creaming CGI and only in the last two has hollywood realised that the Chinese make kicking ass look mindblowing. It is a character that craves Big Screen thrills, as long as LeoNerdo Di Crapio and Jim Rubber Face'Carey don't get to wear the tights, my day will feel a little better. What does the rest of Cyberdom think?

Really....

I don't know his name, but I've seen him in a couple of movies. He has a great look for Parker because he seems mild-mannered and average looking. He's my choice for Peter Parker.

Oh dear does anyone remember the James Cameron factor. The hell with Rami or whatever the hell his name is. He is a cult director and belongs there. This was further and foremost James Cameron's baby. And I don't care if you hate him and his work, God damn it he's talented, he's brilliant, he's a genius and ahmmmm...the right man for the job. You can just imagine what Cameron could do to this story. All anwsers on a postcard!!!

I just read that Raimi's next film is a serial killer flick called "The Gift", starring Keanu Reeves as the villain. Any word on this one?

Does anyone remember alien 3? No? Thought so. Well, that was done by the one known as DAVID FINCHER. Although I believe that he put the vision to one of the coolest movies of this year, I cannot see him making our spiderman movie. Uh.. Darkman? BAD? surely, you jest, jmb. And Raimi made Army of Darkness, not HEART of Darkness ( that's joseph conrad's novel, a meditation on the evil in man, which provided the story to Apocalypse Now. ) Raimi will do all of us justice.

I'd have to say that Raimi directing Spidey is the best news I've heard since I heard they might actually go through with a Daredevil movie! Raimi is a terrific director who usually gets stuck with a crappy script or a nonexistent budget, or both. In the case of "Quick and the Dead" there were only 3 reasons it was even slightly watchable: 1. Gene Hackman, 2. Russell Crowe, and 3. Sam Raimi. With Spidey he's going to get the budget and most likely at a decent script (hopefully it's a great script.) I have no doubts about what he'll do with the show once he has both of those. As for Bruce Campbell, we know he'll almost certainly have a part in it. Someone mentioned JJ Jameson, which he would be OK as if they couldn't get anyone better. My personal pick would be R. Lee Ermey (the drill sergeant from "Full Metal Jacket"). I would say Campbell would be best used as Norman Osborne (Green Goblin), but since Doc Ock would be the most likely villain, Norman Osborne would probably be only a very small part (although great foreshadowing for a sequel!) For the title role, I can't think of anyone famous that is right for the role. Matt Damon and Christian Bale would be the only ones that come to mind. People who shouldn't be allowed close to the part: Leo DiCraprio and Casper Van Dien.

Why Sam Raimi?? He has never even made a movie that I wanted to see I've heard from reliable people that Evil Dead movies sucked hardcore and I don't care if you morons say but it's classic horror. What defines a classic something that instills itself in our pop culture?? A film that revolutionizes the filmaking process?? Well if thats true none of his films have done that films like Star Wars (the originals) Matrix Friday the 13th Blair Witch fargo Fight Club movies such as these I personally would consider modern day classics that have instilled themselves into our culture. Everyone knows the Star Wars characters, Matrix was practically live action Anime/Manga, Ms. Vorhees and Jason scared the living shit outta myself and my friends when we saw it in the theatre, Blair Witch was the most succesful indie film of all time and made a butt load of $$$$$ every Tv show, company, movie, advertising company, nearly every product in America has made a parody of that film to advertise it's product, after I saw Fight Club my friends and I would always threaten each other by saying i'm fucking hit you in the ear. None of Sam Raimi's films have ever been huge box office successes, and Spider-Man won't be either if this is true. And to the person who said X-Men will suck, your gonna get yours when your precise Sam Raimi kills the Spider-Man franchise before it even begins. I think Sam Raimi should just direct the next Batman so he can put the stake in that franchise. As for Bruce Cambpell he is not an accomplished actor, he probaly hasn't done anything since the last evil dead. Wasn't he in that Brisco County Jr. series a while back?? And how succesful was that one? Right...

