As another Spider-Man film featuring Tom Holland approaches, it feels like a distant memory when Spider-Man wasn’t an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Only ten years ago, there were plans to build an entire movie universe around Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker.
Even though the plans didn’t work out, with “The Amazing Spider-Man” and its sequel, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” currently streaming and airing throughout this month on SYFY, it’s an excellent opportunity to reminisce about what might have transpired instead.
For More on Spider-Man
Unveiling the Unseen: A Deleted Scene from Blade and Its Link to a Prominent Spider-Man Antagonist – The Untold Story
Exploring Hidden Gems: An In-Depth Account of Spider-Man’s Animated Series
What would Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man 3 have been about?
Before the debut of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in May 2014, Sony Pictures had high hopes for the series and scheduled release dates for the third and fourth movies in 2016 and 2018. However, the second film received mixed reviews upon its release. In response to this, Sony pushed back the release date of The Amazing Spider-Man 3 to 2018, with no definite release date for a fourth movie. Director Marc Webb, who helmed the first two Amazing Spider-Man films, expressed his intention to direct a third film but not a fourth installment.
In the next chapter of the story, the third film would have delved deeper into the mystery surrounding Peter Parker’s parents and Gustav Fiers, a character hinted at earlier in the first two movies. Fiers, who goes by The Gentleman in comic books, appears to play a crucial role in shaping the future narratives of this series.
In the opening of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, character Norman Osborn (portrayed by Chris Cooper) falls ill due to genetic factors. His son, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), becomes desperate to avoid this fate and eventually transforms into the Green Goblin. As the movie concludes, we see Harry collaborating with Fiers to assemble a group of villains, such as the Rhino (Paul Giamatti). This team, potentially the Sinister Six from the comics, also includes Dr. Octopus and the Vulture, hinted at by the presence of metallic tentacles and wings in the film’s background. A spinoff titled “Sinister Six” was announced in April 2014 for a 2016 release, with Drew Goddard (known for “The Cabin in the Woods” and “Bad Times at the El Royale”) as the writer and director. This villainous team, after appearing in their own film, appeared set to pose the greatest challenge to Spider-Man in his third movie.
In addition to our usual roster of evil masterminds, the Sinister Six might have included an unanticipated member: Norman Osborn’s decapitated head. Although this scene was omitted from the film’s initial cinematic presentation, a proposed after-credits sequence from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 would have shown Fiers conversing with Osborn’s cryogenically preserved head, hinting that his story wasn’t over yet. Pictures from this scene leaked in 2014 by IGN, and Cooper mentioned in interviews that he would play a more significant role in the third film.
In an interview with IGN back in 2015, Denis Leary, who portrayed Captain George Stacy, mentioned that there was a possibility for his character to reappear in a third film, even though he died in the first movie. This would have been possible through a concept where Spider-Man could use a formula to resurrect deceased people in his life. So, if The Amazing Spider-Man 3 had been made, it might have featured some truly extraordinary elements such as a supervillain squad and the revival of the dead, making it one of the most outlandish superhero movies that never came to pass.
What spinoffs of The Amazing Spider-Man were planned?
Apart from the Sinister Six, there were plans underway for an expansive cinematic universe based on the Amazing Spider-Man series. The movie featuring Venom, starring Tom Hardy in the lead role, was one such project that eventually came to fruition, albeit with changes to make it stand alone without direct ties to Spider-Man and with different creative minds behind it. In August 2014, it was reported that Lisa Joy (known for Westworld and Reminiscence) was attached to a spinoff focused on the female heroes within the Spider-Man universe. While specifics about this potential project were scarce, it may have involved Felicity Jones reprising her role from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, where she played Felicia Hardy, the civilian identity of the antiheroine Black Cat.
Apart from the planned Spider-Man friend spinoffs, there were also whispers about other projects. In November 2014, it was speculated that Sony was working on a movie focusing on Peter Parker’s Aunt May, portrayed by Sally Field in the Amazing films. Contrary to Field’s involvement, this project was said to revolve around an espionage-themed plot, set during May’s youth in the 1960s.
Indeed, none of the planned Venom spinoffs ever materialized, as Sony and Marvel Studios reached an agreement in February 2015 that brought Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead of incorporating Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of the character into the MCU, they opted to recast the role with Tom Holland. At only 19 years old, Holland became the first actor to genuinely portray a teenage version of the iconic high-school-based hero. He made his debut in Captain America: Civil War and starred in a trilogy of his own movies.
As a gamer, I’ve gotta say, it wasn’t the last time Peter Parker from Garfield’s Spidey world showed up! In 2021, he popped up in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” sharing the screen with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man from the 2000s movies. Both were alternate universe versions of the web-slinger, teaming up with Tom Holland’s Spidey. Fans went wild seeing Garfield back in his red and blue suit, and his acting brought us right back to why we loved his take on Spider-Man. He even hinted at some of the emotional growth that would have been key in “The Amazing Spider-Man 3,” as he grappled with guilt and loss after Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) died.
Following the completion of their extraordinary Spider-Man series, Sony moved forward with a lineup of films centered around Spider-Man characters. This included a Venom trilogy, Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter, collectively known as Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. However, these movies have received a mix of criticism to outright disapproval. Notably, they share some concepts that might have originated as spinoffs from the Amazing series, such as the emphasis on villains and Madame Web’s younger Uncle Ben Parker character, played by Adam Scott.
In today’s Spider-Man film universe, there are numerous interconnected stories, offshoots, and continuations, making it somewhat complex. Andrew Garfield’s time as Spiderman was brief, not fully realizing its potential. However, fans can still relish in his two complete movies, which showcase his witty humor, upbeat demeanor, and unique portrayal of the legendary hero. Even after more than a decade, this version of Spider-Man remains distinctive within the larger canon.
Read More
- Cookie Run Kingdom: Shadow Milk Cookie Toppings and Beascuits guide
- We’re Terrible At Organizing Things.’ Tom Holland Reveals The Sweet Holiday Scheme He And Zendaya Are Going To Try Next Year
- Broadway Box Office: Idina Menzel in ‘Redwood’ Sees Strong Start
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot: Sarah Michelle Gellar Returns to Save the Day!
- New Era and BEAMS Reunite for Spring/Summer 2025 Collection
- Deva: Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde’s lip-lock scene gets trimmed by CBFC? Film’s runtime and rating revealed
- NewsNation Taps Leland Vittert to Replace Dan Abrams
- BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF $ETHA Listed on DTCC, Awaits Trading
- 🔥 Ember Nodes Sale: Fuse’s L2 Expansion Ignites! 💥
- XLARGE Celebrates Lil Wayne With New Collection
2025-02-25 23:32