Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 superhero film that is the third film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. Sam Raimi, who directed the previous two Spider-Man films, takes up the helm again with a returning cast that includes Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and J. K. Simmons. The film also stars franchise newcomers Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard and Thomas Haden Church.[1] Spider-Man 3 is scheduled to be released in both conventional and IMAX theaters on May 4, 2007.[2]

Contents [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast and characters
2.1 Cameos
3 Spider-Man's villains
3.1 Harry Osborn
3.2 Venom
3.3 Sandman
4 Production
4.1 Budget
4.2 Filming
4.3 Visual effects
4.4 Film score
5 Promotion
5.1 Footage
5.2 Posters
6 Merchandise
6.1 Video game
6.2 Books
6.3 Toys
7 Sequel
8 References
9 External links



[edit] Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Peter Parker basks in the spotlight with his public success as his superhero alter ego, Spider-Man. Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy pursue Parker for his affections, and Parker begins to grow overconfident, neglecting those who care for him.[3] When the police tell Parker and his aunt that new evidence shows Sandman as being responsible for killing Uncle Ben, Parker goes after the alleged perpetrator personally.[4] As Spider-Man, he battles Sandman and his former friend Harry Osborn.[5] During this time, astronaut John Jameson brings back an "alien life force" to Earth with him.[6] The force forms a symbiotic relationship with Peter's costume, influencing his behavior for the worse. As a result, Spider-Man has to fight the villain within, until he finally tears the symbiote from his body.[7] After parting from Spider-Man, the symbiote finds a new host in Eddie Brock, Junior, and the resulting merger creates Venom.[8]

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Cast and characters
Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker / Spider-Man: Peter Parker is a photographer for the Daily Bugle and leads a double life as the superhero Spider-Man, protecting New York City from crime.
Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson: Mary Jane Watson is Peter Parker's on-and-off love interest with aspirations to act. She is one of the few who knows that Parker is Spider-Man.
James Franco as Harry Osborn: Harry Osborn, the son of Norman Osborn, is Peter Parker's former best friend who believes that Spider-Man murdered his father. After learning Peter Parker is Spider-Man, Harry targets his former friend directly, seeking revenge.
Topher Grace as Eddie Brock, Jr. / Venom: Eddie Brock, Jr. is a photographer at the Daily Bugle who has grown increasingly venomous toward Peter Parker, who beats Brock to photography gigs and has attracted the attention of Brock's girl, Gwen Stacy.[6]
Thomas Haden Church as Flint Marko / Sandman: Flint Marko is a small-time thug who has a wife and daughter.[9] An accident gives him the ability to change his body into malleable sand, transforming him into Sandman.[6] He is now believed to be the person responsible for Uncle Ben's death.[4]
Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy: The daughter of a police captain, Gwen Stacy competes with Mary Jane Watson for Peter Parker's love, despite Eddie Brock, Jr's feelings for her.
Dylan Baker[10] as Dr. Curt Connors: Dr. Curt Connors is a college professor under whom Peter Parker studied and with whom he has maintained a good friendship.
Rosemary Harris as May Parker: May Parker is the aunt of Peter Parker and the widow of Ben Parker, Peter's uncle. She is unaware of her nephew's vigilante role in protecting New York City as Spider-Man.
J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson: J. Jonah Jameson is the chief of the Daily Bugle who carries a personal vendetta against Spider-Man, who he considers a criminal.
Daniel Gillies[11] as John Jameson: The son of J. Jonah Jameson, John Jameson is an astronaut who was left at the wedding altar by Mary Jane Watson. He brings back the symbiote with him to Earth from outer space.[6]
Bill Nunn as Joseph "Robbie" Robertson: "Robbie" Robertson is an employee of the Daily Bugle and friend to many of his coworkers. He believes in Spider-Man despite his boss's resentments about the vigilante superhero.
Ted Raimi as Hoffman: Hoffman is an employee of the Daily Bugle who is frequently harassed by his boss, J. Jonah Jameson.
James Cromwell[12] as Captain George Stacy: George Stacy is a police captain and father of Gwen Stacy. He shares the news with Peter and May Parker that new evidence indicates that Flint Marko killed Uncle Ben.[4]
Elizabeth Banks[13] as Betty Brant: Betty Brant is the secretary to J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle.
Cliff Robertson as Benjamin "Ben" Parker: Believed to have been killed by a carjacker, Uncle Ben was the husband to May Parker and uncle of Peter Parker. Spider-Man lives by Ben's words: "With great power comes great responsibility." The police find new evidence that indicates that Flint Marko, not the carjacker, had killed Uncle Ben.[4]
Tim DeZarn as Philip Watson: Philip Watson is the abusive father of Mary Jane Watson.
Michael Papajohn as Carjacker: The carjacker is a criminal who was thought to have killed Peter Parker's Uncle Ben in the first film, though new evidence suggests someone else murdered Ben Parker.[4]
Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn: Norman appears to Harry for a second time after his death.[14]