"Evil Dead" sucks hardcore, but "Friday the 13th" is a classic, revolutionary horror film? Shows how much you know. "F13" was admittedly just a copy of "Halloween". "Evil Dead" and it`s sequels changed the horror genre in the 80`s with their wild, toungue-in-cheek approach. All "F13" inspired were a bunch of braindead sequels.

Some one on this post..way back up mentioned Fincher as better for the job, I think the same one said and I paraphrase" the purpose of cinema is to surpress the cut"...have you studied cinema....please go re-read( or read for the first time your Eisenstein...and just what cinema is...the cut is everything. Fincher is the master of the useless..but extremely cool cut...he directed music videos..not that that is a bad thin..but he need to realize that yes the cut is the thing..but it is to cut ot a purpose...to carry the narrative further into the plot. Granted Fincher is a good director(almost great) he has a set of tools at his disposal that most director is Holloywood would kill for( meaning his personal style..whatever you want to call it) I think his only drawback is his best assest..his sense of style, and one day he needs to make a simple movie..no flash...no CGI no loud and hip music, just a simple well developed..nothing amazing story about people..not crazy people not injured or bruised psyche...but rather a little drama..so he can learn a real plot and not hide the flaws in cool editing and greatlighting. That being said..I love what he does with his camera..but he needs to learn about charater. He hides the flaws in a script by cool music, quick flasjhy cuts...really he needs to learn to stop cutting( this is the guy cfredited with the MTV style of editing). Now for Raimi, he is a great director of not so great movies...he is also in love with his camera.. I just happen to love Raimi's sel love more than Finchers. Why, and especisally why for Spiderman( which until I see Raimi wearing a spiderman hat on the set, I won't really belive) his movement. He moves the camera in a way that is soo ...soo Spiderman. I watch Armay of Darkness..things happen, yes, just 'cuz they was cool. But it is the kinda coolness that equates to Spiderman(personal,btw, I would prefer the black suit, more cinematic, less TV). Plus Raimi tells jokes with his camera, and I have niether the paitence nor the time to explain that one, but if you have any friends who are really familiar with the cinema and the art of the cinematagrapher..ask them to watch Evil Dead 2, Darkman, Army of Darknesss( which is just a wonderful nod towards Harrihuasen and old Universal Horror Movies i.e. Frankenstien, Wolfman, Dracula and all the really bad stinkers that came with them). Raimi has this manic, fly by your pants silly-serious..wise-cracking geek humour, and allthings aside SPidey is a geek who got cool( thanks to selling milions and wanting to reach a wider audience) Sam Raimi(if we are so lucky as to get a good script) could turn this into a movie about Spiderman, that will not only be fun, exciting but also touching( ya I know...i am expecting too much) but the idea is this...Spiderman is not Grendel, he is not a killer, he is a young,serious, smart,unnaturally gifted young man who for most of his life could never get a date with THE chick. I think Raimi knows this..Plus I think he could carry off the silly banter that is a un-removable part of Spideys personality..Plus and this is a bi Plus he won't sell out the creation of spidey...he will get bite by a radiactive spider if Raimi does it..trust me..just watch how Darkman gets "created" and you kknow that little tidbit will be safe. Man I ramble...Now remember Fincher fans..I like him..hell I think I love his work..he just ain't right for Spidey..if he makes a comic movie he needs to make Grendel, now that is where his talents would be well suited..don't knwo Grendel look up Matt Wagner and Grendel..its a treat you deserve and belive me..youo will see that Fincher is perfect for those little books.Till it opens folks.

hmmm....longest talkback i seen since TPM came out, but you know what...its fucking boring. i mean, basically all we have is Fincher is better, or Raimi is better...OR we get casting calls. Hmm...i long for somebody to start up a big argument, but hey, itd probably get deleted these days right? yeah well..DAMMIT. and hey, has anyone seen Pisso around lately? SPLISH!!...tha Fish

Lets get things straight right off the bat. The Evil Dead Series is great. No doubt. Sam Raimi had true vision and brilliance. This last year though he has broken the hearts of many his devoted fans with two ungodly acts. The first and the most unforgivable....uhhh...... It still hurts to even think about. Sam Raimi renounced the Evil Dead Series in an artical in E.W. wishing he could have made Citizen Cane. Second almost as bad...hell it might even be worse..... He made a god damn Kevin Costner film.... For The Love Of The Game!!!!! WHY!!!! I ask myself why would someone betray his glorious past and then go off to make a Kevin Costner film. I am deeply hurt by these two horrible acts against humanity and I can trust him no longer.

