Spider-Man 3 Villains: Sandman & Venom 412
datemenatalie writes "As posted on ComingSoon.net, "Kirsten Dunst confirmed rumors to Zap2it that Thomas Haden Church will play Sandman and Topher Grace is Venom in director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3." As written, ""We have really great people though as the villains in this film, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace -- Venom and Sandman," said Dunst, who plays Mary Jane Watson in the Spidey films. "Maybe I wasn't supposed to say that," she added before reversing her claim. "It's the other way around. You're right," she conceded to a journalist." Spider-Man 3 is set for release on May 4, 2007."
Venom (Score:5, Funny)
"I'd take over the city right now...but I have to stop at CVS for Clearasil first"
Bad news (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Bad news (Score:3, Funny)
But nothing compares to the sheer mind-boggling awfulness that was Showgirls.
A movie so bad that naked boobs couldn't even save it!
Re:Bad news (Score:3, Funny)
Hating Showgirls is like hating electricity or modern sanitation!
Re:Bad news (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Re:Bad news (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Bad news (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
In conventional superhero films with multiple villians, the villians are usually seperate subplots, and the hero's just have sidekicks who get a subplot in their relation to the hero.
Re:Bad news (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, I think the orgnial point is a specific case of a general rule: A movie can have no more than two-three main characters, before it starts to suck. This is in essence based on the fact that it takes some screen time to devlop a character, and there is only so much time in a movie. So, any time you have more than two or three main characters you end up underdeveloping one or all of them. If you underdevelop one, they are no longer a main character. If you underdevelop all, your movie just became trash.
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Yes, but you can always do like they just did in Battlestar Galaga (sic) and throw up a "to be continued."
Actually, they sort of did that in Matrix. Never mind.
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
While we don't get new episodes until January, I'm glad they the cast and crew got the break they deserved (they are back at work now filming the next episodes).
Re:"2-3 main characters, before it starts to suck" (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Bad news (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
I've never seen anything worse.. Saw it at a screening in OC, then found the DVD in the $5 bin at WalMart so I -had- to get it and put my friends through it too. A movie so bad Jamie Pressley couldn't save it.
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
The "multiple big names" in question consist of a guy who's probably still best known from a T.V. show in the early nineties and some other guy from a TV show. They've both turned in great performances in other roles, but they're hardly "big names."
Batman and Robin had Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwartzeneggar. I really don't think Sam Raimi's going down that path at all.
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Re:Bad news (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Re:Bad news (Score:4, Interesting)
Moreover, even a Spidey-flick optimist has be curious about what Dunst meant by "though"...
Re:Bad news (Score:5, Interesting)
I like to think that's why they cast the likes of Thomas Hayden Church and Topher Grace in these roles. Though both are well-recognized, neither really has the amount of star power where they could do any real damage. I mean, have you seen the typse of roles Thomas Hayden Church has taken lately? George of the Jungle 2? Rolling Kansas? And Topher Grace is still most recognized as the guy from That 70's Show.
Not that I fully agree with the casting, but I do think they are pulling from the right echelon of actors - underappreciated veterans for whom a role like this can be a huge step for. I certainly wouldn't cast anyone along the likes of Schwarzeneger (too lazy to look up the spelling) or Jim Carey or Tommy Lee Jones.
Re:Bad news (Score:2)
Old & incomplete news. (Score:5, Informative)
Old news...Digg [digg.com]reported this two and a half weeks ago [digg.com]. Also, in addition to Venom and Sandman, the Hobgoblin will be played by James Franco (see Freeze Dried Movies [freezedriedmovies.com] for the scoop).
James Franco as Hobgoblin looks to be a good call, and Thomas Hayden Church is a lock for Sandman, but Topher Grace as Venom??? Seriously...I think Grace is a decent enough actor, but can he pull off Eddie Brock? Personally, I think he would have been better cast as Cletus Kasady (aka Carnage [alaph.com]).
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:2, Funny)
Seriously, that's as lame as having a goofy nerd like Toby McGuire as Spider-... er, damn.
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:3, Informative)
Seriously, that's as lame as having a goofy nerd like Toby McGuire as Spider-... er, damn.
Spider-Man was a goofy nerd from the very start. Have you been paying attention?
Pic Comparison (Score:2)
Venom [alaph.com] Is supposed to weigh 260 pounds there's no way in hell Topher can fit that role.
A Picture of Venom [alaph.com] compared to a Picture of Topher [imdb.com]
Re:Pic Comparison (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:2)
Seriously...I think Grace is a decent enough actor, but can he pull off Eddie Brock?
I had the same initial reaction but remember, there are two Eddie Brocks. There's weightlifter psycho Brock (Amazing Spiderman) and there's childhood friend Brock (Ultimate Spiderman).
