Box Office Goss

With Clint Morris

Chewing the fat with Spiderman director Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi, Willem Dafoe, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are in Australia this week promoting Spiderman.

I had a chat to Director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, The Gift) about his latest role, that of the director of the year's biggest movie. Expect a more detailed interview closer to release, but here's the guts of today's conversation: Stan Lee DIDNT get cut from Spiderman, Bruce Campbell has agreed to be in Spiderman 2, the Twin Towers are still up and EVIL DEAD 4 will be Sam Raimi's first post-Spiderman movie..... HOW DO I KNOW? I just interviewed Spiderman Director Sam Raimi here in Australia. Here's the guts of it.

Sam, Why Spiderman?

Well I’ve always been a comic book fan, especially Spiderman. The illustrations and the story, in particular, was what attracted me to it. I think what is good about Spiderman is that he’s a normal kid. Like I was. And it’s great how he can make fun of the villains. But as a movie, I never thought it was going to make a lot of money, but now it’s clear that it’s got to make some. Out of interest, people will come and see it.

Why did you choose Tobey Maguire to play Spiderman?

We’ll I think we looked at tapes of nearly every 17 to 24-year-old male. But I stopped when I saw Tobey. He was real, He was grounded and that’s what Spiderman is he is a real kid. He was perfect. I saw him in Cider House Rules, which was just so real and he was fantastic, so I cast him.

So do you consider Spiderman your first blockbuster?

Yes. None of my movies have ever made money. But with Spiderman I decided to follow the character and make a good flick out of it – and those that have followed Spiderman will definitely come.

Did the story get changed a few times?

Absolutely. David Koepp who had wrote the first script had a piece with the two villains being Elektra and the Sandman, I think they were leftovers from James Cameron’s treatment – which I like to call a ‘scriptment’. It was an 80-page treatment with these characters, but the thing is these characters weren’t my favorite. My favorite was actually the death of Gwen Stacey. Thing is, I didn’t particularly like the Gwen Stacey character, I liked the element of it, but liked Mary Jane Watson and The Green Goblin. I also tried to put Doctor Octavious in there, but we couldn’t do it justice. Having multiple-storyline arcs just didn’t work, so we decided to stick on just having the one villain and make it a deeper story.

Bruce Campbell’s got a cameo in Spiderman?

Bruce is a bit player, yeah. He’s a wrestling arena coach. He’s so funny, and a good friend.

The film you and Bruce did, Evil Dead, did that change everything for you?

Yes, Evil Dead changed everything. My partners, Robert Tapel and Bruce set out to do a movie for the Drive-Ins. We would go past the drive-ins and see that the movies showing were cheap B-grade horror films, and that’s essentially what we wanted to make. So we raised money and made our low-budget horror movie. I never expected it to get to where the film is today.

Are you sick of being asked about Evil Dead 4?

Nah. Because I’d like to do it now. Bruce Campbell is just the best, and they are so funny to do. I like horror movies, and with Bruce, they are just the biggest fun.

Spiderman 2 then?

I’ve just signed on to do Spiderman 2 actually. We haven’t yet got a story so I haven’t actually thought about what actors I’ll use though. I love Spiderman. I’m into him. And Bruce Campbell will have a role in Spiderman 2 as well.

You had to change the teaser trailer for Spiderman after September 11 but did this affect the movie?

My 2nd unit director shot some great stuff for the teaser. It was the bit where Spiderman tangled the crooks in the snagged helicopter and weaves a web for them between the Trade towers. I was hoping to use it in the movie, but I didn’t feel it was appropriate after September 11. I did however keep every other scene of The Twin Towers in the movie.

Stan Lee had a cameo – but I hear it was cut?

Stan Lee’s cameo is still in. It’s a brief cameo at Times Square, behind the villains. You can see him in the corner of the screen. Just for a moment.

Would you do another superhero movie?

Actor Kerr Smith recently suggested to me that they do a big-screen version of The Green Lantern? I have no idea why comic book movies are so hot at the moment. I think after doing the Spiderman movies I’ll do something different, and perhaps it will be Evil Dead 4. I always liked The Green Lantern though, that’s a good idea. The core of the Green Lantern is so universal. Yeah.

And have you tried any Aussie Beer while you are here?

No. I’ve tried Wine. Shiraz. It’s great, incredible. We actually have it in California and the US now, it’s excellent. As for beer what should I drink? (I begin to explain to him the cool refreshing comfort of a stubby of Carlton Cold). Ok, I’ll have one of those over lunch.

Done

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