The only choice.

if this is half as good,i would be one happy camper with an undeads eye in my monuth!!now give me some sugar baby!!

Well, here's some bad news from www.variety.com: "While Raimi is an avowed

Man, I just can not decide who would make a better Spiderman, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, or Ralph Macchio. Damn, these two are equally matched for the part. I can't wait to see which one of them it will be.

Sam Raimi *will* direct SPIDER-MAN, and if THE GIFT has to be delayed, it will be delayed. There is too much money at stake here, and Raimi, as a Spidey fanatic, will likely bend over backwards to accomodate Sony (which may mean Paramount may have to find a new director for THE GIFT.) As for Big Jim, the former tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, who's equipped with various whips, chains, and a sexual appetite that will knock your socks off..... I'd like to offer up Chad McQueen as Spidey. You'll remember him from THE KARATE KID, where he played the dastardly DUTCH, whose pre-tournament assault on Daniel still enrages upon reflection. His performance was nothing less than combustible.

Preview of scene sure to be in the movie: zoom from medium shot: Parker stirring fluid in Erlenmeyer flask. Cut to: Parker holding test tube of fluid up to a light. zoom in on fluid. Cut to: Parker putting a device around his wrist. Zoom in on hand as it flexes. Cut to: parker pointing hand in that familiar pose, white strand jets across room with a high-pitched "thwip" sound, and pins Aunt May's Chihuahua to the wall. Cut to Parker, Zoom in as he bends elbow, hand near face. He looks at his hand and says "Groovy."

There is such a thing as a contract, and Raimi's scheduled to begin shooting "The Gift" within a couple of weeks. Nor has it been made clear (other than in the imaginations of fans) that "Spider-Man" would be a better career move for Raimi than "The Gift" *if*one*has*to*be*chosen*at*the*expense*of*the*other*. Clearly, avoiding that choice is what the studios are at work on now.

ALL HAIL SPIDEY! ALL HATE THE GIFT! ALL HAIL SPIDEY!

This movie will suck more than the 'Jar-Jar loves Pokemon' movie..

"Groovy"

Imagine this, "the Bruce" with his hair tossled and sporting his Herc/Zena soul patch. Now, stick him in Kraven's costume. I can hear him sneering at Spiderman with a fantastically cheesy Europeon accent. Campbell as Kraven the Hunter. I have cast my vote.

...And he is a Spiderman fan. I am so elated a this news that I realy can't think of anything to say other than this will be the first of the truly great Marvel films. And yes, true belivers, there is a great role for Bruce Campbell, Dr. Kurt Conners (AKA The Lizard). Ok, he may not be the Lizard in the first film, but Doc. Conners is a major member of the Spidy suporting cast.

I think Raimi can do justice to Spider Man, as long as someone else writes the script. Fincher? I was really surprised that his name was being batted around as much as it has been. As Fight Club and The Game have shown, he's interested in something a little deeper and with more subtext than most genre stuff can provide. Toby McGuire as Peter Parker/Spiderman? Good idea. Should have though of that one myself. Better to have a recognisable actor for such a visible role than to get a full blown star whose salary would eat up a quarter of the budget. Let the role inhabit the actor, instead of the other way around. And anyways, there's never going to be full agreement on any casting decisions they finally make.

