Editing Spider-Man (2002 film) (section)

===Development===
{{Further|Spider-Man in film#Development}}
Beginning in 1975, Marvel Comics made plans to bring its characters to the big screen. In the early 1980s, following the critical and commercial success of ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' (1978), which in turn was based on rival [[DC Comics]]’ flagship character [[Superman]], Marvel was in negotiations with film producers to bring their flagship character Spider-Man to the big screen.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} Producer [[Roger Corman]] was the first to hold an option on the Spider-Man property and began to develop the film at [[Orion Pictures]]. Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee was brought on to write a screenplay which featured [[Cold War]] themes and [[Doctor Octopus]] as the primary antagonist. The project did not come into fruition following budgetary disputes between Corman and Lee, as well as the critical and commercial failure of ''[[Superman III]]'' (1983) making film adaptations of comic books a low priority.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sagers |first=Aaron |date=August 7, 2015 |title='We Made a Good Little Film': Roger Corman's Oral History of His Fantastic Four |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/we-made-good-little-film-roger-cormans-oral-history-his-fantastic-four |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206140658/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/we-made-good-little-film-roger-cormans-oral-history-his-fantastic-four |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |access-date=December 23, 2020 |work=[[Syfy Wire]]}}</ref> 

The film rights were then acquired by [[Menahem Golan]] and [[Yoram Globus]] of [[The Cannon Group]] for $225,000 in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grover |first=Ronald |date=April 15, 2002 |title=Unraveling Spider-Man's Tangled Web |work=[[Business Week]] |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2002/nf20020415_7441.htm |access-date=January 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510064647/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2002/nf20020415_7441.htm |archive-date=May 10, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Anders |first=Charlie Jane |date=September 22, 2011 |title=The Secret History of Spider-Man Movies |url=https://gizmodo.com/the-secret-history-of-spider-man-movies-5843007 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref> The two were not familiar with the character's background and mistook Spider-Man for a [[werewolf]]-like character. [[Leslie Stevens]], creator of ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', was hired to write a screenplay based on this concept. Stevens' script depicted Peter Parker as a photographer who is subjected to a mad scientist's experiment, which transforms him into a human [[tarantula]]. [[Tobe Hooper]], who was preparing to shoot ''[[The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2]]'' and ''[[Invaders from Mars (1986 film)|Invaders from Mars]]'' for Cannon, signed on to direct.<ref name="Gross 2002">{{Cite book |last=Gross |first=Edward |title=Spider-Man Confidential |publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]] |year=2002}}</ref> Lee hated the horror route the studio was taking with the character and demanded that a new script be written that was closer to the source material.<ref>{{cite web |last=Callaghan |first=Kristen |date=2022-01-25 |title=Spider-Man's First Live-Action Outing Was Almost a Horror Film |url=https://www.cbr.com/spider-mans-first-live-action-film-almost-horror/ |access-date=2022-02-14 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214223429/https://www.cbr.com/spider-mans-first-live-action-film-almost-horror/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=G. |date=2019-09-01 |title=Is the '80s Spider-Man Film a Lost Classic? |url=https://www.cbr.com/cannon-films-spider-man-lost-classic/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref>

By 1985, a new script was being written by Ted Newsom and [[John Brancato]]. In this version, Peter Parker receives his spider-like abilities from a [[cyclotron]] experiment. Doctor Octopus served as the antagonist and was written as Parker's mentor turned enemy. Barney Cohen was brought in to do a rewrite which added humor, additional action scenes, and a supporting villain.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=William S. |date=June 28, 2010 |title=The "Never Got Made" File #19: Look Out! Here comes the SPIDER-MAN movie...or maybe not! |work=Video Junkie |url=http://originalvidjunkie.blogspot.com/2010/06/never-got-made-file-19-look-out-here.html |access-date=October 23, 2013 |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102081824/http://originalvidjunkie.blogspot.com/2010/06/never-got-made-file-19-look-out-here.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Newsom and Brancato had [[John Cusack]] in mind for the part of Peter Parker.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/john-cusack-spiderman-movie-details-story-reveals/ | title=John Cusack's Canceled Spider-Man Movie Details Revealed by Its Writer | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=November 16, 2022 }}</ref> 

