In the past two decades, Spider-Man fans have been treated to not one, not two, but three blockbuster franchises starring their favorite webslinger. Directors Sam Raimi, Marc Webb, and Jon Watts have each offered their take on the character, sticking with their version of Spidey from his big-screen introduction to the ceremonious (or, in some cases, unceremonious) end of their stint — except in the case of Watts, whose Spidey isn’t done yet.
While Raimi, Webb, and Watts are the filmmakers that Hollywood has hired to bring Spidey to the screen, plenty of others have been considered for the job. And on top of that, some directors deserve the opportunity.
Almost Did: James Cameron (Spider-Man)
Long before the Raimi trilogy took off, James Cameron wrote a treatment for a Spider-Man movie that was intended to star Edward Furlong as Peter Parker and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Doctor Octopus. Cameron had just worked with both actors on Terminator 2, so it would’ve been a fun reunion.
In the end, Cameron’s project was scrapped because the studio couldn’t secure the necessary funding. It was probably for the best, because he had some very strange ideas, like Peter seducing M.J. with a spider mating dance.
Should: Damien Chazelle
After just three movies, Damien Chazelle has solidified his place as one of the most exciting and talented filmmakers working today. Frankly, he did that after just one. Whiplash proved his ability to focus on a character’s internal journey; La La Land demonstrated his visionary eye, and his ability to bring those visions to life; and First Man showed that he can handle big set pieces.
Put all these things together and it’s a recipe for a great Spidey movie. Whiplash’s Andrew and Spider-Man’s Peter Parker aren’t too dissimilar.
Almost Did: David Fincher (Spider-Man/The Amazing Spider-Man)
When Sony was working on a reboot of the Spider-Man franchise after Sam Raimi left, David Fincher was offered the director’s chair. The reboot took a darker turn, so considering Fincher for the job makes sense.
Fincher had previously been considered to direct the 2002 Spider-Man movie before Raimi was hired. His version would’ve told the origin story in the opening credits, while the plot would take inspiration from “The Night Gwen Stacy Died.”
Should: Kevin Smith
The best directors for comic book movies are lifelong fans who know the characters they’re dealing with like the back of their hand. Kevin Smith is just that; he’s even written a few comics for Marvel. And his juvenile comic sensibility might work spectacularly in a Spider-Man movie.
Smith has never helmed a big-budget blockbuster, but he’s worked on comic book movies that have ended up getting scrapped. Plus, the high school setting and lighthearted tone make the scale of Spider-Man movies manageable for less experienced action directors.
Almost Did: Jared Hess (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
Before Jon Watts was hired to direct Spider-Man: Homecoming, the studio considered Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess, who could’ve brought his uniquely quirky voice to the MCU, as well as Jonathan Levine, Theodore Melfi, and Jason Moore.
John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the directors of Game Night, were also considered to helm Homecoming, though they still ended up making some contributions to the screenplay.
Should: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
After years of writing movies for other directors, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg finally tried their hand at directing themselves with 2013’s This is the End, a pitch-black, self-aware comedy about a bunch of actors struggling to survive the end of the world.
The great thing about This is the End is that it isn’t shot like a comedy; it’s shot like a horror movie, with dim lighting and unsettling composition. Rogen and Goldberg aren’t just a pair of comedy writers trying their hand at directing for the purposes of sheer vanity; they’re passionate about filmmaking.
Almost Did: Wes Anderson (The Amazing Spider-Man)
The job of directing The Amazing Spider-Man was initially offered to Wes Anderson before Marc Webb was hired. A Spidey movie with the quirky comic sensibility of Rushmore does sound like it could be awesome.
But given that Anderson once pitched a James Bond movie set after the Cold War in which 007 couldn’t get any espionage work, maybe it’s for the best that he didn’t take control of the Spider-Man franchise.
Should: Matthew Vaughn
With the Kick-Ass and Kingsman franchises, Matthew Vaughn has proven himself to be one of the current film industry’s finest adapters of comic books.
Vaughn would have to tone down his usually R-rated sensibility for a PG-13 Spidey movie, but the webslinger’s iconic status might convince him to go for it.
Almost Did: Chris Columbus (Spider-Man)
Chris Columbus was offered the chance to direct Spider-Man before Sony hired Sam Raimi for the job. However, Columbus turned down the job in order to make Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Before settling on Raimi, Sony also considered Tim Burton, Jan de Bont, Roland Emmerich, Ang Lee, Tony Scott, and M. Night Shyamalan for the job.
Should: Edgar Wright
After the travesty of Ant-Man, Edgar Wright is probably done with Marvel. But if the studio can assure him creative control, maybe they could get him back for a Spider-Man movie.
Wright’s kinetic editing style, riffs on genre tropes, spectacular action (on budgets both big and small), and pop-heavy soundtracks would make him the ideal choice to get behind the camera of a Spidey flick.