[edit] Cameos
Stan Lee has a cameo in Spider-Man 3, as he did in the previous Spider-Man films.[15] Unlike his previous Spider-Man cameos, he has dialogue with Peter Parker in his cameo for this film. Lee has referred to it as his "best cameo" in an interview.[16]
Bruce Campbell, who has had cameo roles as a wrestling ring announcer in Spider-Man and as a rude usher in Spider-Man 2, returns in Spider-Man 3 with a new cameo.[17]

[edit] Spider-Man's villains

[edit] Harry Osborn
See also: Harry Osborn's film history

James Franco as Harry Osborn, in his special suitFollowing the events of Spider-Man, Harry Osborn blames Spider-Man for the death of his father Norman Osborn. In Spider-Man 2, Harry negotiates with Doctor Octopus to have Spider-Man delivered to him. Upon discovering that his best friend Peter Parker was under Spider-Man's disguise at the end of Spider-Man 2, Osborn recoils in shock and eventually stumbles across his father's hidden lair, in which all his father's Green Goblin gear was kept. Though Harry takes up his father's mantle as the Green Goblin in most comic book adaptations, director Sam Raimi stated at Comic-Con 2006 that Harry Osborn would not be the Green Goblin or the Hobgoblin (as he became in the Ultimate Marvel comics continuity), but instead "somewhere between" the two. Raimi also said that Harry's storyline would conclude with Spider-Man 3.[18] However, before filming Raimi has said before he was unsure of whether or not Harry would truly follow his father's legacy, and the persona may even be called "Night Surfer".[6]


[edit] Venom
See also: Venom's film history

Topher Grace as Eddie Brock, Jr.Originally, director Sam Raimi had opposed the inclusion of the villain Venom in Spider-Man 3 due to his "lack of humanity".[19] Marvel producer Avi Arad convinced Raimi to reconsider, informing the director that Venom had a strong fan base. As Raimi included Venom in Spider-Man 3, the director began to appreciate the character that Venom had become, based on Alvin Sargent's script treatment and Topher Grace's performance.[20] At Comic-Con 2006, Venom was described to be based on "an amalgamation of Venom stories". Eddie Brock, Jr., Venom's human host, serves as a mirror to Peter Parker in having similar employment and romantic interests. Grace's character was revealed to differ from Parker in having a "terrible childhood".[19]


The symbiote envelops Eddie inside a churchTopher Grace was first announced in May 2005 to join the cast of Spider-Man 3, though his character was not revealed until later.[21] While the appearance of Topher Grace as Venom in Spider-Man 3 was officially confirmed at Comic-Con 2006, Kirsten Dunst had originally revealed the news at a September 2005 press conference for Elizabethtown.[22] Prior to Dunst's statement, production photos had shown Topher Grace carrying a camera during shooting scenes.

Venom was first showcased at Comic-Con 2006 in San Diego when the studio showed incomplete footage of the film to Spider-Man fans.[23] On November 23, 2006, Sony showed a brief glimpse of Venom as part of a collection of Spider-Man 3 sneak peek clips, which aired during FOX's television premiere broadcast of Spider-Man 2.[24]


[edit] Sandman
See also: Sandman's film history

Thomas Haden Church as SandmanTobey Maguire had first expressed interest in battling Sandman (alias Flint Marko) in 2004.[25] Thomas Haden Church was first revealed to be playing the character by Kirsten Dunst in a September 2005 press conference for Elizabethtown.[22] Church's role as Sandman was later confirmed, first by pictures released by Sony and again by the teaser trailer released for the film. Church revealed in an August 2006 interview that the studio approached him for the role of Sandman after Church's award-winning performance in Sideways. Church also said that the film's Sandman was a villain with more depth than the character from the comics, and that Sandman's issues brought him into conflict with Spider-Man.[26]


Spider-Man punching through SandmanTo portray Sandman, Church worked out for 16 months to improve his physique for the role.[27] For scenes involving visual effects, Church was super-imposed onto the screen, where computer-generated imagery was then applied.[26] In a fight where Spider-Man punches through Sandman's chest, congenital amputee boxer Baxter Humby took Tobey Maguire's place in filming the scene. Humby, who was born without his right hand, helped deliver the intended effect of punching through Sandman's chest.[28]


[edit] Production

[edit] Budget
Reportedly, the film's budget is $250 million, which would make it the most expensive film ever made in nominal U.S. dollars, breaking King Kong's budget record of $207 million. It would also be third, in adjusted dollars, to War and Peace's budget of $560 million.[29]


[edit]