The Russos Weigh In On Their Realistic And Grounded Take On SPIDER-MAN

The Russos Weigh In On Their Realistic And Grounded Take On SPIDER-MAN

Captain America: Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo have revealed a ton of new details about their take on Spider-Man, hinting at a more believable style of home for Peter Parker and Aunt May, their grounded and contemporary take on the wall-crawler, and more...

By JoshWilding - Jan 08, 2016 03:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man
Source: ComicBook.com
When we're going to get our first look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Spider-Man remains to be seen (it could be as soon as next week if some reports are to be believed), but Captain America: Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo refused to reveal whether we'll get any sort of official images before the release of that movie in May during a recent chat with ComicBook.com. They did however shed some light on what we should expect from their interpretation of Marvel's most iconic superhero, and it definitely sounds like they're taking things in a very different direction. 

"We had thought back to the things that excited us about him as a character when we were younger, and one of the most important components of that was that he's a high schooler burdened with incredible powers and responsibility," explains Joe Russo. "That really differentiates him from every other character in the Marvel universe as opposed to other superheroes. For us, it was extremely important that we cast somebody very close to the age of a high school student. The previous films had adults playing a high schooler. We wanted more of an authenticity to the casting. We were very specific about that. We wanted an energy and charisma from the character, an energy, but also an insecurity that would make him fun to watch in contrast to the confident superheroes."
 
"It was also important to us that the actor that was cast feel contemporary because the other films that portrayed where he lived is more... they honored the comic books in terms of the choices," he continues. "But you go look at the home that Tobey Maguire lived in in Raimi’s Spider-Man was... those were very expensive homes. We wanted to relate it to the reality. A character growing up with his aunt in New York, a single income family… Where would they live? What would that look like? Where could they afford to live? We asked ourselves all those questions. We try to take a very logical and realistic and naturalistic approach to the character."
 
That all makes sense, especially as the comics typically portrayed Peter as coming from a hard working, but very poor background (pretty much everything he did as a youngster was to help his Aunt May pay the bills). Does this mean that we'll no longer see him and May living in a cushy house in Queens? It certainly sounds that way, and Anthony then went on to address how they're going about fitting this new version of Spider-Man into the MCU. "We're bringing Spider-Man into the movie in that universe, now, in that specific tonal stylistic world. I think underscoring everything Joe was saying about your question in terms of how were we thinking about the character in relation to past interpretations of the character, part of our choices were all so colored by the specifics of the world what we were playing in with these two Captain America movies, meaning Winter Soldier and Civil War. It's a very specific tonal world. It's a little more grounded and a little more hard-core contemporary. That was also coloring our choices a lot about the character on Spider-Man."
 
"We're not trying to denigrate other interpretations of Spider-Man," he adds. "Raimi's movies are fantastic. Spider-Man one and two are amazing. Two, is one of if not my favorite comic book movie of all time. But he made a very strong choice with those movies from a color palate standpoint to a costume standpoint, execution standpoint, camerawork standpoint to honor the feeling of the comic book. We're trying to honor the feeling of naturalism and to honor the feeling of reality. The harder we can pull these characters into reality, the better for us, especially because we're all so connected now through social media, the Internet. We're all so dialed in to what's happening in current events. That it's important for us that these characters live in the world that we live in because it makes them more real and it makes our experience of watching them more passionate and more well-rounded."

It defintly sounds like we're going to be getting a new take on Spider-Man then, but that may not be a bad thing, especially when you look at how well Marvel has updated other heroes so far. Weigh in with your thoughts on the comments in the usual place, and for more from the Russos, click on the link below. 
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pucrepeap
pucrepeap - 1/8/2016, 3:32 PM
Grounded...like Fant4stic?
MrPositive
MrPositive - 1/8/2016, 3:32 PM
Spiderman Spiderman does whatever a spider can, except he cannot cus he's just a human with spider powers
Highflyer
Highflyer - 1/8/2016, 3:33 PM
And here we...
MrPositive
MrPositive - 1/8/2016, 3:35 PM
GROUNDED!!! REALISTIC!!!

SARCASM!!!
Ignition
Ignition - 1/8/2016, 3:35 PM
I'd be surprised if they topped Raimi's Spider-Man.
HubbleFunk
HubbleFunk - 1/8/2016, 3:36 PM
Careful now Russo's... sounding a bit 'DC' with all that talk of 'reality', 'grounded' and 'Hard Core contemporary'...

Looking forward to this interpretation of Spiderman. Marvel have cast well.

nikgrid
nikgrid - 1/8/2016, 3:37 PM
Oh don't make him realistic and grounded..Marvel fans don't like that lol.
BrokenMachines
BrokenMachines - 1/8/2016, 3:37 PM
Soo he's going to live in the TRAP?
HubbleFunk
HubbleFunk - 1/8/2016, 3:37 PM
@Ignition

Spiderman 2 was a near perfect CBM.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 1/8/2016, 3:37 PM
All this sounds a lot like what I heard people complain about about the Garfield version. Like 'Spider-man isn't supposed to be realistic' and even Peter using the internet to do fricking research.
TDKsThrone
TDKsThrone - 1/8/2016, 3:38 PM
These guys are to Christopher Nolan like what the Fake Batmen Gang were to the real Batman in TDK. They try so hard to ape Nolan's tone. It was more than evident in Winter Soldier.
exies7
exies7 - 1/8/2016, 3:39 PM
Honestly, I just want to see a picture of him.
ScarletWarlock
ScarletWarlock - 1/8/2016, 3:41 PM
hmmm, I think aesthetically it will be grounded because I think despite the fact that there is a grounded tone to Civil War, there is a girl on Cap's team that shoots red lasers out of her hands, take that as you will.
TheGoat
TheGoat - 1/8/2016, 3:41 PM
They are saying grounded in his HOME LIFE. Pretty clear they are talking about the type of house and neighborhood he's from. In short, they making the boy look a little more run down and poor.

