Editing Spider-Man (2002 film) (section)

=== Casting ===
For the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, the filmmakers sought an actor who was not excessively tall or handsome, but who had the "heart and soul" for the audience to identify with.<ref name="Oral History" /> The studio expressed interest in [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], [[Freddie Prinze Jr.]], [[Chris O'Donnell]], [[Jude Law]], [[Chris Klein (actor)|Chris Klein]], [[Ewan McGregor]], [[Wes Bentley]], and [[Heath Ledger]]. DiCaprio had been considered for the role in 1995 by [[James Cameron]].{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<br><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Philip |date=2022-12-10 |title=Why 'Yellowstone' Star Wes Bentley Turned Down the Role of Spider-Man |url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a42205980/yellowstone-wes-bentley-turned-down-spider-man/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/aug/01/news1 |access-date=2024-07-03| title=Columbia name their Spiderman | newspaper=The Guardian | date=August 1, 2000 }}</ref><ref name="hughes" /><ref name="unraveling">{{Cite magazine |last=Grover |first=Ronald |date=April 15, 2002 |title=Unraveling Spider-Man's Tangled Web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2002/nf20020415_7441.htm |magazine=[[Bloomberg Businessweek|Business Week]] |access-date=January 22, 2007 |archive-date=May 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510064647/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2002/nf20020415_7441.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ew.com">{{Cite magazine |last=Flynn |first=Gillian |date=February 11, 2000 |title=Web Casting |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2000/02/11/web-casting |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807005018/https://ew.com/article/2000/02/11/web-casting/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hochman |first=David |date=April 28, 2002 |title=The Comic-Book Fans Said, No, No, Not Him |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/28/movies/the-comic-book-fans-said-no-no-not-him.html |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223003714/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/28/movies/the-comic-book-fans-said-no-no-not-him.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}} [[Scott Speedman]], Jay Rodan and James Franco were also involved in screen tests for the part.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 19, 2000 |title=More From the ''Spider-Man'' Casting Front |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034454p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017225105/http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034454p1.html |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=January 23, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 6, 2000 |title=''Spider-Man'' – Do We Have the Son of the Green Goblin Here? |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034462p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019020113/http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034462p1.html |archive-date=October 19, 2007 |access-date=January 23, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> [[Joe Manganiello]] auditioned, but was cast as the bully Flash instead.<ref name="Weiskind">{{Cite news |last=Weiskind |first=Ron |date=July 27, 2001 |title=Mt. Lebanon Native lands role in 'Spider-Man' |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5VgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c3ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6596,4394788 |access-date=June 25, 2010 |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416115421/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5VgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c3ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6596,4394788 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| image1 = Tobey Maguire 2014.jpg
| image2 = Kirsten Dunst Cannes.jpg
| image3 = Willem Dafoe Cannes 2019.jpg
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 420
| align = right
| footer = Left to right: [[Tobey Maguire]] (pictured in 2014), [[Kirsten Dunst]] (2006), and [[Willem Dafoe]] (2019)
}}

Tobey Maguire was cast as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in July 2000,<ref name="spins">{{Cite magazine |last1=Michael Fleming |last2=Claude Brodesser |date=July 31, 2000 |title=Maguire spins 'Spider-Man' |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/maguire-spins-spider-man-1117784384/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012002038/https://variety.com/article/VR1117784384.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=spider-man |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=January 22, 2007}}</ref> having been Raimi's first choice for the role after he saw Maguire in ''[[The Cider House Rules (film)|The Cider House Rules]]''.<ref name="empire">{{Cite magazine |last=Chris Hewitt, Simon Braund |date=July 2002 |title=Spider-Man |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |pages=58–62}}</ref> The studio was initially hesitant to cast someone who did not seem to fit the ranks of "adrenaline-pumping, tail-kicking titans",<ref name="spins" /> but Maguire managed to impress studio executives with his audition. The actor signed a deal in the range of $3 to $4{{spaces}}million with higher salary options for two sequels.<ref name="spins" /> To prepare for the role, Maguire improved his physique over several months by training with a physical trainer, a yoga instructor, a martial arts expert, and a climbing expert.<ref name="friday">{{Cite AV media |title=[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]] |date=April 27, 2007 |type=TV |publisher=[[BBC One]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/05/09/sam_raimi_spiderman_interview.shtml|title=BBC – Films – interview – Sam Raimi|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> He studied spiders and learned how to perform arachnid-like movements.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 5, 2000 |title=Raimi Talks Up ''Spider-Man'', But Still No Goblin |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034461p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018023152/http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034461p1.html |archive-date=October 18, 2007 |access-date=January 22, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

