Could ex-Spider-Man screenwriter David Koepp’s suggestions save the Amazing Spider-Man film franchise?
By Daniel Wood
Sony have a small problem following on from the Marvel announcement stating that Spider-Man will be appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that he’ll be taking a new creative direction. And that problem is – What on earth are they going to do with their unfinished Amazing Spider-Man narrative?
Well, David Koepp may have some suggestions that can help them with comments he gave to Empire, before the big announcement was made, regarding what he thought Sony should’ve done to make the Spider-Man film franchise really take of.
"“When I was doing Spider-Man the first time, I remember distinctly having thoughts about three movies, each of a different kind: ‘Spider-Man,’ ‘Amazing Spider-Man,’ ‘Spectacular Spider-Man,’” Koepp said. “The classic ‘Spider-Man,’ that would be the top-of-the-line, studio Sam Raimi ones, then the ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ ones, they’d be done for $75-80 million, and have a rougher, edgier, almost R-rated feel to them – if not R-rated, though I don’t think they could ever bring themselves to do that. Tougher, nastier, a rougher look… shorter movies. I don’t like superhero bloat, personally.”"
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As you can see, Koepp is suggesting that Sony had three different Spider-Man cinematic universes running concurrently to each other, each pulling in different niche audiences whilst hopefully the core audience remained the same. Now if you apply that suggesting posthumously to Sony’s current predicament then you’ve got your answer for what to do about the problem.
Keep Amazing Spider-Man going alongside Marvel’s new Spider-Man and have two separate Spider-Man cinematic universes. That way you can give Amazing Spider-Man the final film and send-off it needs, make more money from Spider-Man films, and keep Disney/Marvel happy!
Koepp continued by adding that he would’ve had a film series aimed directly at children
"“I also thought there should be a ‘Spectacular Spider-Man’ series, because Spider-Man leaves out a large group of its audience. Little kids are fascinated by Spider-Man by the time they are three, or younger. But when I was a kid, I loved the animated series, so I always thought there should be separate lines to cater for different ages of Spider-Man fans.”"
Before he finished by adding that he’d develop film franchises around other Spider-Man character like Black Cat
"“And I’d certainly develop other characters in the Spider-Man universe, which is what they are trying to do, I know, Black Cat deserves her own movie series. As for the superhero genre generally now, I am stunned at its viability, its quality, its longevity, and its ability to grow and deepen. I think they’re great. I was so continually wrong about where superhero movies were going that now I am just an audience member, thrilled to see them continue to improve.”"
What do you think about Koepp’s comments? Do you think that Sony should continue with two, or more, different Spider-Man cinematic universes and film franchises all running concurrently?
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