David Fincher’s Spider-Man That Never Was

[GreenScar]

Thank goodness

In November 1999, Ain’t It Cool News reported that Sony had narrowed their choices for the big screen adaptation of Marvel’s Spider-Man down to four directors: Barry Sonnenfeld, Michael Bay, Chris Columbus and David Fincher. Michael Bay passed on the project saying the script needed work (talk about funny) and it was later reported that Fincher passed because “it wasn’t his thing”. I’ve always wondered how Fincher’s name got in the mix, and what Fincher’s vision for Spider-Man would have been. Recently Fincher sat down to answer questions for The Guardian, and the filmmaker was asked about the project.

“I was asked if I might be interested in the first Spider-Man…” “I’m not interested in doing ‘A Superhero’. The thing I liked about Spider-Man was I liked the idea of a teenager, the notion of this moment in time when you’re so vulnerable yet completely invulnerable. But I wasn’t interested in the genesis, I just couldn’t shoot somebody being bitten by a radioactive spider – just couldn’t sleep knowing I’d done that.” … “I went in and told them what I might be interested in doing, and they hated it.”

I also once heard that Fincher’s pitch involved the death of Gwen Stacy and at one point he relented to the idea of showing some of Spidey’s origin (or maybe pre-origin) in flashbacks. I’ve also read elsewhere rumors that Fincher wanted Edward Norton to play Peter Parker, not sure if it is true or not.

As much as I love David Fincher’s incredible films, and as much as I’m curious to see what he would have done, I’m kinda glad he never had the chance. I wasn’t a big fan of the first Spider-Man movie, but to me Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 nailed the comic book. I’m not sure the tone, story, and characters could have been presented any better.

Interesting to think about anyway..

[UPSandy]

DAMN!!!!.....oh the possiblities.....finchers spiderman would of rivaled nolans batman

[Sussudio]

fincher + spiderman = NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

but i could definitely see him pulling off something really cool with, say, the shadow if he had been hired to direct it

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by UPSandy

DAMN!!!!.....oh the possiblities.....finchers spiderman would of rivaled nolans batman

It would have pissed off Spider-Man fans big time. Sounds like he wanted to change Spidey's origin significantly. Nolan didn't do that. In fact he filled in the gaps for Batman's origin that were not told in a cohesive manner over the years in the comics. There were bits and pieces but never any consistency outside of his parents getting killed. Nolan answered the, "And then what?" question. The guy didn't just suddenly become Batman at the age of 10 out of nowhere when his parents are killed. But at the same time, Nolan didn't completely change the origin. The parents still get killed. Taking away the spider bite for Spidey would be a pretty drastic move.

[atomik kinder]

James Cameron was going to do a Spider-Man movie in I think 1992. There were scripts and I think they were even giving out key chains at some conventions. I saw one a long time ago, but I doubt you would be able to find one now. You can find the script on the internet if you look although I don't think Cameron actually wrote it.

[P@t_Mtl]

Glad he skip the movie, his heart wasn't in it to make a Spiderman movie. I understand how a director want to bring his vision of things to a movie, that is normal but there are certain guidelines that need to be follow in a superheroe movie. He wanted to skip some of them and I don't think it was such a good idea.

[Tcan21]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

James Cameron was going to do a Spider-Man movie in I think 1992. There were scripts and I think they were even giving out key chains at some conventions. I saw one a long time ago, but I doubt you would be able to find one now. You can find the script on the internet if you look although I don't think Cameron actually wrote it.

Yeah I remember that...I don't know if he had a full script out, but supposely he had written a pretty in depth treatment for a Spider-Man movie...I also remember before Wilem Dafoe was cast, that both Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich had been approached about the Norman Osborne role.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Tcan21

Yeah I remember that...I don't know if he had a full script out, but supposely he had written a pretty in depth treatment for a Spider-Man movie...I also remember before Wilem Dafoe was cast, that both Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich had been approached about the Norman Osborne role.

It was crazy wasn't it? I remember there was so much rumors around that project back in the early 90's. Got to wonder how it wold have turned out.

[Afrobean]

A Spider-man film about Peter's humanistic insecurities contrasting his superhuman persona, paired with a faithful telling of the death of Gwen Stacy...

Sounds like it'd have been kick ass.

Spider-man's origin is pretty straightforward. It didn't really need to be told. They easily could have handled it in a way like Tim Burton's Batman did. They could have even sidestepped the whole "bit by a radioactive spider" thing if they really wanted and only alluded to the actual catalyst for Peter: his uncle's death.

Edward Norton is way too old though. If he were the right age, he'd probably be great, but he is a long ways from being a teen or young adult.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

A Spider-man film about Peter's humanistic insecurities contrasting his superhuman persona, paired with a faithful telling of the death of Gwen Stacy...

Sounds like it'd have been kick ass.

Spider-man's origin is pretty straightforward. It didn't really need to be told. They easily could have handled it in a way like Tim Burton's Batman did. They could have even sidestepped the whole "bit by a radioactive spider" thing if they really wanted and only alluded to the actual catalyst for Peter: his uncle's death.

+1
I trust Fincher on any material over Raimi, and I like Raimi as a director. It sounds like Fincher wanted to skip the origin story and the studio refused to do that. The studios think it is easier to sell a reboot to the audience than giving them any credit about prior Spidey knowledge.

[McKellars]

I'm just glad Michael Bay passed on it.

[spolcyc]

Barry Sonnenfeld's Spider-Man may have been interesting. I loved MIB but hated MIB II so they would have to have gotten a new director for Spidey 2 & 3. Maybe a director who doesn't like dancing as much as Sam does.

Chris Columbus would have been interesting, I love how he did the first two HP movies, staying close to the books. He would have done Spidey proud.

[STARSCREAM]

Very interesting indeed.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

James Cameron was going to do a Spider-Man movie in I think 1992. There were scripts and I think they were even giving out key chains at some conventions. I saw one a long time ago, but I doubt you would be able to find one now. You can find the script on the internet if you look although I don't think Cameron actually wrote it.

I remember this as well. I also recall talk that it was going to be more "mature" (rated R) than Burton's recent hit Batman films.

[Mahatma]

Remember David Fincher was linked to direct the second movie in the Star Wars first trilogy,attack of the clones,but never materialized.I wonder how that would have looked. . .

[ts0323]

Originally Posted by McKellars

I'm just glad Michael Bay passed on it.

+1
That would have horribly sucked.