Spidey is extremely popular because he is like us in some way, shape, or form. More than any other superhero, Spiderman resonates with just about everyone. Having his story begin in more humble beginnings is fine.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 1/8/2016, 3:42 PM
It just occured to me. Is it just me of is Iron Man's helmet almost useless? Usually five minutes after a fight he's bruised and bleeding.
PsychoticSpaceRaccoon
PsychoticSpaceRaccoon - 1/8/2016, 3:44 PM
Whatever.

In Russos I trust. Winter Soldier was a perfect Cap movie.
GiantNerd
GiantNerd - 1/8/2016, 3:45 PM
I'm curious as to how realistic and logical they'll make him. I have faith in the Russos though, just don't do anything drastic please, it's Spider-Man.
TheGoat
TheGoat - 1/8/2016, 3:45 PM
These guys are nothing like Nolan. Nolan's take was dark and for those saying he was grounded and ultra-real must have some secret knowledge of all the tech he had.

Nolan was fantastic in his vision, though it fell flat with Rises. Russos are great in their vision, because it's comic book meeting real world scenarios. I'm sure they will fall short at some point in time, maybe with Civil War, maybe something after. Either way it should be a fun ride.

PS - Nolan needs to come back to DC. Him doing something like Shazam would be cool to see.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 1/8/2016, 3:46 PM
cant wait russos will do a great job hopefully they are heavily involved in the movie aswell
DerekLake
DerekLake - 1/8/2016, 3:46 PM
1) Aren't those the hated WB/DC words? Where's the annoyance?

2) Does that mean he lives in Hell's Kitchen? Seems to be the cheapest place in the MCU's New York.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 1/8/2016, 3:46 PM
spiderman movie that is, just to clarify
BlackPhillip
BlackPhillip - 1/8/2016, 3:46 PM
Does that mean Spider-Man will be nerfed in the MCU?
ALegendaryPanda
ALegendaryPanda - 1/8/2016, 3:47 PM
I will never understand why people on here act like "grounded" is this evil thing that all filmmakers should avoid..
GhostDog
GhostDog - 1/8/2016, 3:47 PM
When these guys speak


Zer0squad
Zer0squad - 1/8/2016, 3:48 PM
...and on cue the DC trolls are coming with the chest thumping about how DC/Nolan invented realistic/grounded/gritty movie. Say what you want about Josh, but the guy knows how to get them clicks.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 1/8/2016, 3:49 PM
So is this Bucky's apartment in Germany or Peter's crib? Judging from the comments above, it could be Peter's. I've always assumed it was Bucky's hideout spot, where we see German Police storm it in the trailer
exies7
exies7 - 1/8/2016, 3:50 PM
Nolan's take was boring to a lot of people. I don't think I'd even watch comic book films if they were all anything like TDK trilogy.
ScarletWarlock
ScarletWarlock - 1/8/2016, 3:51 PM
@KurtWagner1225
Yup, aside from comics, 'Spectacular Spider-Man' the show is the best spiderman anything, way better than the 90's series in my opinion, I don't why that one is held in such high regard when SS is one of the most mature, well written superhero cartoon in existence. But, yeah, even though the choice for Tom didn't excite me, I know in my heart that hype doesn't define quality, I'm waiting for the actual movie for him to blow me away(which I'm sure he will), it is such an exciting casting addition, and even though we've already seen an attempt at a grounded Spidey before, I'm really curious as to how the Russo's vision will apply to him.

It's just cool that they set him up character wise, but Jon gets to build his world, I love this passing off of characters between directors, I think it helps flesh out a character rather than having the same person tackle the character over and over.
TDKsThrone
TDKsThrone - 1/8/2016, 3:51 PM
@TheGOAT

That's exactly what Nolan did ... the fantastical in a real world setting. Only he did it better. And I'd argue it falling flat in Rises is hyperbole. It's a well reviewed film.

It just doesn't have the precision of story telling as BEGINS. And isn't the instant classic TDK was.

Russos trying "ground" things is very much in line with the type of approach Nolan and Goyer started.
JorL5150
JorL5150 - 1/8/2016, 3:52 PM
HAS to be better than the other spidey flicks...
Highflyer
Highflyer - 1/8/2016, 3:52 PM
I don't kiss any director's ass because of previous work. Does it give me faith? Yeah but no director is beyond making a bad movie. Lucas did the originals AND the prequels. Rami gave us the first two Spider-Man movies AND the third.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 1/8/2016, 3:55 PM
It's the MCU. Don't worry about being "grounded and realistic" with Spider-Man. Just do a great Spider-Man.
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