Cannon hired [[Joseph Zito]] to direct the film having previously directed the commercially successful ''[[Invasion U.S.A. (1985 film)|Invasion U.S.A.]]'' for the studio. For the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, the studio considered [[Tom Cruise]] while Zito was interested in casting actor and stuntman [[Scott Leva]] who had previously done promotional appearances as Spider-Man for Marvel.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jankiewicz |first=Pat |date=July 2002 |title=Scott Leva, the Man Who Was Almost Spider-Man |journal=Starlog/Comics Scene Presents Spider-Man |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=62–64}}</ref> [[Bob Hoskins]] was considered for Doctor Octopus while [[Lauren Bacall]] and [[Katharine Hepburn]] were considered for [[Aunt May]]. The role of [[Uncle Ben]] was considered for [[Gregory Peck]] and [[Paul Newman]]. Lee expressed his desire to make a cameo appearance as [[J. Jonah Jameson]] in the film. The project was tentatively titled ''Spider-Man: The Movie'' and was budgeted between $15–20 million. Following the critical and financial failure of ''[[Superman IV: The Quest for Peace]]'' and ''[[Masters of the Universe (1987 film)|Masters of the Universe]]'', both of which were produced by Cannon, the budget for ''Spider-Man: The Movie'' was cut to $7 million. Joseph Zito was unwilling to compromise and stepped down as director. He was replaced by [[Albert Pyun]] who was willing to make the film at a lower budget. The project was cancelled following Cannon's acquisition by [[Pathé]] and Golan's departure from the studio.<ref name="Gross 2002" />

Golan extended his option on Spider-Man during his tenure as CEO of [[21st Century Film Corporation]]. By 1989, Golan attempted to revive the project using the original script, budget, and storyboards developed at Cannon. In order to receive production funds, Golan sold the television rights to [[Viacom (1952-2006)|Viacom]], home video rights to [[Columbia Pictures]], and theatrical rights to [[Carolco Pictures]]<ref>David Hughes. ''The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made'' {{ISBN|1-55652-449-8}}</ref> where [[James Cameron]] became attached to write and direct the film. Cameron had previously met with Stan Lee to discuss a possible [[X-Men]] film until Lee convinced Cameron that he would be a good choice to direct a Spider-Man film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bernardin |first=Marc |date=December 16, 2012 |title=How Stan Lee's Loose Lips Derailed a James Cameron X-Men Movie |work=[[Syfy Wire]] |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/how_stan_lees_loose_lips |access-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206153247/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/how_stan_lees_loose_lips |url-status=live }}</ref> Cameron said superheroes were always fanciful to him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://screencrush.com/james-cameron-spider-man-movie/ | title=James Cameron Reveals His Vision for His Unmade Spider-Man Film | date=December 6, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.polygon.com/22820458/spider-man-movie-james-cameron | title=Spider-Man was the 'greatest movie' James Cameron never made | website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | date=December 6, 2021 }}</ref> 