As much as I love the former, the Ultimate Spiderman series has proved that good, careful storytelling can really elevate the comic book medium above it's peers. The Ultimate Venom storyline seems to me to a lot more fertile ground from whi
Self-referentiality (Score:2)
Ultimate Spiderman venom version. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:3, Informative)
From the article on Freeze Drided Movies [freezedriedmovies.com]:
Don't know why I post links to articles if noone's gonna read 'em...
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:2)
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:2)
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:2)
I was actually pretty impressed that he got the lead role in both Spiderman and Lord of the Rings until I found out.
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:4, Funny)
You mean they're not?
I thought it was like Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro - one guy who uses multiple names for tax purposes.
Re:Old & incomplete news. (Score:3, Funny)
That's actually true...remember the movie "Heat" they starred in together? All done with mirrors, I swear.
Geez.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, I can see Topher being absolutely evil in the role of Venom, with just enough humor to be scary.
I never understood what Sandman's story was...anyone care to enlighten me?
Re:Geez.... (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.alaph.com/spiderman/enemies/sandman.ht
Re:Geez.... (Score:2)
I thought they meant Neil Gaiman's Sandman.
This Sandman looks stupid.
Re:Geez.... (Score:2)
Re:Geez.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Geez.... (Score:3, Informative)
The Ultimate Universe version has a less silly origin as a failed attempt at making a super soldier by OsCorp. That version seems more dangerous as well.
Re:Geez.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Venom = Eddie Brock = Psycho ex journalist, built like a linebacker, competition-level power-lifter.
Venom wasn't just some evil version of spiderman, he was better than spiderman - stronger, faster, able to beat his spidey-sense.
Worst. Casting. Ever.
Re:Geez.... (Score:2)
You think casting is a problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Classic vs. Ultimate (Score:2)
Venom wasn't just some evil version of spiderman, he was better than spiderman - stronger, faster, able to beat his spidey-sense.
That's only if you're talking about the classic character. In the Ultimate series, Eddie was about Peter's age, son of a colleague of Peter's father. And really, I think that's going to be closer to how we're going to get this because we don't really have enough time to explain "
Re:Geez.... (Score:2)
Re:Geez.... (Score:2)
WTF????! OK, I was excited to hear about Thomas Hayden Church... he's a dead ringer for Eddy Brock. I think they must have it mixed up. Of course, since the Venom character was a combination of Brock and an alien 'suit' that wants to kill Spidey for rejectin
In related news... (Score:5, Funny)
Or maybe (Score:2)
Mighty Morphin' Evil Duo (Score:5, Funny)
Venom and Sandman?!?! (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Venom and Sandman?!?! (Score:3, Interesting)
Venom AND Sandman? (Score:2)
Re:Venom AND Sandman? (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, but what I want to know is, are the villians great?
Red (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Red (Score:2)
Super dumbass.
Re:Red (Score:2)
I'm not sure an asshat is imposing for a villian, though.
Before reversing her claim... (Score:5, Funny)
If you read carefully, you will realize that what she really means is that she will be playing Sandman, Thomas Haden will be playing Venom, and Topher will be playing Mary Jane. I might just pay for this one as they will finally have a sexy Mary Jane. Dunst just never did it for me.
Mary Jane Watson (Score:5, Insightful)
It should say: Dunst who plays Kirsten Dunst in every film that she has ever done.
She's perky but that's not acting.
Mmm... perky (Score:2)
I'm afraid that's not glue [elmers.com]....
And with that... (Score:4, Insightful)
Stuffing 2 or 3 villians in with no time to develop the characters, especially the Venom character is the dumbest idea ever. Didn't they watch the Batman movies after the first one?
Re:And with that... (Score:2)
Yeah, you mean like Batman Begins? The most recent one? The one that not only chronicled Batman's origin, but also included villains Ra's Al Ghul, Scarecrow, and, to a lesser extent, mob boss Carmine Falcone, and ended up being the best Batman movie yet?
More villains does not mean worse movie. Sloppy/cheesy Burton and espec
Re:And with that... (Score:5, Funny)
Did anyone?
Any guy can play Venom... (Score:2, Insightful)
In the comics, Venom is composed of an alien symbiotic suit and the person, Eddie Brock. The Venom persona does look very muscular, but I think the alien symbiote would have a great part in giving Venom his menacing form.
My theory is that in the movie, Topher Grace will get "beefed-up" by the alien symbiotic suit.
Re:Any guy can play Venom... (Score:2)
I bet it's another Oscorp 'innovation'.