After spending the last 2 1/2 hours of company time reading the talkbacks, I've decided that it would be a crime not to post. So here's my 2 cents worth. Until I heard Raimi was directing, I didn't give a flying f*** that they were making a Spiderman movie. Now though, bring it on baby. Raimi can do it right. As for choice on Peter Parker, I think a noname (who can act) would actually be best, save the supporting roles for the well known actors. BTW, Bruce Campbell must be in this movie, a cameo or villian or hell, J.J.. Musically I think the only person I'd trust to do justice to the old Spidey Theme and make it hip and new is Danny Elfman, but what movie wouldn't benfit from his stylings. (Credit to whoever first suggested it, sorry I forgot the post...). I think that would be a better film as a more 'b' movie that's hip. I mean, think of the premise, a radioactive spider bites a geeky kid and he then becomes a superhero, it is kinda cheesy. I think this will work now with Raimi if he follows his own style. As far as Fincher goes, I have only seen one movie by him, Alien 3, and I didn't like the way it was done, in fact I'm surprised it didn't kill the franchise. As far as "For the Love of the Game" by Raimi, never saw it, never will...for one reason, Costner (sp?) Why does Kevin Costner still get films? He can't act, his directing is questionable and I just can't stand the guy!! He's a frickin hack! He's a Harrison Ford wannabe. But I digress, does anyone feel that to keep the movie light they should keep the blue/red spidey tights? or should they modernize it..... The only thing I'd change is the eyes somehow. Well, gotta go blow up that damn DeathStar....flame away evil doers.

The spiderman character was always great, but the spidey powers were always kind of weak in the explanation department. I mean, spiders see you coming for them, either because of vibrations in their web or because they have all those eyes. There is no extra-sensory perception going on there. So, the spidey-sense just wasn't justifiable. Spiders, as I understand it, don't have little suction cups on their feet, but rather tiny claws in order to find the minute irregularities on almost all surfaces. These tiny little claws would be visible and touchable on a normal Peter Parker. They wouldn't work through the spidey suit, so that one was never really justified, either. The super-strength was justified, but I figured that spiderman would get his ass kicked by a proportional ant-man in the strength arena. The only really unique power that could have been given to him would have been web generation, but I guess having a guy spew web out an orifice near his butt never would have gone over as very cool. So, that had to be Peter's scientific contribution. As time rolled on, however, no other scientists ever seemed to be able to duplicate his web formula and the webbing never seemed to get affected by air pressure or windy conditions, so the webbing also fell by the credibility wayside. None of these things ever diminished my appreciation for the character and I thought it was great until Peter started getting too old and grown up for my preteen self. Now, as an adult, I'd still love to see this movie, but I haven't a clue how it can be made without half of the audience saying, "Aw, c'mon. That doesn't make any sense". More than X-Men, Spiderman is a fanboy's dream project. I'll see it because I think the point has been made that this director will do it justice, but I don't see how it can be mainstream without changing core abilities of the character. The whole radioactive spider thing will probably have to be updated to 'genetically modified spider', too.

As long as Leonardo doesn't play Peter Parker, I'm sure that this movie won't suck.

I hope we have a another "BLADE" here but in all honesty "SPIDER-MAN" is a lot more a part of pop culture than "BLADE" (He was a mystery some of the most learned geeks in the comic shop) so they don't have as much freedom with character. But Marvel take your time get all the rite people because we all remember what happens when the movie executives are in charge, remember "BAT MAN AND ROBON" and they wanted the balding bean pole known as Nicholas Cage to be the next "Super Man". I honestly think that marvel will (and should) hold off on filming until we know if the "X-MEN" movie delivers ore not. Keep in min over the last 20 years (give ore take) marvel has had offers to do a "SPIDER-MAN" and something always happens.

Probably been suggested 50 times but if so add my vote. He would have a great time, and it would be fun to see. He is an incredible comic talent; it would be nice to see him get an A-list role like this. Of course, Bruce could play just about anyone else in the movie as well, but please NOT SPIDEY. Take it from Doom, Bruce would not make a good wallcrawler. For Spidey how about that kid that was in Election and also American Pie recently...can't remember his name, which does not exactly strenghten my argument, but he looks like Parker to me. IMNHO DOOM HAS SPOKEN

go see it and give me your ideas...at bbmarvelman@hotmail.com darth out.

I had the pleasure of working as a cameraman with Mr. Raimi on Darkman at Introvision Visual Effects. A truly original and creative talent and a great guy to work for. Everyone loved working with him. He utilized the visual effects technology at that time to it's fullest. I can wait to see what he'll do with digital. The best comic book director for sure. Marcus

Is he the sith in Episode 2?

