Sam Raimi Empire Interview

Sam Raimi Empire Interview

Sam Raimi has creative control over Spider-Man 4 -- Unlike Spiderman 3...

Interview
By THEHAWK - Mar 26, 2009 04:03 PM EST
Filed Under: The Amazing Spider-Man
Source: The Geek Files

In an interview with Empire for this May’s issue, Raimi openly talked about some of the problems with Spider-Man 3 and confirmed some rumors we all heard about two summers ago when the movie was released.



“They really gave me a tremendous amount of control on the first two films, actually. But then there were different opinions on the third film and I didn’t really have creative control, so to speak.”

It was rumored that Raimi wasn’t allowed to do his own story and that producers forced him to add Venom last minute as one of the villains in the story. When asked about that, Raimi responded:

“I don’t even want to comment on Venom, because I know he’s a great character and all the fans love him. I never want to say anything bad about a much-beloved character because usually it turns out that I’m the one that doesn’t understand what makes it great.”

More questions were thrown at the director about the issues surrounding Spider-Man 3 and the at-the-time Marvel head honcho Avi Arad’s rumored insistence on Venom’s inclusion, but Raimi responded professionally and didn’t name names or play the blame game in his answers.

“The best way for me to move forward on films, I realize…and this was a lesson I had to learn for myself…is that I’ve gotta be the singular voice that makes the creative choices on the film.”

"I love Spider-Man so much that I'd like to continue telling Spider-Man stories but only under those circumstances where I think I can honour him. I don't think I can honour him any other way."

Hopefully the next movie will return to the style and grade of the first two films. I’m glad that Raimi has confirmed that Tobey Maguire will be back as Peter Parker. Raimi also wants Kirsten Dunst back as Mary Jane but no deal has been made as of yet.

Earlier this month Raimi did give an update on Spider-Man 4, but he declined to add any more information: "I haven't yet talked to my producers about what they want to reveal. It's such a long way off that I'd rather not talk about it in case I say things that they didn't want me to reveal."

As for the villains of the next Spidey flick, Raimi has expresed interest in Morbius as a possible choice. He also has talked of bringing back a dead character. They have also spent a lot of effort in developing The Lizard.

I definitely prefer the choices of Lizard and Morbius, or Kraven, rather than the recently rumored Electro and Carnage movie. They can’t do Carnage because they disintegrated Venom, and totally screwed him up. Thanks to The Myth for posting this pic in another article.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/TheMyth7/news/?a=6642



I would like for Raimi to build up the relationship with Gwen Stacy, and maybe set things up for a Green Goblin return. So they can KILL GWEN STACY, hopefully by Gobby in Spidey 4 or 5. I also would not mind Mysterio in the movie, maybe played by Bruce Campbell,give him his cameo for the film.
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Justadjust
Justadjust - 3/26/2009, 5:13 PM
I know I'm going to here it from myth, but they can bring back venom (there still is a piece of symbiote at conner's office), but maybe not Eddie Brock, not sure.

OR

The piece of sympiote could turn into... Carnage.

I know I'm contradicting myself from other posts, but just throwing out other ideas. I think I'm just bitter about SM-3 and am hoping that they give venom/symbiote another chance. I know it can be done well. I just kind of feel that Raimi shit on the character cause the studio shit on him.

God, I hope they dont do Morbius. Not a route the franchise should go. Yes I know it can turn into a cross-over... BUT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. This is not the Avengers franchise.

It looks like no matter what, Raimi will do whatever the [frick] he wants, and if the studio doesnt want another SM-3, then they will stay the [frick] out of his way.
rage
rage - 3/26/2009, 5:55 PM
i suggested bruce campbell for mysterio months ago, but i was laffed at, i think rhino should be in it too, even if he is only one of mysterio's special effect. they are both huge parts of the spiderman universe.
THEHAWK
THEHAWK - 3/26/2009, 6:07 PM
Really well, great minds think a like. I suggested it a while back, and most people thought it would be pretty cool, or at least funny as hell. It would give him his usual cameo.
TucsonRican
TucsonRican - 3/26/2009, 6:36 PM
What about Sandman? Does he get a free pass? That's one of the biggest problems I had with 3.
joob234
joob234 - 3/26/2009, 7:14 PM
at Justadjust, if ur thinking about it, they could do carnage with the piece of venom at connors office, and make venom, but thatd be taking roots from ultimate spiderman which im not sure raimi wants to take stuff from the ulitmate universe
joob234
joob234 - 3/26/2009, 7:18 PM
and im just shitting with u guys on this one, but in that pic of venom, what color is the symbiote turning?! hahaha jk, i no its blood but im just pointing it out....


i would want carnage cuz i too think they should give the symbiote thing another shot, or the lizard and kraven
loganoneil
loganoneil - 3/26/2009, 8:17 PM
Gee Sam, was it Avi's idea for the whole 'Disco Stu' Peter Parker thing? And who's bright idea whas it to make Pete a complete two-dimensional DORK and MJ and boring, whiney plain-looking frump? I will give credit where credit is due - for what they were, the first two films were good (it pays to have brilliant actors like Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina as heavies - Sam, you should have utilized Thomas Haden Church instead of squandering him as a secondary villain!), but Sam Raimi (hell, let's throw Tobey and Kristin in there too) must be hung upside-down by the toenails and lowered ever-so-slowly into a vat of boiling excrement!