[[Nicolas Cage]], [[Jason Isaacs]], [[John Malkovich]] and [[Billy Bob Thornton]] were considered for the role of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, but turned it down.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<br><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ethan Aames |date=September 18, 2004 |title=Interview: Nicolas Cage on National Treasure |publisher=Cinema Confidential |url=http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0411181 |access-date=October 10, 2007 |archive-date=May 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516140506/http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0411181 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2000 |title=Malkovich Says No To Spidey |publisher=[[Syfy|Sci Fi Wire]] |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2000-11/06/10.00.film |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012144659/http://scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2000-11%2F06%2F10.00.film |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 13, 2017 |title=Jason Isaacs Auditioned for Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/jason-isaacs-auditioned-for-green-goblin-in-sam-raimis-spider-man/ |access-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416080610/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/jason-isaacs-auditioned-for-green-goblin-in-sam-raimis-spider-man/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/lqbrfn/billy-bob-thornton-says-he-turned-down-spidey-wont-wear-funny-hats | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929233655/https://www.mtv.com/news/lqbrfn/billy-bob-thornton-says-he-turned-down-spidey-wont-wear-funny-hats | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 29, 2023 | title=Billy Bob Thornton Says He Turned Down Spidey; Won't Wear Funny Hats | website=[[MTV]] }}</ref>}} Willem Dafoe was selected for the part in November 2000.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 17, 2000 |title=More ''Spider-Man'' Casting News: Dafoe Is Green Goblin |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034471p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018202909/http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034471p1.html |archive-date=October 18, 2007 |access-date=January 23, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> He was intrigued by the prospect of working with Raimi and by the idea of a film based on comic books.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<br><ref name="Oral History" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mottram |first=James |title=Willem Dafoe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/05/09/willem_dafoe_spiderman_interview.shtml |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rentilly |first=J. |date=June 8, 2002 |title=Webbed feat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/interview/interviewpages/0,6737,729240,00.html |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>}} He insisted on wearing the Green Goblin costume himself, as he felt that a [[Stunt performer|stuntman]] would not convey the character's necessary body language. The 580-piece suit took half an hour to put on.<ref name="hughes" />

[[Kate Bosworth]], [[Eliza Dushku]], [[Jaime King]] and [[Mena Suvari]] unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Mary Jane Watson.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<br><ref>{{cite web |title=Eliza Dushku |url=https://www.notstarring.com/actors/dushku-eliza |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195940/https://www.notstarring.com/actors/dushku-eliza |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=September 16, 2021 |website=notstarring.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 4, 2000 |title=Your Spider-Man Casting Update |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/04/your-spider-man-casting-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517021423/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/04/your-spider-man-casting-update |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Quinn |first=David |date=September 13, 2019 |title=Kate Bosworth Reveals She 'Tanked' Her Audition for 2002's Spider-Man: 'I Was Really Nervous' |url=https://people.com/movies/kate-bosworth-auditioned-for-spider-man/ |magazine=People |access-date=January 1, 2021 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116040937/https://people.com/movies/kate-bosworth-auditioned-for-spider-man/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} [[Kate Hudson]] was offered the part but turned it down.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=John |date=July 12, 2003 |title=Daughter act |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/12/features.johnpatterson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911145600/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/12/features.johnpatterson |archive-date=September 11, 2014 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Elizabeth Banks auditioned, but was told she was too old; she was cast as Jameson's secretary Betty Brant instead.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Miller |first=Julie |date=June 22, 2016 |title=Elizabeth Banks Reveals Which Superhero-Movie Role She Was "Too Old" For |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/elizabeth-banks-superhero-too-old/ |url-status=live |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623155851/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/elizabeth-banks-superhero-too-old }}</ref> Raimi also considered [[Alicia Witt]] for the role.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ascher-Walsh |first=Rebecca |date=October 16, 2000 |title=''Spider-Man'''s director has a few tricks up his sleeve |url=https://ew.com/article/2000/10/16/spider-mans-director-has-few-tricks-his-sleeve/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}</ref> Kirsten Dunst auditioned and earned the role a month before filming began.<ref name="hughes" /> To create Mary Jane's red hair, Dunst's hair was dyed in the front and she wore a half-wig.<ref>{{cite web |last=Quinn O'Neill |first=Catherine |date=April 22, 2014 |title=The Secrets Behind Kirsten Dunst's Changing Hair Looks |url=https://www.allure.com/story/kirsten-dunst-changing-hair-look-spiderman-marie-antoinette/ |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=Allure}}</ref> The producers wanted Dunst to get her teeth straightened, but she refused.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pollard |first=Alexandra |date=November 13, 2021 |title=Kirsten Dunst: 'The pay disparity between me and Spider-Man was very extreme' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/kirsten-dunst-interview-power-of-the-dog-b1955698.html |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=Independent}}</ref>

Stan Lee was interested in playing J. Jonah Jameson, but the filmmakers felt he was too old to convincingly play the part. Lee was supportive of the eventual casting of J.K. Simmons, feeling that Simmons gave a better performance than he could have achieved.<ref>Zakarin, Scott (2002). ''[[Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters & Marvels]].'' Creative Light Entertainment.</ref> [[Hugh Jackman]] was supposed to have a cameo as the [[X-Men (film series)|X-Men]] character [[Logan (film character)|Wolverine]], but the appearance was scrapped after the production team realized they did not have the character's costume.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Callaghan |first=Kristen |date=2022-09-17 |title=Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Almost Featured an Iconic X-Men Cameo |url=https://www.cbr.com/sam-raimi-spider-man-almost-featured-wolverine-cameo-marvel/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Mike |date=September 10, 2013 |title=Hugh Jackman, 'Prisoners' Star, On His Everlasting Love for Wolverine |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hugh-jackman-prisoners_n_3896582 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202211954/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hugh-jackman-prisoners_n_3896582 |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=December 2, 2021 |website=HuffPost}}</ref>