Spider-Man Has Back Problems

skantman writes "Potentially sad news for Spiderfans. Tobey Maguire has back problems and may have to pull out of the Spider-Man sequel." Since the film was apparently slated to pay him 11M GBP, sucks to be him just as much as us if he doesn't play the part. CT Updated, thats 11M pounds, not USD.

No Big Deal

[Drunken Coward]

The linked article says Jake Gyllenhaal [imdb.com] has been lined-up as a possible replacement. While he was previously typecast into creepy character roles (Donnie Darko and The Good Girl), he proved in Moonlight Mile that he is a thousand times the actor of Tobey Maguire. Not that I wish any suffering on Maguire, but I do believe the sequel would be better off without him.

Replacement

[brood]

The guy they've got up to replace him is Kirsten Dunst's current boyfriend [imdb.com]. You might know him as the star of that movie Bubble Boy [imdb.com].

What the big deal?

[srboneidle]

I quite like it when they change the actor in series of movies - it adds a bit of variety. It doesn't detract from the movie itself (if the actors chosen are up to the challenge of course).

Take James Bond - does it really matter that Sean Connery doesn't play the lead in all of them? Some of the 'James Bonds' have been better than others, but still fun nonetheless.

Having said that though, I wouldn't want to lose £11 million either...

Re:Please say it ain't so!!

[samhalliday]

and was it not a nuclear power plant he went to in the comic, and got bitten by a nuked-spider; in the film the class went to a superspider-making factory

which leaves wide-open the possibility of new spidermen since not only did the spider run away... but they also know how to make the same spider again

other than that, i agree... it was pretty true to the cominc, relatively speaking of course (cartoon example: He-Man... uuughh!)

Publicity stunt...?

[Glove d'OJ]

I wonder if this is actual "news" or simply a poorly-disguised press release. If it is the latter, then I think that they succeded at generating a "buzz" around the upcoming Spiderman movie.

(fly-pun not intended, but I am claiming it.)

Re:No Big Deal

[RazzleFrog]

I totally agree. Jake Gyllenhaal is ten times the actor of Tobey Maguire. When my girlfriend and I watched Spiderman the first time it was right after watching the Good Girl and we immediately said that he would have been a better casting. I think having a slighlty darker Spiderman would improve the series.

Re:Please say it ain't so!!

[operagost]

I didn't understand that change myself. It killed his geek factor. The fact that he built his own webshooter in the comics showed he was smart and creative instead of just nerdily unpopular.

Re:No Big Deal

[Jens_UK]

As Wes Bentley [imdb.com] was up for the role originally [upcomingmovies.com], this may be his shot. Based on his performance in American Beauty [imdb.com], it could be a darker, less happy-go-lucky Spiderman, which I would enjoy.

Digital Stunt double -- what's the issue?

[Anonymous Coward]

With all the digital stunt doubles used in Spider-man and Daredevil -- just what exactly will Tobey being doing in the movies??

And his face is totally covered with the Spidey costume... get a real human double for other action scenes.

Wheel out Tobey for the Peter Parker scene and all will be fine.

Poor baby!

[Junks Jerzey]

sucks to be him just as much as us if he doesn't play the part.

Yeah, it's not like he doesn't have 10+ million in the bank right now...oh, wait, he does. Never mind.

Re:Please say it ain't so!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I believe that Stan Lee originally wanted to give spiderman organic web shooters in the comic but that idea was rejected because it was "unbelievable". I believe that Stan Lee wanted to correct that point in the movie, I recall an interview somewhere but it escapes me.

Re:Publicity stunt...?

[Sanga]

I think you are right on the money.

Am I the only one that does not like Mr. Macguire? I found him wanting in SpiderMan and in Cider House Rules -- there was something missing, dunno what. John Irving's Homer was a boy who grew into a man: I did not see that in the movie. Even with a naked Charlize Theron on the bed, he could not convince me that he was passionate about her.

This makes me appreciate the Matrix folks!

[Zathras11]

During training for the first film, Hugo
Weaving was discovered to have some kind
of tumor in his hip (I believe) which
required surgery. In addition, Keanu
Reeves was coming off of neck surgery.
Come on Tobey, suck it up dude!

Re:Doesn't he do yoga and eat vegetarian?

[henele]

There is also the issue of how he bulked up for the Spidey role... He put on quite a bit of wieght for the part and if you rush that kind of development it can be bad for you...

Bah!

[An Onerous Coward]

You're one of those people who said "for twenty-two-million, *I'd* get into the ring with Mike Tyson." The fact is, nobody would be willing to pay $22M to see you or me box with Mike Tyson, or even whatever greatly reduced sum his opponents are drawing these days.

Same goes for someone like Toby McGwire. I would be happy to do a movie for $11M pounds. I'd go through back pains, and possibly even severe risk to my future health, for that kind of money. But a big time actor knows what kind of money he or she can draw, and $11M for a movie (especially one that could knock McGwire out of three or four others) might not be the best use of his time.

I thought he did a terrific job in the first movie, and I hope he can swing the sequel. *ducks*