...that's just my opinion.
THEHAWK
THEHAWK - 3/26/2009, 8:37 PM
Dude he did not blame anyone, he took the blame himself. I hope the next one is better.
Betty
Betty - 3/27/2009, 1:03 AM
skip it. skip most of it. skip gwen. skip campbell. skip carnage and venom and sandman and gobby and morbius.
loganaspatch
loganaspatch - 3/27/2009, 1:12 AM
only problem i had with sandman was when they made him turn into a sand creature from the mummy movie, ive been informed that he can do that, but its a trick from another movie and why the generic godzilla scream!!!.. that whole movie made me feel like i had sand in my crotch.... :D

but other then that the guy looked like he walked right out of the comic book. and he and spiderman had cool fight scenes before venom was introduced
Hobgoblyn
Hobgoblyn - 3/27/2009, 2:47 AM
The Green Goblin scene where he killed Gwen was already done in the first Spiderman film. It was exactly identical to that scene except using Mary Jane instead of Gwen and she didn't die from whiplash when Spiderman grabbed her.

However, it was the exact same scene, so there'd be no reason at all to do it again.
THEHAWK
THEHAWK - 3/27/2009, 5:04 AM
@Hobgoblyn. They did the scene again in the comics after Gobby returned. This time he threw MJ off the bridge and Spiderman was able save her, learning from his mistake with Gwen. They could do that this time, Substitute Gwen for MJ, and he failed to save her.

HAWK out.
Justadjust
Justadjust - 3/27/2009, 9:08 AM
@joob234 - If I'm not mistaken, the name Eddie Brock Jr. (the junior part), and his age and body type was from the ultimate universe. So it could happen.

But like I said, I'm sure that is not the route Raimi is going to take. To me, he made that pretty obvious.
SoulAllFlush
SoulAllFlush - 3/27/2009, 9:43 AM
I still have belief in Raimi - The more Spider-Man movies he makes the better, as it'll bring more of the Spider-Man mythology to the public which will open up more avenues further down the line.

Just wish Raimi's Spider-Man could be introduced into Iron-Man/Incredible Hulk/Avengers - oh well
MetalHead
MetalHead - 3/27/2009, 10:00 AM
STOP WISHING FOR VENOM TO RETURN!!! I'm sick of posting this on every "Spider-Man" movie post. They ruined it and all of these STUPID ideas involving bringing him back that are nowhere close to accurate to the comic are horrible. Just let it go. Seriously. Focus on developing The Sinister 6 over the next 3 films.
slimybug
slimybug - 3/27/2009, 10:22 AM
What is WRONG with Raimi? First Sandman, now Morbius? When will he stop trying to get these second-rate villains in and just concentrate on the freakin' LIZARD like he should have in #3?!

As for showing Gwenn's death, that would not be good. They never should have introduced Gwen Stacey in the movies at all. The Gwen Stacey being killed by GG was pretty much copied in the first movie, but with Mary Jane, and, of course, with her surviving. To repeat that in a future film just so that we can see the death of Gwen Stacey, would not be desirable.
Plus, Peter's with MJ,and we've all seen enough of that drama, so let's not have him breaking up with her again to go chasing Gwenn, when we know he'll just end up back with MJ again.
Gwen just doesn't have a place in this film franchise.

