*EDITED* Dave "Gold" Khanlark's SPIDER-MAN REBOOT Outline
With recent rumors regarding Spider-Man "coming home," I, Dave "Gold" Khanlark, have decided it was time to share a (rough) outline, on how I think Marvel Studios should tackle the best superhero of all-time. Hit the jump to check it out!
In April this year, Sony released their latest Spider-Man film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Now, I have been a Spider-Man fan since I was three years old so, of course I saw the film in IMAX 3D. On my first viewing, I found it quite good, great in fact. But with multiple viewings, it is easy to see the flaws, but I do not hate it like most of the people on this site. It is by no means Batman & Robin-bad, as some people have been saying, but is not Spider-Man 2 (2004) level of great. I was originally on board with the concept of a third film, again directed by Marc Webb, but with the recent “Sony hack” it has been revealed that even they do not know what to do with the franchise.
One of the ideas that Sony are throwing around, is rebooting the franchise with a new trilogy, produced by Marvel Studios, and set in the well-received, Marvel Cinematic Universe. While I have not been the biggest of Marvel fans, I find this concept daring and new, something to recapture the magic of the Spider-Man mythology. So, like my Robots In Disguise pitch, I have determined, instead of writing a screenplay, as that will take a while to write/read, I have come up with a rough run-down on what I believe the first Spider-Man film, produced by Marvel Studios, could be about. Instead of telling the story like most people do, I want to do it differently, I want to have some fun with it, so when you read the “outline” below, I say that because it is not a real, outline, more a rough, 1000-word description of the film.
So, in this film we are introduced to a Peter Parker who has been Spider-Man for quite some time, I do not want/wish to see any reference to how he became Spider-Man, just a few references to his Uncle Ben, nothing more, nothing less. Not because I do not love Spidey’s origin, but rather, seeing it for a third time, would be quite a drag. Anyway, Peter is in college, he is currently ”in a thing” with Mary-Jane Watson, he, and her, do not know what they really are: Are they together? Are they friends? “It’s complicated,” to quote Peter. Unlike what Marvel have been saying, I deem the romantic side of Spider-Man to be extremely important, as Peter Parker is the real hero of the mythology, as oppose to the suit he wears, in which case everything that happens in Peter’s life should be taken with respect and care.
The first "big" action sequence of the film, would show Spider-Man trying to stop a car chase between the NYPD and The Shocker. In this iteration, Shocker is similar to his Ultimate counterpart, a terrible, lame, and hilarious villain. While playing a small role in this film, his character would spin-off as the leader of the Superior Foes Of Spider-Man. After stopping Shocker, Peter checks the time and realises he is late for class, again. Spider-Man takes to the skies and swings as fast as he can, until his spider-sense goes off. He swings down and sees a little girl looking at a tree, Spider-Man discovers that the girl's cat is the tree, Spider-Man sighs and then gets the cat down for her, wasting a couple of minutes. As fast as he can, Spider-Man swings through the busy streets of New York and arrives at his college... Sadly, his class finished 15 minutes ago.
Peter is working on this paper for his teacher, Dr. Connors, but when Harry Osborn, his best friend since he was eight years old, asks him if he wants his Father, Norman Osborn, to help him, Peter accepts the offer and is tutored by Norman. This creates a Father figure for Peter, setting up the relationship between Norman and Pete that has been evident in the comic books for a while. Norman, in this film, is under pressure from his higher-ups to finish the Super Soldier serum, for the US government, as a means to fight back against the terrorists, you can determine which ones.
Norman is currently stuck on what to do with the formula, which ties into Peter’s confusion on the paper. While Norman helps Peter with his paper, Peter accidentally answers Norman’s unanswered question regarding the “super soldier” serum, also known as the OZ formula. Norman kindly asks Peter if he has any clue what this “all means,” thanks to Peter’s incredibly bright parents, of course he does! In helping Norman complete the formula, Peter unknowingly creates his own worst enemy.
