Last month we got some big news surrounding Spider-Man 4. Among the scheduling changes for the upcoming Marvel movies, we also were told that Spider-Man 4 would hit theaters May 6, 2011. The other unsurprising update that made a splash was that Raimi really wants Kirsten Dunst to return as Mary Jane Watson.
From what we’ve heard, Dunst has been hesitant about returning for another installment, perhaps because of some negative fan feedback about her being cast into the role in the first place which still hasn’t died down.
Raimi is taking it into his own hands and is reportedly set to meet with Kirsten Dunst to talk about her return for the next Spidey adventure. In a group interview last week, Raimi discussed the current situation:
“I’m hoping that she is going to come aboard, and I’ve got a meeting coming up with her… I think she would like to. But I don’t want to speak on behalf of her.”
The folks at Sci-Fi Wire had the opportunity to speak with Raimi about his upcoming Drag Me to Hell horror movie, Evil Dead 4 and what we may expect of the style for Spider-Man 4. Sci-fi Wire raised the point of the darker trend in superhero movies we’ve seen in The Dark Knight and Watchmen and asked whether or not we’d be seeing a darker and Edgier Spider-Man this time around. Raimi’s edited response:
“Whatever it is, I think will be a direct result of the best style to bring about our writer’s screenplay. And as soon as I read that, I will know what that is. Edgy could be a direction, but I don’t think it will be applied without really understanding the character’s journey from the inside out first and then figuring out the best way to bring that about.
And then, as far as the other influences, making it different from the other films, … I hope we don’t react to these very good and sometimes bad superhero movies around us. I hope that we just [look] ever deeper into the truth of who Peter Parker really is—as a human being and the unique character, and that we celebrate that, which is a lot of the reason I want to make this next picture. I still believe I have an understanding of Peter Parker as the character that I have not quite put onto the screen yet.
I’m not talking about Tobey Maguire’s performance, which I very much love; I’m talking about my understanding of the character. I feel like sometimes a kid at the piano recital. And I know this piece really well. I know it by heart. And I sometimes get it right, and sometimes I don’t. But I want a chance to really play it the way I feel it. So I’m hoping it’s a really good screenplay and I can express the character through that.”
By his piano recital analogy, I’m guessing he’s referring Spider-Man 3 when saying he sometimes doesn’t get it right. Other than that, we get nothing new. The script isn’t done and Raimi isn’t committing to a style of film.
The good news is that Raimi will have full control over this movie unlike its predecessor which will hopefully give us another quality movie like the first two and not a mess like the third installment.
As for the Mary Jane character, I don’t know what else they can explore in her relationship with Peter Parker and I don’t think the fans really care about the plot revolving around them. Personally, I don’t want them to even try – I’d like to see the story focused on the villains and Peter Parker trying to save the day this time around.
What do you think of Kirsten Dunst returning?
Source: Sci-Fi Wire
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76 Comments
Yea, I agree. I’m fine with or without MJ in there. They did introduce Gwen Stacey in Spiderman 3… I don’t know
I just want to see Spidey back in action and distributing some web-slinging justice!
To be honest I don’t think I would watch it with out her. First off I think MJ is essential to the Spider Man mytho’s. I get that she isn’t always the main focus in the comics, but it’s undeniable that she has always been an important part and I don’t want a movie with out her. Second I think Dunst is good for the role. She is a very talented actress and portrays the part well. I know plenty of people who have been interested in the stories in the films between MJ and Peter. At the same time I can understand some people wanting it gone. I suggest a compromise of just toning it down. Make the Villain struggle the central story and speed things up a bit I mean by the time this film finally comes out MJ and Peter should be married no more of the puppy love that spins out of control constantly in each film. They can keep the character with out doing the exact same story.
hope MJ comes back i like her in spiderman films
As long as she doesn’t end up dangling at the film climax, I dont mind her coming back.
For this new iteration, they should keep the relationship of MJ & Peter as ‘Just friends’. Close friends which Peter can share his troubles with since MJ knows his secret. If by chance they get ‘too close’ either one of them will have to step on the brakes because they have learned their lesson and are just keen on staying friends.
Maybe in 5 or 6 they will get together seeing as how they were ‘meant-to-be’.
The only problem with the MJ character is that for three films, she was kidnapped and tied up, mostly to lure Spider-Man out for a confrontation. I have nothing against the actress in the role.
If she comes back, it would be interesting to see where her character goes. But given the events of the previous film, the character might not have a chunk of screen time as before and that would be reasonable. Or better yet, resist the temptation to put her in the middle of third act mayhem, unless she is either on the sidelines or better yet, helping Peter in some way.
If MJ/Dunst isn’t in the pic, that would be bad, but, as pointed out, it isn’t a death knell. More time to other characters. Heck, a flirtation with Betty Brandt isn’t out of the question.
“Darker” Spidey…it’s odd that some folks would want that, seeing how “3″ was a bit in that direction. I don’t think “3″ was horrible, but it was a step down from ‘2′, which wasn’t “dark”. Unless the new baddie takes the place of Green Goblin and offs Gwen Stacey and/or takes the place of Ock and throws rubble down on Captain Stacey. If said bad guy is The Lizard, that makes even a more darker problem as well.