Plus bringing back GG would just be repetetive. Willem's character is dead. Let it be.
thenumber12
thenumber12 - 3/27/2009, 10:49 AM
Since Iron Man, Hulk, Cap. America, and Thor are going to all be featured in The Avengers. I think a good way to bring back some characters whos movies didn't do so well would be to bring them into the Spiderman movies. The Punisher and Daredevil for instance, seeing how the punisher and spiderman often clash heads in the comics, it would be easy to do?
Unmasked
Unmasked - 3/27/2009, 12:29 PM
When I saw the trailers for Spider-man 3, I thought
that they would have saved Venom for 4. By sticking
Venom in, it draged the movie down. Right when Eddie
got the symbiote at the bell tower scene, that should
have been the last shot for him. Then people would really hype 4. Hell, you could throw Carnage in with
that storyline.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 3/27/2009, 12:36 PM
The article says something about bringing back a dead character. WTF?! Bringing back Green Goblin isn't any worse than bringing back Venom, is it? The Eddie Brock/Venom story would have made the Spidey movie series epic! Grrrrr Fartman angry! >:@
gabillo
gabillo - 3/27/2009, 12:38 PM
Hey, remember that in Spiderman 3 Peter takes a piece of the symbiote to Dr Connors lab for him to study it... There you have a potential Carnage for the next movies!!
TucsonRican
TucsonRican - 3/27/2009, 12:43 PM
The dead character will probably be Harry.
90caliber
90caliber - 3/27/2009, 12:52 PM
I want to see the Scorpion personally. He was always one of my favorites I also want to see Tombstone, Kingpin, Silvermane and the Black Cat. I enjoyed these characters growing up and definitely want to see them on the big screen. Since the story is going to span two movies it should be able to handle multiple villains. Venom and Carnage can only be done right in an R rated movie. They're just too violent. Venom vs. Carnage would make a great horror flick though.

WeaponX
WeaponX - 3/27/2009, 1:17 PM
Yeah, I'd like to see Lizard finally show up and maybe have a story where JJJ is sick of the public loving Spider-Man so he pays for Mac Gargan to become The Scorpion to be the cities big hero and take down the Lizard, but y'know, it back fires because Gargan goes nuts due to the experiment and Spidey has to deal with him and Lizard.

hbk82287
hbk82287 - 3/27/2009, 2:03 PM
I'd love to see a back story of mysterio and the green goblin. Perhaps mysterio simply helped him fake his own death to further his own work. No goblin has been more dangerous than Norman, and id like to see more into the characters psyche in movie form.
Gordonious
Gordonious - 3/27/2009, 2:21 PM
Sam Raimi is the man. If anybody can bring back the franchise it would be him. I think whatever he does(as long as he has the only say in it)will work. I do like 90caliber's idea. I would also love to see the Scorpion. The lizard would be cool to. Hell, he can pretty much have any enemy he wants. So many have tangled with Spidey. Except for any Goblin. That's been beated like a dead horse. -Nuff said-
Apoc4all
Apoc4all - 3/27/2009, 2:45 PM
First off, Venom can come back.. it's Marvel, and if there is one thing we should all have learned from Marvel, it's that anyone can come back, no matter how many times they're killed.

As to venom, it's an easy creative writing job. Blast is so powerful that we see x-ray vision of eddie, he's then blown clear of the site. The sliver of the symbiote back at Connor's lab then find's it's way to him, or vis versa. Or, as they have done in the comic book versions, remnants of the symbiote still permanently exist in his cells and the alien life form resurfaces (they did this with Carnage, and later on anti-venom).

Or, if the x-ray idea is a little too far fetched, Eddie is blown away from the blast, and what looks like a skeleton is actually the symbiote writhing in agony. Only requires one line of dialogue. "Are you sure you saw what you thought you saw?" It's been done before, and could be done again. And if this route were to be taken, it's equally possible that some of the symbiote could be separated and blown away from the blast site.

In short, Venom can come back, and in order to do any Carnage story justice, he has to come back.

In my opinion, if Venom comes back, either in a future Spidey film, or his own spin-off as the rumors have it, this would justify Spidey 3 in my eyes. Venoms role in the third movie would then be introductory material to his greater story, as opposed to a poor attempt at throwing his character in the movies.
Evil1991
Evil1991 - 3/27/2009, 2:49 PM
Bruce Campbell as mysterio would be the greatest thing ever
mounted88
mounted88 - 3/27/2009, 3:19 PM
Bruce campbell as mysterio would be good. But since he was in the second and third film it kinda ruined that. I think they should go with the sinster six route and throw in black cat so spidey has some help. Or if anyone has played the web of shadows game that would make a awesome movie. Just some thoughts
vanillabear
vanillabear - 3/27/2009, 3:43 PM
shocker and electro would be great but i doubt it
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 3/27/2009, 4:31 PM
AHHH SEE...I DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE PRESSURING SAM RAIMI ON THREE, NO WONDER IT DIDNT FEEL THE SAME..MARVEL, WE LOVE YOU GUYS..AND I KNOW AVI YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO APPEASE THE FANS..BUT TRUST RAIMI AND LET HIM DO HIS THING, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING...LEAVE HIM BE.
CMKOFAN
CMKOFAN - 3/27/2009, 4:31 PM
seems there's hope after all.
Tobuttica
Tobuttica - 3/27/2009, 4:31 PM
Yay!! Three cheers for ELECTRO!!!
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 3/27/2009, 4:36 PM
AHHH SEE...I DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE PRESSURING SAM RAIMI ON THREE, NO WONDER IT DIDNT FEEL THE SAME..MARVEL, WE LOVE YOU GUYS..AND I KNOW AVI YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO APPEASE THE FANS..BUT TRUST RAIMI AND LET HIM DO HIS THING, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING...LEAVE HIM BE.
SpiderBat209
SpiderBat209 - 3/27/2009, 5:00 PM
Hobgoblin and/or Lizard. :)
rawshark
rawshark - 3/27/2009, 5:24 PM
you're all wrong.
the only, ONLY villain they should do:

THE VULTURE !!!



hahahaha, nah, I'm joking.
Vulture is gay.
But, I made everyone worry for about 5 seconds though !
SUPASEGO
SUPASEGO - 3/27/2009, 6:49 PM
It's just very clear that the one's heading up the Spiderman movie franchise aren't doing their homework.. They're not thinking about sequels.. They don't have a vision past the film they're doing at that moment.. Why end Spiderman 3 the way they did? Well... why do the whole movie like the way they did.. They really need to have people who know the Spiderman comic series doing these movies.. Where's jon favreau when you need him? HAHA.. Favreau's new title should be "Head of Marvel's Movie Production".. All MArvel movies should have to go through him before a movie even gets off the ground..LOLOLOLOL
GrimReaper90
GrimReaper90 - 3/27/2009, 7:18 PM
Should Sam Raimi have control of the fourth installment; I suggest he make Spider-Man based on Todd Mcfarlines work.
GameAnime45
GameAnime45 - 3/27/2009, 8:58 PM
I already knew they were gonna mess up part 3 with venom. They should of started it from part 2 with the black suit, and carried it over to part 3. Sandman was a wuss in this movie. They raped Venom badly, and the story wasn't even close to the comic book.

I hope they let him control the movie, because he is a great director. If they do make Carnage, I suggest Jim Carry, and the piece left over can be Carnage if they wanna save the movie that they raped.

Don't put Morbius, because it crosses to the Blade storyline also. I want Wesley Snipes, but the bastard is in jail. I would prefer Rhino, and Lizard. Bring on the Kingpin.
BeauReed
BeauReed - 3/27/2009, 10:34 PM
This is my idea for a Movie. As it is my idea, in all reality i don't expect the movie to be anything like this.

Peter Parker is enjoying life after the whole Venom incadent. Things are going well and he's planning on preposing to Mary Jane in a few days.Interupt the intro with a c or d class supervillian like rocket racer or the vulture. Spider-Man chases him down and after a long race through New York finally subdues the villian ontop of a building. The purb wines some sob story and Peter decides to let him go. Venom survived the blast, do to the suit directly absorbing Brock as its host. However, it now needs to feed on other flesh. Cut and do a few quick scenses of the kingpin buying a couple of suits from an oction, preferablly from a iron man big-wig as to promote a future crossover. Peter turnes the pictures to John Jameison and gets paid well for his new job as directed in spiderman. Jameison, a little hot with Peter about the desk job and looking for an excuse to fire him hires Mac Gargon to tail the hero and find out how Peter takes his pictures of Spiderman. Do a few life scense of Peter and Mj. Move on to a few nights later were Peter takes Mary Jane out to an expensive resturaunt. Right when he is about to propose to her, have a tremor shake the building. M.J. looks at Peter and nods her head in understanding. Peter rushes out and heads twoards the center of the tremers only to come face to face with a robbery in progress by shocker and Venom.
BeauReed
BeauReed - 3/27/2009, 10:43 PM
Part two.

Spiderman doesn't know whats going on at first as he see's Venom doing battle with the schocker. Venom is able to subdue the villian and heads twoards a screaming child inside of the building. Thinking that the child is in trouble and Venom is about to hurt her, Spiderman tackles Venom who lets the hero beat him up. They are interupted when the shocker lands a vibro blast against the back of Spider-Man who is throughn through the vault door. Gargon apears and tries to find out were Parker might be. Venom attacks the Shocker, but the shcoker is able to temporarly upset Vemon as a new threat, the Rhino appears to help his buddy out. Venom seems to be outpowered. Meanwhile, Gargon comes up with a bright idea of suplying a getaway veachle to the shocker and Rhino in atempts to lure Spiderman out and to find out how Parker is alwasy around to take the pictures. The Shocker atempts to take Gargon up on his offer, but is stoped by spiderman. Believing Gargon to be in an aliance to the duo, Spiderman captures him as well. Venom is able to subdue the Rhino, only to be tackled by Spider-Man. Venom, once again, allows Peter to beat him up as the Rhino Frees the Shocker but leaves the disgraced Gargon Captured. The Police arive and atempt to assist Spider-Man untill the witnesses, along with the Little Girl testify that Venom was tryign to help and Spider-Man attacked them.
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