Believing Peter cracked the code to the formula, Norman uses the newly re-drafted, OZ serum, without any check-ups. This causes him to go insane, and grow in both size and muscle, while he would not turn into the Goblin like the Ultimate series, his skin would turn green, and his eyes would glow yellow. As the formula for was an armed force-division, he wears a green/purple muscle suit, which the soldiers would have worn, becoming the iconic Green Goblin.
Following his creation, he would go to Oscorp Industries, in this version a factory rather than a skyscraper, and would go on a murdering spree, killing his higher-ups and co-workers.
When Norman is the Goblin, like the comics, he does not control what he is doing, but in this iteration, I want him to be more sinister, for instance, he becomes obsessed with murdering his own son, Harry, because in Norman’s mind, he’s a “disappointment,” The Goblin gets to this part of Norman’s mind. Later on in the film, Norman, as the Goblin, would attack Harry's college, destroying the campus on a search for his son. Spider-Man, thankfully, stops him, and the two engage in a wicked battle, similar to the high school fight between Spider-Man and The Goblin in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics.
Peter has a job in this film, working for The Daily Bugle, and having to always answer to his annoying boss, J. Jonah Jameson. On top of his job, school, being Spider-Man, and his paper, Peter must find time to spend with both Mary-Jane and his Aunt May. In this iteration, Aunt May would be the independent woman she is, thanks to the Ultimate comics. Peter struggles to find the time to spend with his Aunt, which causes a great amount of guilt for the poor kid. One sequence that features both, Peter and May, would show them at a coffee shop, it is the first time in a while that the two have seen each other, and it is interrupted when Peter’s Spider-Sense goes off because of a crime nearby. This disappearance causes May to feel incredibly lonely, which in turn makes Peter frustrated with his commitment to his “day-job.”
Harry does not know who The Green Goblin is, which makes him super-paranoid, he confronts his Father and delivers a powerful speech to him, asking if he would stop this [The Goblin], Norman makes a bold promise to. Later on in the film, Norman would uncover the truth behind his latest adversary, Spider-Man. He discovers that his son’s best friend, and his prodigy, Peter Parker is the man trying to stop him.
Like Sam Raimi’s first film, Norman would be advised to “attack his heart” by his shady-side, leading Norman to kidnap Mary-Jane. Spider-Man hears of this, and the two have a climatic confrontation in the streets of New York. In the end of the battle, Norman would impale himself with his own glider (like the comics) and would be killed. Harry discovers that Spider-Man is the man who killed his Father, and this sets up a darker Spider-Man universe for the sequel, and a much darker story for Harry Osborn. The end of the film would have Peter finally promising Mary-Jane his commitment, but MJ does not buy it, she turns down his offer, and leaves him standing in the rain, alone. Following his break-up with Mary-Jane, Peter arrives at his old home in Queens, he knocks on the door flowers in hand, his Aunt May opens up, she smiles and hugs him.
The final swing would be something very unique, because I feel Spider-Man is the definition of The United States Of America, for God’s sake he wears the flag, I want the final swing to end with Spider-Man standing atop of the Freedom Tower, as he looks of New York City, awaiting his next challenge. Obviously, there would be more to the film, but I feel pitches that go from beat-to-beat, are often quite boring, and in turn switch the reader off. Now, I am sure there are some problems with the outline, and I get it, these are just my opinions and my own creations. I do not expect Sony/Marvel to call me up as I am writing this…. Oh, wait a second…
*Answers phone*
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*Continues talking*
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*So much talking that the old guy who was writing died and we hired a new one*
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*Hangs up*
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So, as it turns out, Sony and Marvel Studios want me to write a screenplay for this film, not going to lie, I am pretty impressed. Be sure to check out CBM’s Fan-Fic section in the coming days for a cast and crew regarding this project, as well as a potential sequel outline in the coming weeks (hint: it’s Spider-Man meets Seven), thanks for reading, and I am out for now.