Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 will forever live in infamy as the reason why the original Spider-Man movie franchise falls short of being one of the greatest trilogies of all time – as well as the reason why Raimi’s epic plans for Spider-Man 4 fell apart. By now Spider-Man 3 is largely viewed as an early warning about how studios can meddle in and ultimately ruin a major comic book franchise – hard lessons that films like Justice League would learn later. However, Spider-Man 3 was released long before angry petitions for director’s cut releases became the norm, so many Marvel fans probably have no real, actual, idea what the “Raimi Cut” of Spider-Man 3 would even look like.
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Well, now there’s one Marvel fan who has dipped back into the history of Spider-Man 3 to help fans get a better sense of what they missed. That fan has gone so far as to compile an entire thread on Twitter, listing all of the various changes that Sony and/or Sam Raimi made to Spider-Man 3. If you’re a Marvel fan that loved the original Spider-Man films, it’s a great read. Scroll below to see for yourself!
Welcome Down the Rabbit Hole
THREAD: All the deleted, alternative and extended scenes from SPIDER-MAN 3.
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
Collected from various trailers, featurettes, behind the scenes photos and the novelisation of the film. pic.twitter.com/8kbDcmsHYK
Thanks to @WilliamD1123, we now have the most comprehensive guide yet to what happened to make Spider-Man 3 the crap show it turned out to be. Welcome down the rabbit hole!
Not Cool Enough For Oscorp
Peter tries to visit Harry at Oscorp:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
In the opening montage of the film, Peter attempts to go to Oscorp to see Harry to explain what happened between him and his father. Peter is stopped by an Oscorp receptionist from entering. pic.twitter.com/nwBzMmn8Rt
Raimi did a good job of showing just what a hapless loser Peter Parker could be, and this scene in Spider-Man 3 would’ve hammered that home.
More Madness
Harry’s Madness:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
In the novelisation, Harry’s madness is further explored, where Harry thinks he’s talking to his butler, but its revealed no one is there. Then Harry is tormented by Norman again. This would have taken place before he took the Goblin gas. pic.twitter.com/806RKbKo2g
Willem DaFoe and James Franco both had major one-man-show scenes in the trilogy, as Norman and Harry Osborn both slid into the madness of their respective Green Goblin personas. Apparently, Franco would’ve gotten to do a lot more of that in Spider-Man 3.
Paging Dr. Wallace
Sandman finds Dr Wallace:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
After Flint Marko becomes Sandman, he visits Dr Phil Wallace, a molecular biologist who is working on cure for Marko’s daughter. Marko probably threatened Wallace to continue working on a cure for his daughter. pic.twitter.com/smcg1UhCof
Flint Marko / Sandman’s (Thomas Haden Church) storyline would’ve been more extensive -including pressuring a doctor to keep going on research to heal Marko’s daughter, while The Sandman stole more cash to fund it.
Spider vs. Symbiote
A Spider in Peter’s Room:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
A spider is seen crawling around Peter’s room. Not sure the point of this scene, but if I had to theorise it could have been a showdown between a spider and the Symbiote in Peter’s room, foreshadowing how the Symbiote will consume Spider-Man. pic.twitter.com/tYxMpd27XC
Sam Raimi was a horror movie auteur before he jumped into superhero movie-making, and there a few key scenes in his Spider-Man films that remind us of that. Spider-Man 3 would’ve given us one such moment, as the Venom symbiote faced off (and ultimately consumed) a spider crawling around Peter Parker’s room. That’s would’ve been some awesomely ominous foreshadowing for the eventual Spider-Man vs. Venom fight.
I. Am. Spider-Man.
Peter reveals to a kid that he’s Spider-Man:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
At the Spider-Man parade, a little kid dressed as Spider-Man runs up to Peter and shows off his silly string web shooter, but it runs out of webbing. Peter then shoots a web onto the kid’s shoe in return. pic.twitter.com/V1ob1YR3XY
Years before the Iron Man, Captain America, or Avengers franchises were using kids to create big superhero movie moments, Spider-Man 3 was planning a scene where Peter Parker would’ve let a little kid in on his secret identity.
Spider-Man Is For The Kids
Spider-Man saves a baby:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
When Sandman appears at the Spider-Man parade, an extended version of the scene features civilians falling over from the sandstorm. One instance features a mother falling away from her baby, but Spider-Man swings in and saves the baby. pic.twitter.com/HrBHAQrC2U
Spider-Man 3‘s parade Sequence would’ve seen Peter saving a baby whose mother got blown over in the sandstorm.
More Sandman Fight
Extended/Alternate Sandman fight:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
An extended scene of Spider-Man landing on the truck and some alternative bits from the fight. pic.twitter.com/LmYwTpPtHQ
There were more stunts and action in the Sandman truck chase / fight.
Spider Logo Goes Black
Extended Symbiote Transformation:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
Just a shot of the spider symbol changing from the typical one to the Black Suit one. This shot was used a lot in trailers, so I wonder if it was created just for marketing. pic.twitter.com/14NS1YvLwH
/center> This shot of the Spider-Man insignia on Peter’s costume going transforming into the black suit version was definitely used in the marketing for Spider-Man 3, but not the film itself.
Venom Test
Peter sees Venom in the Mirror:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
Alternative scene, Peter starts to be suspicious about what the suit is doing to him, there’s a jump scare where he sees Venom in the mirror and frantically takes off the suit. The Venom in the mirror is an early costume test for the character. pic.twitter.com/cUvt7qT9sJ
A jump scare moment involving Peter seeing Venom reflected in his mirror after putting on the black suit actually contains the early test costume for Venom’s look. If you pause fast enough, you’ll see it. (Narrator: “It’s wasn’t very good.”)
Sympathy for Eddie
Eddie Brock seeks Gwen for help:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
After being fired, Eddie goes to Gwen’s house for solace. Gwen tells Eddie that she doesn’t want him in her life and he leaves. This scene would’ve been interesting as it would’ve created some credible empathy for Eddie. pic.twitter.com/010gvBoX1q
Extended Eddie Brock Church Scene:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
In the novelisation, Eddie gives an extended monologue where he explains that he believes he’s been treated unfairly and takes no responsibility for his mistakes, he hates that he suffers by other people’s imperfections. pic.twitter.com/o3F5LuaPBZ
Topher Grace’s Eddie Brock would’ve had several additional scenes meant to paint him as less of a snarky jerk and more of a sympathetic loser. The movie definitely would’ve benefited from that.
Spider-Dong
Extended Symbiote Rip:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
An additional shot of Peter ripping the Black Suit off his thigh, probably cut due to something to do with Peter not wearing any pants, maybe a bit too suggestive for the producers. pic.twitter.com/AG0liXJlq8
A more risque sequence of Peter shedding his black suit / symbiote would’ve seen him rip off the pants section as well, leaving us with the suggestive sight of Tobey Maguire’s inner-thigh and underwear (black, naturally!).
SO MUCH MORE!
Dr Wallace saves the day:
— Will (@WilliamD1123) May 27, 2018
Along with Gwen, her father Captain Stacy was meant to appear in the final battle. Dr Wallace would’ve informed Captain Stacy that he knows who Sandman is and knows how to stop him. pic.twitter.com/HYD0UFxcdG
There’s is so much more good stuff in the thread that @WilliamD1123 put together – so if you’re wasting time on social media anyway, this is a great thread for any movie geek to land on. Check it out!
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Image Credit: Marvel Comics
