Story/Plot (Universally constructing a world and character plots to deal with problematic origins):
I'm going to start off by saying that this new franchise origins need to be handled very specifically.
The smartest choice in my opinion would be to set the entire origin story and early life of Peter Parker as Spiderman in a perfectly captured intro sequence. An example of an attempt at this would be Marvel Studios recent Hulk reboot “The Incredible Hulk”. Why not make the origin intro lengthy as well? Hell, I personally love long intros, watchmen’s intro for example, I loved. While “The Incredible Hulk”, lies on the other side of that spectrum, it did a good job at making its origins very short and very clear in the opening sequence. So what Sony/Marvel and everyone who matters on this project need to do is hit a balance of what those two films did in there intros, showing the characters history, and then getting right to the good stuff. Handling of the origin being done in this fashion would likely be flawless in the eyes of most critics, the mainstream and comic book nerds alike.
I imagine the feel of this brand new franchise is going to be a lot different. So as a first villain, I’d go the Nolan route ala the Bat franchise and use someone no body expects first. The movie going audience is likely expecting a popular character; Electro, Vulture, Kraven the Hunter, Doc Ock, Venom, types typically used as more mainstream spidey villains.
Let’s face it. It’d look cool but characters like electro and many other Spiderman villains are a little to shallow of characters to hold together a comeback movie all their own.
In this light I propose, Jackal, a classic, well done, but lesser known villain. There is plenty of room for interpretation with this character, he is in the comics and could be in film, very strategically placed as Biology Professor Miles Warren working at Empire State University, beside the likes of popular characters Curt Connors and Eddie Brock.
The ability to build a coherent universe around this character and even connect him back to Spiderman’s OsCorp. related origins is great. The plot idea I propose for Jackal and the growth of other, previously mentioned characters, including Spiderman for future films is as follows.
Having the possibility to set numerous villains up, quickly, but properly past the point of basic origin, would allow for more time to tell the actual story of these characters involved in the proposed plot, as well as allow future antagonist to grow more convincingly, smoothly and naturally as the story of Peter Parker progresses from film to film.
Peter’s personal life and growth as a character could flow with the proposed Jackal plot flawlessly. Beyond what’s already been said. How you might ask?
First of all, it’d help that no fan/critic/average movie goers expect the approach, if they did, that might be beneficial to the film as well, so it’s a win/win. As far as action is concerned with Jackal, its alllll good; he could be the best of both worlds from venom and green goblin. Fight/action scenes wouldn’t be an issue.
Secondly, you could construct the story so Justin Hammer (or a similar character if rights are an obstacle) and Dr. Miles Warren (Jackal), Empire State University biology professor. The Long time colleague of Dr. Curt Connors who also, of course works with good friend of Peter Parker, Eddie Brock as a student assistant. This would be, as far as Origins are concerned, an easy fix and an obstacle destroyer to get past flawed origins in order to allow for more “of the good stuff” as was aforementioned.
For example, Hammer and Miles could have worked with Norman Osborn and OsCorp on creating the super cocktail that eventually creates all, if not a great deal of, Spidey’s villains. As well as it did spidey himself in the past of course.
As the films progress, scribes could write in a bunch of really cleaver ways to bring the villains into an all very well constructed and packaged series of plots effecting Peter greatly through his Journey as Spiderman. The “blessing” that is the serum/toxin in which OsCorp, Hammer industries and Professor Warren all co-created, could produce any number of villains beyond Jackal himself, with any number of abilities under the right circumstances. While, if written well, lacking no repeat plotting as with each villain being completely original in there own right.
As a result you could get anything from symbioses, to the lizard, to sandman and electro. And I only use this method because the biggest problem spidey movies seem to have had in the past is the problem of, origin, where did this come from and why? The universal origin, if you will; or something like it would fix all of those issues, so the movie makers could; again, get to the actual characters, action and all that good stuff!
A very Fan Boyish Example: Were definitely going to need a high school fight scene; Preferably with a bunch of SHEILD agents raiding the place while spidey and Jackal battle it out like spidey and green goblin did in the earlier goings of Ultimate Spiderman. If SHEILD is another legal issue then use SWAT in there place. That one action scene could be, in my humble opinion, far more epic than all the other action scenes from the previous movie franchise. That one lone scene would be loved by me and more importantly, most, if not all the people who paid ten bucks for a ticket.
Note: My universal construction of the origins plot; would also allow Sony to have as many action/story progression scenarios they and everyone else want. As well as open up a series of gateways in rewriting a script.
Another Note:
Everyone, average movie goers and hard core comic fans alike would love and appreciate some well timed, well executed cameos from very small, lesser known villains, very brief, but sweet. A Boomerang cameo would fit perfectly in a crime fighting montage, full of that trade mark Spiderman sarcasm and comedic behavior.
Actor Casting/Opinions:
A lot of young actors could play the good old’, smart ass, wise cracking spidey; witch by the way is desperately needed in this reboot. Peter on the other hand, and a truly “teenage” Peter Parker at that, is a whole separate animal for any young actor to tackle.
