With the current explosion of comic book and superhero films, it's important to look back at the ones that started it all. That's what we're doing with this list of Spider-Man movie trivia. These Spider-Man facts concern the Tobey Maguire Spidey, not the reboot versions. Because before Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures unleashed the Spider-Man movies and changed blockbuster cinema forever.
Spider-Man illustrated just why fans love the character. He was the underdog, he was our underdog. Spider-Man helps us all understand what it's like to be a hero, and the movie helped us feel what it's like to be Spider-Man. Back in 2002 there was nothing quite like that rush of swinging around like Spider-Man.
Then Spider-Man 2 came out in 2004 and blew our minds all over again! It broke many of its predecessor's box office records and was even more revered by fans and critics. To this day it's still regarded as one of the best superhero movies all time. Spider-Man 3, well that's another story, but we have plenty of info in the list about all of that as well.
So take a look back at one of the greatest superheroes of all time in one of the franchises that started it all. These are 33 fun facts about Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy! Vote up your favorite bits of webslinging trivia!
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Chris Cooper was Almost in Spider-Man 2 Before he was in Amazing Spider-Man 2
Chris Cooper was considered for the role of Dr. Octopus. A Decade later, he was cast as Norman Osborn in the The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Source: IMDb
Spider-Man 2 Includes a Doctor Strange Easter Egg
In the second film the main villain is nearly given a name that ends up being dropped once again (In the first film they referred to the Green Goblin as Green Meanie). This time "Science Squid" and "Doctor Strange" are the two suggested names. When the latter is suggested, J. Jonah Jameson admits that he likes it, but states that it's already been taken.
Doctor Strange you guys! In 2004!
They Had to Audition Spiders for the First Film
They literally held spider auditions. Director Sam Raimi wanted the perfect spider for the moment where Peter Parker receives the initial bite, but the spider that most resembled Raimi’s vision was a black widow. It would obviously be too dangerous to use a real black widow, so entomologist Steven Kutcher brought in spiders to “audition” for Raimi. Eventually, they found a spider that looked just right to play the part.
There was just one problem: the color. The solution: makeup. Raimi explained that he wanted the scene to look as realistic as possible, and CGI just wasn't up to snuff then. So they went Rocky Horror on the spider instead, painting it with red and blue accents.
Source: National Geographic
The Thanksgiving Scene Is Color-Coded
During the Thanksgiving dinner scene, both Peter Parker and Norman Osborn wore their enemy’s costume colors. (Peter in green and Norman in red and blue) Harry Osborn, showing his neutrality to that point, being friends with Peter and his father's loyal son, wore both sets of colors: a green shirt, blue coat, and red tie.
The Joker and Harry Osborn Were Both Considered for Spider-Man
Sony expressed interest in a number of promising young actors to play Peter Parker. Freddie Prinze Jr., Chris Klein, Wes Bentley, and Heath Ledger were all in the running. Heath turned it down because he wasn't into superhero films and didn't want to take someone else's dream. Raimi joked of Prinze that "[he] won't even be allowed to buy a ticket to see this film." In addition, actors Scott Speedman and James Franco screen tested for the lead role. Franco was eventually cast as Harry Osborn instead.
Source: Marvel Wikia
Stan Lee Was Making Cameos Even Back Then
In the first film, Spider-Man's co-creator Stan Lee saves a woman from falling debris. In the second film he saves someone yet again. Finally, in the third film (pictured) Stan Lee makes an appearance as the man who tells Peter how great Spider-Man is.
Source: Marvel Wikia
Kirsten Dunst and Bryce Dallas Howard Swapped Hair Colors
Kirsten Dunst, a natural blonde, played the iconic redhead Mary Jane. In Spider-Man 3 she stars opposite Bryce Dallas Howard, a natural redhead, playing the very blonde Gwen Stacy.
Years later in the Amazing Spider-Man franchise, Emma Stone, a natural blonde whose more well known for being a redhead, played the blonde Gwen Stacy.
We Almost Saw Our First Marvel Crossover Way Back in 2002
Hugh Jackman revealed that he was supposed to have a brief cameo as Wolverine in the first Spider-Man! Jackman actually went all the way to New York to film the scene, but the plan was scrapped when the crew couldn't gain access to Wolverine's costume. How cool would that have been?
Source: Huffington Post
Jake Gyllenhaal Almost Became Spider-Man with Spider-Man 2
Tobey Maguire almost had to pull out of Spider-Man 2 entirely due to back pain after suffering an injury on Seabiscuit. At one point, the studio had Jake Gyllenhaal on standby to take the part. The whole situation was rumored to have made early shooting on the movie somewhat uncomfortable, as Kirsten Dunst was dating Gyllenhaal at the time, but the actors were eventually able to put the whole mess behind them.
Maguire's back problems were even referenced in the film itself. When Peter Parker tries to leap off of a building shouting, "I'm back! I'm back!" before falling to the ground. He winces as he stands, saying, "My back! My back!"
Source: People
When Peter Catches Everything on the Lunch Tray, That's All Tobey Maguire
The scene where Peter Parker catches Mary Jane's lunch on the tray involved no CGI. With the help of an adhesive to keep the tray stuck to his hand, Tobey Maguire eventually (after many takes) performed the stunt as seen on screen.
Source: IMDb