I Heard A Rumor

I’ve often wondered what goes on behind closed doors at Hollywood studios. I assume decisions are made everyday. I also equally assume those decisions are closely guarded until such time as some genius in a tie decides they are ready to make it public. But what I will never wrap my brain around is why in the world a studio would go semi-public with something?

Look at it this way. Say you are a fan of Nike Apparel. You tend to like their shirts, hats, socks, etc. Say Nike decided they were going to show you the spokesperson for their next big product. Only, instead of actually telling you who it is, they give you a “maybe” next their name on a website somewhere. Where am I going with this?

I search comic book sites regularly. I also tend to browse over IMDB pretty frequently. The “news” that comes out about films is almost head-shaking. Take Spider-Man 4 for example. It’s coming out in 2011 when a lot of very heavy-hitting comic book to movie flicks will make the silver screen.

Now, I’m sure the producers of this film are excited about it. The first two films really rocked and the third blew major chunks. With a 75 percent success rate, it stands to reason they feel this one might make the grade as being a success. So why is it that they come out with half information about the film?

Is Sprider-Man alumnus J.K. Simmons set to reprise his role as J. Jonah Jameson?

If you go to the site they give you an impressive list of actors in the movie—sort of. It breaks down like this: Anne Hathaway, Julie Stiles, and J.K. Simmons are all rumored to be in the film. Rumored? What does this mean? Does this mean the actors are being overbearing in their demands for the film? Does this mean the studio hasn’t figured out exactly how to screw them over so they can afford them in the picture? Or is it something as simple as the actors still slugging it out for a role or two and nobody has decided anything yet?

Julia Stiles. Waiting to be Bourne again?

Whatever the reason, why in the world would any company, let alone a film company, post the actor’s name if it wasn’t a sure thing? Is this to tease us or to show that they are trying? I don’t know the answer. I do know it is annoying to any fan trying to get excited about the film.

Look at it from the flip side. Say Hathaway is in the running and execs feel she will sign the contract and do the picture, but she hasn’t officially done so as of yet. The execs decide to post her name as being in the project, but then she decides The Devil Wears More Prada will be a better sequel and signs a contract with that studio instead. What happens next? They take her name off the site and reports go crazy as to why. In any event, it makes the studio look like dumbasses because they couldn’t land a quality starlet. My advice would be simple: DON’T PUT THEIR NAME ANYWHERE ON THE LIST UNTIL THEY SIGN!!!

Anne Hathaway has lost her contact lens...

The same logic can be used for Samuel L. Jackson in several upcoming movies. He has been rumored to play Nick Fury in several roles and has already appeared as Fury in The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. It stands to reason he would land this role, right? Then why put rumored next to his name? If he decides not to do it the studio execs look like a bunch of idiots when they have to take his name down.

Samuel L. Jackson cast as Nick Fury to the delight of fans everywhere.

Why does this bother me? I firmly believe (and have stated several times) the quality of a good superhero film begins from within the walls of the studio creating it. There have always been signs before the movie hits theaters to alert us whether or not the movie will be any good. If you look at the cast list for Spider-Man 4, they show seven actors. Four of those actors are rumored, or three-fourths of the cast. How can a fan possibly be excited about this?

Writer Confusion

If that wasn’t enough, it appears they are having problems with writers, as well. James Vanderbilt, one of my favorite up-and-coming writers, is listed as writing the earlier screenplay. The earlier screenplay? So, did he write a sketch of the movie? Did he have a wonderful idea, but isn’t good enough to write it? Did he take another job?

To confuse the matter more, he is slated to write both Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6, but apparently isn’t good enough to write number 4. To the studio’s credit, Vanderbilt is likely in high demand. He wrote the incredibly difficult screenplay to Zodiac and it was brilliant. A film based on a gigantic book full of theories and rhetoric is never an easy undertaking, but Vanderbilt nailed it. My guess is he had another offer, took it, but they want to keep him in the fold for the next films, so they give him credit.

Too smart for Hollywood?

So what is right with Spidey 4? Well, I happen to love Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. I think he has done a great job with the role. It’s nice he’s coming back. Besides, where else can he show off his tofu-eating figure and look studly?

I also like another writer they have brought onto the project. Gary Ross is a Hollywood pro. Director Sam Raimi has never been quiet about his eagerness to work with top talent and he has one in Ross. Among his credits, Ross wrote the screenplays for Big, Dave, Pleasantville, Seabiscuit, and The Tale of Despereaux. He is also familiar with Maguire, as he starred in both Seabiscuit and Pleasantville.

Pleasantville's unique narrative device won over crowds.

I would be very excited with him on the project if it wasn’t for another quirky event under the writer category. Also listed as a writer is David Lindsay-Abaire. Who? You know, the guy who wrote Inkheart? Oh, you didn’t see Inkheart? Don’t worry, nobody else did either.

Inkheart? Never heard of it.

I don’t understand why he is on this project. It really doesn’t need him. With Ross on board and Stan Lee and Steve Ditko doing the characters, it seems to me Lindsay-Abaire is just extra weight. My suggestion would be drop him as a writer and use that money to nail down some of these other actors. They can turn from rumor to actual actor in the film. Then I will be overflowing with excitement.