In regards concerning the last Peter Parker (Toby Maguire) I’d just like to say:
Plenty of people loved him in Raimi’s films, as well as the actual films themselves. So did I, but in more ways than one, they didn’t really reflect the comics, even Peter Parker himself, more so than that, modern Spiderman and modern Parker.
An uber talented, up and coming actor that comes to mind for the role of Peter Parker is Aaron Johnson. He has great potential in filling the void and creating a more accepted, new to film, but more traditional to the modern comics, version of Peter Parker. I’m aware that he’s playing kick ass in the upcoming film adaptation, but he deserves an audition at the very least. I personally wouldn’t care that he’s currently playing kick ass and I doubt the movie going public would either. That being taking into consideration, if Johnson, were of course, like any actor, made to look like Parker in the film, its likely movie goers as well as the mainstream would accept him in the role, open armed. Most of the mainstream and any one who is or isn’t a comic book fan for that matter probably wouldn’t care, but love the fact that he’s playing both characters. I feel Johnson could easily fill Maguire’s boots in taking on the iconic character, but at the same time breath new life into it. I find his potential in the role is very exciting.
J. Jonah Jameson:
On another casting note, keep J.K Simmons as J.J
There’s probably going to be a little less of J.J through out these new films, at least there should be, as to help differentiate from the previous franchise.
But J.K Simmons is TO GOOD as J. Jonah Jameson to resist.
J.J: "Does anybody care what I want!?"
"…I do"
J.J: "Shut up!"
Sony should really consider bringing him back to the role. No one can play JJ like Simmons.
I would honestly be heartbroken if they didn’t bring back J.K Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.
Composing:
An example: Something like, a mix of Steve Jablonsky’s style of composing with a Bryan Tyler style for the lighter action and cheeky moments, then even a Hans Zimmer style for some of the more intense and desperate moments.
These various, high end, styles or something like it, need to be harmonized to make the films sound really pop and fit perfectly. Spiderman is such a layered character, so naturally he needs the sound to go with it all.
Well Sony/Marvel could quite easily snag a talented composer to interpret and adapt these types of styles into a perfect hybrid sound track for the film.
Criticism over reboot:
I’ve read and considered multiple fan comments/opinions online. This one for example: “I hope they don’t base this one on the ultimate Spiderman again, do the originals for once”
This particular comment certainly surprised me, as an avid reader of Brian Michael Bendis Ultimate Spiderman series. I instantly thought. Considering all of Sam Raimi’s film ideas are/were based almost entirely in the popular 1970's Spiderman works, this seemingly knowledgeable fan should have known better. The comment made me more aware of how some fans are terribly misinformed on the creative process of the original franchise. He had not a clue where the first franchise ideas and principle plot bases came from.
To help build this great new franchise, everyone involved in this project at Sony, needs to do there self a favor and read the ultimate Spiderman series. A totally modern Spiderman needs to be understood and implemented properly in the new franchise. Bendis book would help to benefit Sony’s developmental creative process greatly.
Its important to realize these last three films were nothing like the comics and by rebooting Sony/Marvel want to get back to just that, THE COMICS.
Creative team (writers, principal photography etc.):
Everything they want and could ever need for this movie lies again, in the ultimate Spiderman series. This brings me to my next point; Sony needs to take a huge step in Involving Brian Michael Bendis on the script.
Perhaps allowing him to co-rewrite the script with James Vanderbilt and maybe give the creative team from ultimate Spiderman’s recent history some form of input on visual design, even a slight input at that. Simply put, just get Bendis on it already, it would do no wrong.
Oh boy, they sure would be dumb not to. Please Sony/Marvel, prove me wrong. Heck, Prove us all wrong!
The Full Main Cast:
Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) as Peter Parker
Micheal Angarano (Forbidden Kingdom) as Harry Osborne
Amanda Seyfried (Jennifer's Body) as Gwen Stacy
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim) as Mary Jane Watson
John Malkovich as Dr. Miles Warren/Jackal
P.S: Help me spread these various reboot ideas, by copy and pasting this article, then posting through out the internet in various forums, articles and sites, like this regarding the reboot with hopes that Sony might catch wind of it, giving it a read. I realize how humble a thing this is and in all likely hood you’re saying to your self, its not going to make a difference. To you I say, No hurt in trying, its all for fun anyways.
Thanks for Reading, Sincerely
Amateur Writer, Jarren Hunt
Contact me by email if you’d like to inquire.
[email protected]
EDIT: Concerning recent comments regarding Jackal as the lead villain.
The article didn't say anything about clones. Jackal being the main villain, doesn't automatically mean clones are involved. I would never want a clone plot, however, there's more to Jackal than that.
It was another lesser known theme with Jackal in the past that he was responsible for certain villains coming about, its different in this because its indirect, but the theme is there. Its a bit of a reference to that.
All that being said, considering the lay out, you could easily replace/interchange Jackal in place of other spider man villains, with literally, little to no effect on the plot at large taking place.
An example, instead of Warren becoming Jackal, he could be working with Connors and end up partially/fully responsible for the lizards creation. It would also tie Lizard and spider mans origins together regarding the serum Warren helped create, witch to me, makes more sense than Lizards original origin.