Topher Who? All I care about is Campbell. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Topher Who? All I care about is Campbell. (Score:2)
Re:Topher Who? All I care about is Campbell. (Score:2)
I like the fact that you say that as though it's really really hard. "Raimi still manages to get [Campbell] into his movies." Now, do you think it would be hard because Campbell is so busy that he would normally refuse a part in a huge blockbuster?
Or do you mean to imply that it'd be hard to slip him past the security guards who've been ordered to keep him off th
Re:Topher Who? All I care about is Campbell. (Score:2, Insightful)
Clearly, you don't get the joke. (Score:5, Interesting)
Topher Grace was (strongly rumored) to replace Tobey Maguire for Spiderman 2, due to injuries Maguire suffered during the shooting of Seabiscuit.
There were a few refs to it on That '70s Show as well.
(hey, I don't do unemployment that well
Damn, I have to see it now (Score:2, Funny)
Kirsten Dunst (Score:5, Insightful)
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php?date=2004-07
Re:Kirsten Dunst (Score:2)
Re:Kirsten Dunst (Score:2)
Ok, seriously, I just wanted an excuse to post that link because I love the expression on Gabe's face in the last panel
I smell a controlled leak (Score:2)
That should read, "Kirsten Dunst was told by the movie's publicity firm to accidentally confirm..."
Folks- the only thing actors do independently is get arrested for DUI or drug posession. Everything else, they're told to do by their publicist or the publicist for the movie/studio.
Re:I smell a controlled leak (Score:2)
Sounds like they're doing Ultimate Venom (Score:5, Informative)
It doesn't mean Venom will have a big role... (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm actually surprised that there has been no mention of the new Goblin or Lizard Man especially after being set up by Spidey 2. In any case, just because it's said that Topher Grace is in the movie, it doesn't mean he will have a huge role (yet).
Re:It doesn't mean Venom will have a big role... (Score:3, Interesting)
Rather than the F4 angle, they could use Doc Connor to help Spidey remove the symbiant in SM3. During that scene they could drop a hint about Connor's research on lizard regeneration, keeping the threa
Sam, please don't submit to the market-droids! (Score:2)
Sure! But no one will want to see the frickin' movie. The plot will have holes. Motivations will be murky. No one will care about the characters.
Just tell a damn good story and the money will take care of itself. Leave the over-the-top merchandizing and box office flops to Disney. They're the masters of that.
One "actor" we know will be in it (Score:2, Interesting)
For those of you who don't know, the car appears in pretty much everything Raimi does. It was in the Evil Dead movies (though a "stunt double" was used for some parts). In Spiderman 1, Peter's grandfather drove it when he dropped him off for the library / wrestling event. I haven't seen Spiderman 2, so I don't know where it appears in that.
Re:One "actor" we know will be in it (Score:3, Informative)
It'll be different but good (Score:3, Informative)
As far as the Sandman thing goes, aleph.com says that spiderman and sandman were allies. What if they make it so that you have a Spiderman & Sandman vs. Hobgoblin & Venom?
Another thing I always wanted to see in these movies is have a villian come out of nowhere, trash the city a bit, and then have Spiderman come in and beat the snot out of him in 5 minutes flat. And have all that as the opening of the movie. Why do the battles have to last for 10 minutes with Spiderman almost dieing each time. If he's smart at all, he should have way more experience at the whole superpower thing by now.
Anyway, that's my two cents.
Thomas Haden Church?! Spidey the new Batman? (Score:2)
With that said, i like Thomas Haden Church. Just dont want to see him as the sandman... cause its not going to be beleivable.
Ultimate Spider-Man (Score:2)
Ultimate Venom Not 616 Venom (Score:3, Interesting)
I'll think this is even more likely if the Venom from the new Ultimate Spiderman game turns out to have the same Ultimate storyline.
Re:No Kingpin?! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Please no, you are hurting us (Score:2)
Re:Venom Looks (Score:2)
Psycho redneck journalist from outer space. Now THATS a movie.
Re:Venom Looks (Score:2)
Although the citizens of the state of California might be happy if he took some time off to make a movie.
Re:Publicity stunt (Score:2)
Think about it:
-Early on in the development of Spiderman 2 there were rumors that the Lizard was going to be one of the villains. This turned out to be false.
-Sam Raimi has stated multiple times that he had no intention of including the Venom story arc in any of his movies, because he wanted to recreate the comics he remember reading as a kid.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a joke that Raimi and Dunst are pulling on the press.
Re:2 villians?? (Score:2)
Re:It could work (Score:2)
Topher Grace? I think not (Score:3, Funny)
Call me crazy, but that does not bring images of Topher Grace.
Re:The original movie Eddie (Score:3, Interesting)