| From Entertainment Tonight Web Site |
| Here Comes 'Spider-Man'! April 10, 2002 Look out! Here comes the 'Spider-Man!' The Marvel Comics web slinger is finally making his live-action debut on the silver screen! Based on the hugely popular STAN LEE comic book creation, Columbia Pictures' 'Spider-Man' tells the story of Peter Parker (TOBEY MAGUIRE), a high school photographer who is accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider. Soon, he begins to develop amazing powers: an ESP-like "spider sense" and the ability to scale walls, ceilings, and even spin webs! As Parker grapples with his newfound mutation, he must contend with the questions of his ever-more curious girlfriend (KIRSTEN DUNST) while battling a fiendish new foe, the Green Goblin (WILLEM DAFOE)! Written by 'Jurassic Park' scribe DAVID KOEPP and directed by 'For Love of the Game' helmer SAM RAIMI (who just signed on for a sequel with the returning Dunst and Maguire), 'Spider-Man' has been in the works for quite some time. 'Titanic''s JAMES CAMERON was previously attached to direct the big-budget film and even wrote a draft of the screenplay. But when the property was caught in a legal battle over the character's rights between Marvel Comics and the now-bankrupt Carolco film company, Cameron left the project. When the dispute was resolved, other directors, including 'Panic Room''s DAVID FINCHER and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon''s ANG LEE were considered for the project. But Raimi, with his comic book approach to such films as 'Darkman' and the 'Evil Dead' trilogy, turned out to be the right man for the task. As an ironic footnote, Ang Lee has gone on to film the live-action version of another Marvel Comics super-hero, 'The Incredible Hulk,' co-starring JENNIFER CONNELLY and hitting theaters in 2003. Get caught in 'Spider-Man''s web when the film opens nationwide on May 3! |