This is possibly the best news in motion picture history (in a long time at least). If anyone can make Spiderman work, it's gotta be Sam. If this turns out to be a hoax I may just commit scuicide! :) Last I heard James Cameron was gonna do the job and Leo DiCaorio was gonna be Peter Parker - Yeah Right! Talk about turning a potentially good film into another piece of hollywood eyecandy crap! My second choice for the job would have been Kevin Smith. My personal choice for the lead is still Bruce Campbell. I know he is slightly older than the Peter Parker character we all know, but think about this...If the film is set at a time when Peter Parker is still just a teenager, then more than likely we will see some lame 'dawsons creek/beverly hills/' type "actor", and the last thing we need is another lame-arse teen-idol on the big screen. And how sick of them are we by now eh? Bruce has the character and the wit to play PP, and is still pretty buff for his age - and I reckon he could pull it off convincingly. I would be interested to know if anyone else thinks BC is the ideal lead. Michael "Evil Ash" Ott

OK - here are my preferences for the cast of the Spiderman movie. Bruce Campbell as Spiderman - "Spiser sense tingling, Groovey" Samual L Jackson as Doctor Octypus - "Time for some tenticle action, mother f**ker" Arnold Swartzenegger as Kingpin - "Ill be back Spiderman, and when I return, I will have my Uzi 9mm!" Ted Raimi as the Green Goblin - "How do you fly this thing anyway?" Pam Anderson as Betty - "Um like, you know, Peter, I like that web pattern on your pants. It kinda reminds me of someone but I cant remember who" Gary Cole as Lucas Buck - "Good evening Miss Betty. You still pokin' around with that web-slinger?" Well why not have Lucas Buck in it? :) Long Live Raimi!!!!

The Narrator doesn't kill himself in the book. When he speaks about being in "Heaven", it is a metaphor. I won't say for what, to avoid spoiling the book. But I can assure you that he is very much alive by the time the last page arrives.

Fincher always makes the same damn movie. If you haven't noticed that, then you didn't really understand any of them. This tedious formula for storytelling would not work in Spiderman's favor at all. Raimi, on the other hand, has shown the ability to tell different stories and to adjust his filmmaking style to fit the different stories. Sure, I hate AoD as much as anyone, but I still think Raimi is much, much more interesting and well-rounded filmmaker... and certainly one whose skills apply better to the needs of Spiderman.

I hope these Hong Kong Phooey rumors ARE true. I agree with 'nololno' above. HKP is a great cartoon that you should all check out if you can. Check out: http://www.dfcom.freeserve.co.uk/hbw/hongkong/ . Yah ooh and a rinky dinky doo to all of you! HKP IN 2000!!

I debated whether or not to post this since discovery would cost me my job, but I'm a long time AICN reader so I figured I'd do my duty. Here's the real dirt. There are currently two people up for grabs for the spidey role and they don't really "match." According to the word in the halls at the agency I work for, the top contenders are Brendan Fraser and John C. Reilly (who Sam worked with in 'For Love of the Game'). That's the dirt. I'll keep my thoughts on these two to myself. Go to it.

ROFL. I'm such a sucker. I was like, "Who's this guy?". I saw FLOTG so I looked him up on iMDB and it turns out to be a guy who looks 40 and is overweight. Now I know I'm following this too closely.

Ha! I am the last one! This talkback is exhausted! Raimi is better than Kubrick. Kubrick's Spider-Man would have been too dark and brooding, not at all like the carefree webslinger we all love. I think Steve Ditko should not only do the storyboards, he should actually PLAY Spider-Man! I saw him run up a wall in San Diego, man! Marv Wolfman almost shat himself.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Yea, Raimi probably would do a better Spider-man. But Fincher would be perfect for Dhalia. If you've read the book or anything else by Ellroy you would know what I mean. HE IS PERFECET FOR IT!!!!!

No, they're not.

Since (Agent)Cole is too busy to post these days, let me just say that Raimi was never worthy enough to wipe the sweat off of Kubrick's balls. On the other hand, he'd probably make a better Spider-Man flick than Stanley.