James Cameron submitted a treatment to Carolco in 1993,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moerk |first=Christian |date=September 1, 1993 |title=Cameron Delivers Spider-Man Script |page=3 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/cameron-delivers-spider-man-script-110100/ |access-date=November 7, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228064746/http://www.variety.com/article/VR110100.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=cameron+spider-man |archive-date=February 28, 2009}}</ref> which served as a darker, more mature take on the character's mythos. In addition to featuring Spider-Man's origin story, it also included reimagined versions of the villains [[Electro (comics)|Electro]] and [[Sandman (Marvel Comics)|Sandman]]; the former was portrayed as a megalomaniacal businessman named Carlton Strand, while the latter was written as Strand's personal bodyguard named Boyd. Cameron's treatment also featured heavy profanity, and even a sex scene between Spider-Man and [[Mary Jane Watson]] atop the [[Brooklyn Bridge]]. Carolco set a $50 million budget for ''Spider-Man'', but progress stalled when Golan sued Carolco for attempting to make the film without his involvement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chitwood |first=Scott |date=February 15, 2000 |title=Review of James Cameron's Spider-Man Scriptment |publisher=[[IGN]] |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/034/034412p1.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831202555/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/034/034412p1.html |archive-date=August 31, 2011 |df=mdy}}</ref> At the time, Cameron had recently completed ''[[True Lies]]'' for [[20th Century Fox]] as part of a production deal with the studio. Fox attempted to acquire the film rights to Spider-Man for Cameron but this proved unsuccessful. At this point, James Cameron had abandoned the project and began work on ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' and other things.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shaw-Williams |first=Hannah |date=February 20, 2020 |title=What James Cameron's Spider-Man Movie Would've Looked Like |work=[[Screen Rant]] |url=https://screenrant.com/spider-man-james-cameron-undermade-marvel-movie-story-details/ |access-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222004243/https://screenrant.com/spider-man-james-cameron-undermade-marvel-movie-story-details/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://collider.com/james-cameron-terminator-genesis-spider-man/ | title=James Cameron Talks TERMINATOR: GENESIS and SPIDER-MAN | website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] | date=June 2014 }}</ref> He would reveal in a 1997 interview on ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'' that he had ''Titanic'' star [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] in mind for the lead role.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flanders |first=Ned |date=October 24, 2019 |title=Big Brain Development: James Cameron's SPIDER-MAN |work=FilmGoblin |url=https://filmgoblin.com/geek-dive/big-brain-development-camerons-spider-man/ |access-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026103540/https://filmgoblin.com/geek-dive/big-brain-development-camerons-spider-man/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 1995, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) acquired 21st Century Film Corporation's rights to produce the film, which had given them access to the previous Spider-Man scripts. MGM then sued Viacom, Sony Pictures, and Marvel, who they accused of fraud in the original deal with Cannon. The following year, 21st Century, Carolco, and Marvel would all file for bankruptcy.<ref name="legal">{{Cite news |last=Shprintz |first=Janet |date=August 19, 1998 |title=Spider-Man's legal web may finally be unraveled |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1117479641&categoryid=13 |access-date=January 22, 2007 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011185902/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1117479641&categoryid=13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

No film studio showed interest in a Spider-Man movie following the disastrous reception of ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'' in 1997, after which film studios no longer took the [[Superhero (genre)|superhero genre]] seriously and had the perception that "comic books were for kids". However, the release of ''[[Blade (1998 film)|Blade]]'' by [[New Line Cinema]] in 1998 and the development of ''[[X-Men (film)|X-Men]]'' by 20th Century Fox convinced some studios that a Marvel character "could carry on" a movie.<ref name="Oral History">{{cite web |last=B. Vary |first=Adam |date=April 28, 2022 |title='Spider-Man' at 20: How Sam Raimi and Sony Pictures Rescued the Superhero Genre and Changed Hollywood Forever |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/features/spider-man-2002-oral-history-sam-raimi-sony-pictures-1235240553/ |access-date=April 28, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428040616/https://variety.com/2022/film/features/spider-man-2002-oral-history-sam-raimi-sony-pictures-1235240553/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Marvel emerged from bankruptcy in 1998 and declared that Menahem Golan's option had expired and that the rights had reverted to them. Marvel then sold the film rights to [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]], Columbia Pictures' parent company for $7 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 2012 |title=Marvel's Superhero Licensing |url=http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2012/03/article_0005.html |access-date=August 23, 2012 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529071950/http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2012/03/article_0005.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal came into effect in March 1999.<ref>{{cite web |date=1999-03-02 |title=Studio Rights to Spider-Man Are Untangled |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-02-fi-13115-story.html |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907005618/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-02-fi-13115-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 1999, although Sony Pictures optioned from MGM all preceding script versions of a ''Spider-Man'' film, it only exercised the options on "the Cameron material", which contractually included a multi-author screenplay and a forty-five-page "[[scriptment]]" credited only to [[James Cameron]]. The studio announced they were not hiring Cameron himself to direct the film nor would they be using his script.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frankel |first=Daniel |date=April 5, 1999 |title=Cameron Spun Out of Spider-Man Movie |publisher=[[E!]] |url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b37970_Cameron_Spun_Out_of_Spider-Man_Movie.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019163050/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b37970_Cameron_Spun_Out_of_Spider-Man_Movie.html |archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> 

