"You name a studio, they turned it down": James Cameron's Failed Spider

bySharanya SankarAugust 31, 2023, 7:14 am

Comic Book giants, Marvel and DC have been pioneers in creating some of the most iconic and memorable superheroes over generations. These characters have now found their way to the big screen, making them every bigger cult figure among audiences. One of the universally loved superheroes among the brigade has always been Spider-Man whose relatable narrative has worked with fans of different ages and generations.

Much before the character became a legend onscreen through Sam Raimi’s pioneering film and subsequent MCU blockbusters, Spider-Man almost did not become the cinematic legend he is today. It was in fact Oscar-winning director James Cameron who first fought tooth and nail to bring Spider-Man alive on screen in the 80s. Shockingly, his effort did not bear fruition.

Also Read: “I don’t need any singer”: James Cameron Nearly Robbed Fans of Celine Dion’s Greatest Hit from Titanic After Comparing His Movie to Steven Spielberg’s $322M Poignant Drama

Marvel’s evergreen superhero Spider-Man was first introduced to the movies with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man in 2000 starring Tobey Maguire. But the character’s journey to the big screen started many years before in the 80s, with no less than James Cameron pitching to direct the film. Working with the now-defunct Carolco Pictures, the legendary filmmaker had lofty visions for his versions of Spider-Man. Unfortunately, the Titanic director’s script did not see the light of day owing to certain controversial decisions that he incorporated into the narrative.

Cameron, in an attempt to change the family-friendly rating that the character would usually demand, wanted to include profanity, violence, and an intimate love scene between Peter Parker and Mary Jane. The director also wanted to portray Spider-Man as the quintessential pent-up adolescent. These radical thoughts including contractual issues involving Cameron and production companies, resulted in the shelving of the project. Speaking of the lack of takers for the film, Marvel Studios president Avi Arad said,

“You name a studio, they turned it down. They thought, ‘That’s an old property.”

With no production house willing to give a failed James Cameron project a second chance, Arad ultimately used his clout and influence at Marvel to convince companies which then led to Sony bagging the rights for the first film directed by Sam Raimi. The rest, as they say, is history.

Also Read: “I knew my career was over”: James Cameron Felt Studio Would Never Forgive Him For Kate Winslet-Leonardo DiCaprio’s Iconic Movie

James Cameron’s dazzling sci-fi adventure love story Avatar, was released in 2009 and went on to become one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing films of all time. With mind-blowing visual effects that elevated a powerful narrative, Cameron cemented his place as a legendary filmmaker. After a long hiatus of 13 years, the director reintroduced audiences to the world of the Na’vi with his sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, which released in 2022.

So what took James Cameron so long to make the second film? One of the main reasons for the big break according to sources, was the Terminator director’s insistence on not wanting to rush the project to be able to work on a solid narrative extensively. In addition, Cameron also wanted to keep up with evolving technology that would dictate the direction his script would take. Known to be a perfectionist, the filmmaker ensured that the film would be of the highest quality visually, especially with a lot of CGI underwater scenes that formed the core of the story. In the end, his patience and desire for perfection resulted in another spectacular film.

Also Read: “I don’t want you to think we lied to you”: James Cameron Made No Money From ‘Titanic’? Director Gave Up His Millions of Dollars Worth Salary For the Movie

Source: Slash Film

James CameronSam RaimiTobey Maguire

Sharanya is a mom, bookworm, and cinephile. Having completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, writing is one of her passions. When she is not running behind her 11 and 9 year old, she spends her time watching and blogging about movies. She enjoys a range of genres from Indian mass entertainers to Hollywood and world cinema. Her interests also include analyzing pop culture in movies and music.