Leaked Studio Notes Reveal Problems in Spider-Man 4 Script
Posted 01.08.10 by BrentJS
The recent news that the release of Spider-Man 4 might be pushed back or even cancelled because of problems with the script generated a plethora of forum posts and blogs speculating about the problems in question. It also prompted Marvel Studios and Disney to move up the releases of Thor and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, respectively, to take advantage of the plum early summer slot.
If a recent MovieLine article can be believed, the problems with the Spider-Man 4 script are numerous. The article purports to contain excerpts of a leaked email sent by Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal to director Sam Raimi, in which she shreds the script apart, especially some of the racier elements.
pg. 25. Have we not explored "accidental web-slinging as obvious premature ejac" metaphor enough in three movies? Feeling a bit hack now. Esp when Aunt May walks in on him watching the YouTube clip of the Vulture attack. We get it, web = semen. Wrists = penises. Aunt = Oedipal mother figure. Ick. Not even sexy.
pg. 37. PG-13! PG-13! No nudity! Where is this coming from? And full-frontal? Maguire has total nevernude rider, he's not even working out this time (he's really porked up since starving himself for Brothers), we're CGI on everything below first chin. Definitely definitely no d*ck. CAA will f'cking kill me if they even ever see this page. TEAR OUT AND BURN.
In another, Pascal warns against using plot devices that are too similar to those in
James Cameron's Avatar.
pg. 56. OK. I KNOW we all had a conf call about how important Avatar is to our business. I GET it. But we're gonna get KILLED on the blogs with this Vulture nonsense. [John] Malkovich can't — CAN NOT — lie down in a pod, have his brain shoot thru a psychedelic tunnel, and then FLY out of his lair in the ten-foot-tall body of a blue vulture. NO. First of all, Isn't Vulture color scheme usually green? Second of all, NO. DERIVATIVE. Still think Iron Man-style armor with wings is way to go. Or Goblin gliders strapped to arms. Either/or. Both art concepts were solid.
If the email turns out to be true, then the script problems may prove insurmountable, no matter how many writers are brought in to tinker with it.