The studio lined up several potential directors, including [[Roland Emmerich]], [[Jan de Bont]], [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]], [[Barry Sonnenfeld]], [[Tim Burton]], [[Michael Bay]], [[Ang Lee]], [[David Fincher]], [[Tony Scott]] and [[M. Night Shyamalan]].<ref>{{cite web |date=February 5, 2009 |title=David Fincher's Spider-Man That Never Was |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/502374/david-finchers-spider-man-that-never-was/ |access-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201122120/https://www.slashfilm.com/502374/david-finchers-spider-man-that-never-was/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Baranowski |first=Jordan |date=January 16, 2020 |title=The History Of Every Canceled Spider-Man Movie |url=https://www.looper.com/183980/the-history-of-every-canceled-spider-man-movie/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |website=Looper.com |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201123905/https://www.looper.com/183980/the-history-of-every-canceled-spider-man-movie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, most of the directors approached were less interested in the job than in the story itself.<ref name="Oral History" /> Fincher did not want to depict the [[origin story]] as he felt it was "dumb", [[Pitch (filmmaking)|pitching]] the film as being based on ''[[The Night Gwen Stacy Died]]'' storyline, but the studio weren't interested.<ref name="hughes">{{Cite book |last=Hughes |first=David |title=Comic Book Movies |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-7535-0767-6 |location=London |pages=233–241}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://gizmodo.com/david-fincher-reveals-the-operatic-title-sequence-for-h-5869055 | title=David Fincher reveals the operatic title sequence for his Spider-Man movie that never was | date=December 19, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/03/david-fincher-interview-transcript | title=David Fincher | newspaper=The Guardian | date=January 18, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/oct/27/david-fincher-on-hitmen-incels-and-spider-mans-dumb-origin-story | title='Who doesn't think they're an outsider?' David Fincher on hitmen, 'incels' and Spider-Man's 'dumb' origin story | newspaper=The Guardian | date=October 27, 2023 | last1=Rose | first1=Steve }}</ref> Columbus would later turn down the project to direct ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]]'' instead.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 4, 2021 |title=Chris Columbus Is Glad He Chose To Direct Harry Potter Over Spider-Man |url=https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-spiderman-choice-director-chris-columbus-response/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219203243/https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-spiderman-choice-director-chris-columbus-response/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Burton expressed a lack of interest by remarking that he was "just a [[DC Comics|DC]] guy", given his previous work on ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' and ''[[Batman Returns]]'', as well as the ill-fated ''[[Superman in film#Superman Lives|Superman Lives]]''.<ref name="Oral History" /> [[Amy Pascal]]'s choice for director was [[Sam Raimi]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Anderton |first=Ethan |date=July 30, 2015 |title=We Almost Got a Chris Columbus Spider-Man in 2001 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/539094/chris-columbus-spider-man/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |website=[[/Film]] |archive-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310000433/https://www.slashfilm.com/539094/chris-columbus-spider-man/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Raimi was attached to direct in January 2000,<ref name="ahead">{{Cite news |last=Robert K. Elder |date=July 16, 2000 |title=What's ahead for comics fans |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref> for a summer 2001 release.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 31, 2000 |title=Entertainment briefs |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> He had been a fan of the comic book during his youth, and his passion for ''Spider-Man'' earned him the job.<ref name="HBO">{{Cite AV media |title=HBO Making-Of Spider-Man |type=DVD |publisher=Sony |year=2002}}</ref> Raimi's agent Josh Donen warned him that he was not Sony's preferred choice for the job, leading Raimi to cite all his reasons for which he would be the ideal director for the project during a meeting with Pascal, producer [[Laura Ziskin]], Calley, [[Marvel Studios]] chief [[Avi Arad]] and film executive [[Matt Tolmach]] before abruptly ending his pitch after one hour, not wanting to overstay if Sony's executives did not want him.<ref name="Oral History" /> 
[[File:Sam Raimi by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|Sam Raimi in 2014]]

