In a recent interview with Movieline, the director reveals his grand plans for the franchise, why he choose Gwen Stacy, her fate, his plans to explore this new universe, and offcourse the elephant in the room, Norman Osborn and Oscorp.
Marc Webb confirms that the amazing Spider-Man will have sequels. Yes, not sequel, but sequels, with an “S”. He also highlights the importance of Oscorp in this universe. Which makes us think: will every villain in this universe have a relationship to Oscorp?
I wanted a universe that could sustain a larger story, and the broader arcs I worked out with Jamie Vanderbilt early on. Obviously you want the movie to work on its own, but because so many of these movies typically have sequels, I wanted us to do a little bit of groundwork that could pay off in later movies. The mystery that surrounds Peter Parker’s parents is the long shadow that’s cast over all of the story, and there’s a relationship between Peter’s parents and Norman Osborn, and Oscorp, all that stuff… so much of the story is in and around Oscorp; Oscorp is the place from which all crazy shit emerges in this universe, and I like that idea, that simple notion that this obelisk, this Tower of Babel, is like a splinter in the side of the universe. All of the stories come out of there.
For Gwen Stacy, here is the reasoning on why Gwen Stacy was chosen over Mary Jane, and on honoring the character’s tragic history from the comics. The question becomes: will Green Goblin do it or will it be in a different circumstance? Where would it fit? If this is indeed a trilogy, would it be better if it took place in the second or third movie? What do you guys think?
You have Mary Jane, and you have Gwen Stacy, and Gwen is very different than what we’ve seen before. One of the reasons why I wanted to use Gwen — first and foremost, she’s his first love in the comics. Let’s just set the record straight, it’s not Mary Jane. But I like the idea of following somebody who is as smart, if not smarter, than Peter Parker. And Emma Stone is the perfect woman to play somebody who is much more proactive, much more intelligent and feisty. I just like that dynamic in relationships in movies where they’re kind of lovers as rivals, you know? There’s this back and forth that I love, in the laboratory, and there’s just this great bond that you feel between them.
For those people who are familiar with Gwen’s fate in the comics, the depth and pull of their emotions makes it even more bittersweet. You even include a shot in the film in which Peter throws her out of a window that seems like foreshadowing of a sort…
[Laughs] Well, we’ll have to see. It’s a very controversial part of the comics, but let me tell you, I’m a fan of the comics.But Gwen’s story is kind of one of those things, among other developments and plot specifics, that you kind of have to stay faithful to canon on. Right?
Honor, yes. I mean, Marvel has certain hard and fast rules, like about the spider bite — you have to have Peter get bitten by a radioactive spider, and Uncle Ben’s death has to transform Peter Parker into Spider-Man, you know what I mean? He has to learn a lesson by that. But I’m trying to find new inflections and new context so that the story feels new. Because I do think the character is different; you want to honor the iconic elements of Spider-Man but you also want to reinvent the world around him so that it feels interesting and new, and that’s a tricky line to walk.
And finally, the post credit scene. Looks like he’s not gonna give it away!
Would you identify the shadowy figure we see visiting Connors in his jail cell?
Nope!Is it a familiar character to the Marvel universe?
I invite your speculation. [Laughs] How can I give that away? I’m sure the internet will provide a lot of interesting ideas. You can choose which one you want.
If you want the full interview, head on to Movieline.
