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Marc Webb Talks New Story & Universe in 'The Amazing Spider-Man'
by Ethan Anderton
December 19, 2011
Source: Comic Book Movie
Coming only five years after the end of Sam Raimi's take on Spider-Man, audiences have been wondering just what kind of film we can expect with The Amazing Spider-Man, the franchise reboot from director Marc Webb. The teaser poster recently released touts "The Untold Story," and while that doesn't seem possible since the story of Spider-Man has been told countless times in comic books, TV series and films, Webb recently spoke with Empire (via Comic Book Movie) about how the story and universe offer a different feel for the wallcrawler so that this new film isn't simply a remake of the franchise from the last decade.
Here's what Webb had to say about how this new franchise compares to Raimi's work with Tobey Maguire:
"It's not a remake, we're not making Sam's movie again. It's a different universe and a different story with different characters. There are certain mythological obligations people have in any story, but it's so radically different in terms of tone and what Peter Parker experiences that I'm very comfortable with the movie occupying a different space. The movie starts off pretty small and gradually merges into something that's more fantastic and vibrant and filled with scope. I wanted to start from a place where it felt like, if you walked into the theatre, that it was the same universe you lived in. Which is difficult when you have a giant lizard running down the street…"
Speaking of the villain, even though he's the more fantastical part of the film, which on the whole seems like a more grounded approach to the story (or at least as grounded as a teenager with spider-like super power can be), there's still a very human part of him at the core. Webb talks about Rhys Ifans as The Lizard saying:
"He's the literal embodiment of the theme of the movie, which is we all have a missing piece. He has no arm. Peter has no parents, and he fills that void with Spider-Man. Curt is not as strong as Spider-Man on the inside, but he wants to get back his arm and fill that void, and essentially he becomes a big bully."
It's easy to see why Dr. Curt Connors has a quick bond with Peter, aside from their love for science, as they've each been missing an important part of their lives, thus making them a bit of an outcast in different ways. With Peter, this time we see less of the traditional geeky kind of outcast, and moreso just an awkward, skateboarding, anti-social teenager who's awkward around girls like Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). However, Webb wants to point out that it's not all up close and personal:
"People may assume because it's me doing Spider-Man, it's more intimate. And it is, but one of the reasons I wanted to do it was to fucking blow shit up, swing through the air and kick some ass."
Sounds good to me! If anything, it sounds like Webb is making the Spider-Man story more easy to relate to and a little less of a fantasy. It likely won't be as dark and gritty as Christopher Nolan's franchise, but it's not the bright, shiny, geewhiz kind of story that came through in Raimi's take on Spider-Man. Frankly, I can't wait to see what Webb does with The Amazing Spider-Man when it hits theaters on July 3rd, 2012.
22 Comments
1
I wanna see this, and I will see this. Garfield will be a great Spidey.
Xerxexx on Dec 19, 2011
2
One hopes, Xerxexx. But my money's on Garfield too. Still, you gotta love this: "And it is, but one of the reasons I wanted to do it was to fucking blow shit up, swing through the air and kick some ass." Marc Webb, take a bow. Great to hear a film maker being so honest!
Anonymous on Dec 19, 2011
3
Fingers crossed it delivers.
Xerxexx on Dec 19, 2011
4
2012 is going to be magnificent.
Neuromancer on Dec 19, 2011
5
Yep. (Of course, let's hope the Mayans are wrong! 8-))
Anonymous on Dec 19, 2011
6
I think we are okay...I mean the Mayans were supposed to be here as well as a powerful nation...not scattered.
Xerxexx on Dec 19, 2011
7
I think the only reason the Mayan calendar stops in 2012 is because the guy who made it either A. ran out of room, B. died, or C. got tired and said ahh Fuck it!. My money is on C.
MatthewS on Dec 20, 2011
8
C as well.
Xerxexx on Dec 20, 2011
9
... different characters... Peter Parker, Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Dr. Connors, Flash Thompson, MJ, erm I mean "Gwen Stacy"... weren't those same characters in Raimi's excellent (well, almost excellent because of Spider-Man 3) trilogy... "Untold Story" my sweet ass...
Yahzee on Dec 19, 2011
10
Gwen is better than MJ...imo.
Xerxexx on Dec 19, 2011
11
what? do you want him to make up new characters? yeahhhh, that would be great.
Mulberryjacob on Dec 19, 2011
12
... I was referring to the words coming out of Webb's mount "It's a different universe and adifferent story with DIFFERENT CHARACTERS"
Yahzee on Dec 20, 2011
13
I think he means these iterations of the characters aren't the same. And some of them are featured much more prominently and therefore more integral to the story.
Ethan Anderton on Dec 19, 2011
14
I think Webb, like Garfield, is just trying to dance around the fact that it IS yet another reboot. We all get it. Pete gets bitten, likes a girl, and fights a mutated freak.
Big Boss on Dec 19, 2011
15
But it's so new! /s
Josh Taylor on Dec 19, 2011
16
Dance around the fact that it's a reboot? It's been stated that this is reboot many times. They are merely stating that it's not a "REMAKE". It's NOT the same as Raimi's film.
keek on Dec 19, 2011
17
I honestly hope this movie fails big time. It looks and sounds terrible. What a waste of the Spiderman property and the money to produce it.
Josh Taylor on Dec 19, 2011
18
What do you mean, we haven't even seen a real trailer yet. Just that FP teaser.
JL on Dec 20, 2011
19
garfield seems to be taking a very sincere approach to this role, as per his announcement at the last comic con
Nick Sears on Dec 19, 2011
20
SONY SPIDER SONY SPIDER does whatever a SONY exec wants, Hey there! there goes the SONY SPIDER
Jimmy Love on Dec 19, 2011
21
Apparently Fincher wanted to direct it,as did Cameron twenty years ago.I think this is shaping up well and Garfield is well cast.
tir na nog on Dec 20, 2011
22
Marc Webb is a hack.
LouisBakerLee on Dec 20, 2011
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