As a die-hard Spider-Man fan who’s seen every swing and spin since the early days, I can confidently say that Spider-Man: No Way Home is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s not just about the epic reunions; it’s about the sheer resilience and determination shown by the cast and crew in the face of unprecedented challenges.
It’s surprising how infrequently we discuss “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. This movie is truly an exceptional achievement in live-action Spider-Man films, even surpassing the animated Spider-Verse movies, which are quite extraordinary in their own right. When we do delve into “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, it’s usually to marvel at the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as the iconic character, seamlessly integrating with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man universe. However, there’s another fascinating aspect of the film’s production that Holland has recently shared, which makes the whole process sound even more miraculous.
During his chat on the Rich Roll podcast, Tom Holland opened up about the filming of Spider-Man: No Way Home, discussing some of the hurdles the team encountered. Notably, as with any Marvel production, there’s the usual veil of secrecy. However, to maintain the surprise of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles, the producers and director Jon Watts asked Garfield to keep the secret, which meant he had to mislead the media for extended periods.
During the interview, Holland discussed the challenges of filming during the Covid pandemic. Interestingly, Sony President Tom Rothman had expressed concerns that audiences might still be hesitant about gathering in cinemas when “Spider-Man: No Way Home” premiered – a worry he shared with me for my book on Spider-Man titled “With Great Power“. Despite these fears, the movie raked in over $1.9 billion globally. However, the production of the film was indeed impacted by Covid-19, as Holland elaborated.
One drawback of Spider-Man 3 was that it was filmed during the height of the Covid pandemic, which meant everything was shot in a studio. This is evident in the movie, as you can sense when characters are supposedly walking through New York City. To capture the streets, a crew went to New York with motion camera equipment and then brought it back to Atlanta. They would then mark on the floor where extras, animals, or sidewalks were placed. As an actor, I had to imagine and plan my actions based on these pre-existing shots.
The movie “Spider-Man: No Way Home” often gives off a confined and restricted vibe, as if many scenes were filmed within limited soundstage environments in Atlanta. This can make certain sequences seem artificial or stage-bound, like the indoor-looking encounter between Peter (Tom Holland) and Happy (Jon Favreau) in a cemetery, for example. Similarly, a shot of Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori) glancing at his phone on the “streets” of New York City appears remarkably unrealistic.
Is it less impactful when considering the entire movie experience? Not at all. It’s thrilling to witness the three Spider-Man actors squaring off against various formidable villains from past Spider-Man films and series. The emotional depth remains potent, thanks to an exceptional cast. Yet, there’s a palpable distinction, as Tom Holland points out, between sequences filmed on a set and those captured in the authentic locales like Queens or New York City during Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Given the challenging circumstances posed by Covid-19 restrictions and safety measures across Hollywood, managing to produce this movie is nothing short of a marvel. We’ll forever be grateful for their efforts, and we eagerly anticipate Spider-Man 4, slated for filming on both Manhattan streets (and in the UK) around 2025.
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2024-11-28 00:37