[[David Koepp]] was brought aboard to write the screenplay and Cameron's work became the basis of his first draft screenplay, often word for word.<ref name="Hiltzik">{{Cite news |last=Hiltzik |first=Michael A. |date=March 24, 2002 |title=Untangling the Web |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-24-tm-34460-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100601/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/mar/24/magazine/tm-34460 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |quote=Of the four writers Columbia lists as contributors to the final 'Spider-Man' script, three – Cameron, Scott Rosenberg and Alvin Sargent – voluntarily ceded sole credit to the fourth, Koepp.}}</ref> Koepp said that Cameron's script was "influential".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/spider-man-movie-james-cameron-organic-web-shooters | title=James Cameron Was Responsible for This One Big Change to Spider-Man | date=June 18, 2020 }}</ref> Koepp pitched the idea of having Peter Parker not getting his Spider-Man suit until after the film's first forty five minutes so they could stretch out the origin story and that Peter and Mary Jane would not get together at the end, feeling that them ending apart was romantic.<ref name="Oral History" /> Cameron's versions of the Marvel villains Electro and Sandman remained the antagonists. 

Koepp's rewrite substituted the [[Green Goblin]] as the main antagonist and added [[Doctor Octopus]] as the secondary antagonist.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gross |first=Edward |title=Spider-Man Confidential |date=May 2002 |publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]] |isbn=0-7868-8722-2 |pages=208–209}}</ref> Raimi felt the Green Goblin and the surrogate father-son theme between Norman Osborn and Peter Parker would be more interesting, thus, he dropped Doctor Octopus from the film.<ref name="trivia track">{{Cite AV media |title=Subtitled Factoids: Weaving the Web |type=DVD |publisher=Sony |year=2002}}</ref> In June, Columbia hired [[Scott Rosenberg]] to rewrite Koepp's material. Remaining a constant in all the rewrites was the "organic webshooter" idea from the Cameron "scriptment".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gross |first=Edward |title=Spider-Man Confidential |date=May 2002 |publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]] |isbn=0-7868-8722-2 |pages=206–208}}</ref> Raimi felt he would stretch the audience's [[suspension of disbelief]] too far to have Parker invent mechanical webshooters.<ref name="friday" /> This decision was controversial with long-time fans.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-peter-parker-organic-web-shooters/ | title=Spider-Man: What Happened to Peter Parker's Organic Web-Shooters? | date=February 20, 2021 }}</ref>

Rosenberg removed Doctor Octopus and created several new action sequences.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brodesser |first=Claude |date=June 16, 2000 |title='Spider-Man' snares scribe |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/inside-moves-203-1117782713/ |access-date=January 22, 2007 |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302170006/http://variety.com/2000/film/news/inside-moves-203-1117782713/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Raimi felt adding a third origin story would make the film too complex. Sequences removed from the final film had Spider-Man protecting Maximilian Fargas, the wheelchair-using Oscorp executive, from the Goblin, and Spider-Man defusing a hostage situation on a train.<ref name="hughes" /> As production neared, Ziskin hired award-winning writer [[Alvin Sargent]], to polish the dialogue, primarily between Parker and Mary Jane.<ref name="greg">{{cite web |last=[[Greg Dean Schmitz]] |title=Greg's Preview – Spider-Man |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808406011&gpt=ch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429050554/http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808406011&gpt=ch |archive-date=April 29, 2007 |access-date=August 9, 2008 |publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> Columbia gave the [[Writers Guild of America]] a list of four writers as contributors to the final ''Spider-Man'' script: Rosenberg, Sargent and James Cameron, all three of whom voluntarily relinquished credit to the fourth, Koepp.<ref name="Hiltzik" />