SK-47 I couldn’t disagree with you more. I think not keeping them together is a terrible idea. All three films have been we can’t be together, but lets get together. I’m tired of watching them not together or breaking up and getting back together. They go married in the comics so just marry them in the films and be done with the “Is it gonna work out.. Oh no not this time.. maybe now?” crap.
Darren seeley I think you misunderstood SPidey 3. It was suppose to be darker, but ended up being more kid friendly and less dark than the first two. It was one of the cheesiest and corny comic films to date. What made that film bad had nothing to do with being dark it was that they refused to make it dark despite the fact that with that story it has to be dark.
If Raimi does choose Morbius, I believe he should go a little darker. Dunst should stay as MJ but she shouldn’t be the central part of the movie; they need to focus on Spidey’s attempt to stop a supervillain not MJ’s exploits to become an actress.
i think they should let go of MJ in this film after her annoyance in the previous film, i mean all they have to do is say that MJ went to Germany(or somewhere) to help her acting career.
hero supreme,
i completely agree w/ you on that
She definitely needs to be in the next film, but like so many others have said, she needs to stay the heck away from the damsel in distress role.
If MJ doesn’t return, then who is Peter going to interract with? Harry’s not coming back, so MJ’s pretty much the only friend Peter’s got.
They need her back in the film because it’s been set up in the previous 3 movies. I’d rather not have the movie pay a lot of time to their relationship and/or her being kidnapped again though.
i agree that she should be in the films, but we got wayy tooo much of her in the previous film and need a break.
to be honest when i first saw “spiderman 3″ i was wondering “who was the real villian, venom and sandman or MJ?”, her whining about her career was more menacing than venom and sandman put together.
I never liked Dunst in the role as MJ. I thought she was terribly miscast and I won’t shed a tear if she’s not in the film or if MJ is recast. MJ is NOT supposed to be whiny and Dunst turned MJ into a whiny damsel in distress. That being said, if the MJ part is a small part of the movie, then I am fine with Dunst for continuity purposes. The new film needs to deal with Peter kicking bad guy butt!!
Andy Dunst did not turn MJ in to a whiney character that would be the writers who did that.
They should start the movie with like a bunch of pictures from the wedding of MJ and Peter , quickly showing the auidence they got married and are togeather. Then they can skip the bs and start with a good story, maybe somewhere in the story Peter goes bad, or close to the edge or doubts himself or something and MJ can bring him back or give him the strength to endure instead of being the focus of the bad guy you know what I mean, Id like to see something like that much more.
Betty Brant, Felicia Hardy, Gwen Stacy, She-Hulk..there are plenty of other “love-interests” for Spidey not that I think a Spiderman movie needs more of that..More action, more story revolving around Spiderman and his enemies..
Personally, I’d like the Kirsten Dunst from Spidey 1 to come back, but Bryce Dallas Howard’s fantastic legs wouldn’t be half bad either. I heard Gwen was supposed to be the damsel in distress in Spidey 3, but considering the clusterfark the movie ended up being… *sighs*
I really hope she comes back, I don’t know why people are upset that she was chosen as Mary Jane! I think she was cast greatly, I think she is a GREAT actress and I most likely (almost positively… actually I wouldn’t!) watch it without her. Come on Kirsten, Come back for your fans!!!!
Umm… just another comment, most of these comments say they would rather not focus too much on MJ and more on spiderman kicking butt, BUT I disagree with all of them, i BET They’re all guys!! Seriously why is Spiderman so successful? Becasue it has so all the elements combined! I’m a girl and like most girls they love the romance, I did not think that the relationship between the two took away anything. MORE ROMANCE and kissing!!!
@Yvonne…if you want more romance and kissing, stick to the sappy Twilight movies!! Granted Spidey’s relationship with MJ is crucial to his character, but there is NO need to overdo it and turn an action COMIC book movie into a sappy love drama!!!
i agree that we DO need MJ in spiderman just not the next film, b/c like i said in an earlier comment we got way tooo much of her in the previous and need a break from her
With a name like Yvonne I would not have known you were a girl…
Kirsten Dunst is an amazing actress. I pretty much fell in love with her since the first film. And by the way she suits the role perfectly. I understand how people feel about Spidey3 but not that I think the same. I think that the third movie is the best simply because it is more mature to fans who were younger in 2004. We fans have grown and needed that content to boost the love for the characters and to brand them as growing and not stagnant.
Hey! Wouldn’t anybody leave a comment? Wouldn’t anybody leave a reply? Every comment I make nobody replies. Come on people, somebody, talk to me!
Sob, Sob.(Sniffle).
does anyone else wonder why the whole issue of MJ leaving Jameson’s kid for Parker was never touched upon.
i think that could work well in the film, like Jameson has peter followed and then “that guy” finds out who spiderman is(like in the first three films) and then tells jameson and he turns “that guy” into the scorpion to kill him
Matt K, thanks for commenting, are you still there? Anyway, I believe that Mary Jane was just going through a little bit of emotional stress. I believe she was looking for love but in all the wrong places.
darren,
that would explain why shes is such a b!@th in spidey 3, i just figured that would have been something that was left untouched in the last film
@ Matt K, I don’t know what b!@th means but could you clean it up for me?
darren,
my bad, i keep forgeting this site doesnt allow profanity
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