The UK's OK Magazine is reporting that High School Musical star, Zac Effron will be donning the striped-red jumpsuit as the new Spider-Man in the upcoming reboot effort.
Speculation was sure to begin following the recent scrapping of the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire team and the appointment of Marc Webb to the director's chair. So, if this news does indeed hold water, how did this event come to be? Let's get it straight from the horse's mouth:
"HIGH School Musical heartthrob Zac Efron is set for a £9million pay day as he takes on the role of SpiderMan. Zac Efron will replace Tobey Maguire in the fourth blockbuster movie, due to start shooting later this year and scheduled to hit cinemas in 2012. Tobey, 34, stunned bosses at Universal Pictures last year when he announced he was quitting the megabucks franchise. But a studio insider revealed: “After dumping Spidey, Tobey then came to the rescue by recommending that Zac should take over his role.” Producers believe the 22-year-old, who has a huge teen following, will bring new fans to the Spider-Man series by playing the reluctant hero and his alter ego Peter Parker. They are also believed to be considering reuniting Zac with his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens, 21. She is hotly tipped to replace Kirsten Dunst, 27, as Spider-Man’s love interest and the source added: “It would be a great coup to land her as well. “The franchise would be revitalised and transformed by two of Hollywood’s most gifted and fast-rising young stars.”
...Oh, where to begin?
Well, gee, I was under the impression that the move to reboot the Spider-Man franchise came about as a result of Sony's inability to work with Sam Raimi on what was an obviously expendable fourth film. Sure, the exact details on those differences have never been officially released, but they would have you think that Tobey Maguire just walked into the offices one day and dropped a big "I quit" bomb that left the studio scrambling. I hardly claim to be an insider in any way, but this one is making a lot of peoples' BS detectors beep like hell.
Also, the language that's being used sound uninformed. For example: "Zac Efron will replace Tobey Maguire" and Vanessa Hudgens "hotly tipped to replace Kirsten Dunst" makes it seem as if they're unaware that this will be a complete franchise REBOOT. That would be like saying Christian Bale "replaced" George Clooney as Batman.
Personally, I'm hoping that the talk of Michael Cera possibly taking the role pans out. He might provide a nice change of pace that Efron (for whatever appeal he may bring to certain demographics and the box-office numbers) could not. While Tobey Maguire could pull off the "geek" look at times, Cera not only has the look, but can carry an indescribable level of social awkwardness that would be perfect for the role.
Source: OK Magazine
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sarid
why not just make spiderman a girl and leave his name spiderman? i mean if you are gona ruin a franchise then do it right, i mean lets just make him a gay tranny who likes to sing opera buck naked while hip thrusting i mean this new guy they want to do this is gona ruin it.
Toby was and is the best man to play spiderman because he's believeable, get rid of kristan she cant act worth her life and just redo it with him because thats why the movies sold so well is because he is the william shatner of spiderman i mean when he even tried to do other movies people saw him as peter parker! getting rid of him has doomed every spiderman movie that will ever be made.
darthernie
wtf....no!! keep the original cast!! I hate when they change the cast!
bdemell
why do so many people want Michael Cera? He would be absolutely horrible for this part. Yes, he can play a socially awkward kid but that's about 25% of what Peter Parker/Spider-Man's character is. Plus, that's all he can do. He's not a depth actor and would not be able to transition from goofy, awkward kid to ready to kick-ass hero. Don't think he would ever go through the physical training like Tobey did and his voice would be horrible when in costume.
I'll say it till the official announcement comes out, they need to get an unknown for this part that actually fits the age and look of Peter Parker.
sexydaffyboy69
I knew they wanted to make Spidy more touchy feely, but do they really have to go full blown gay?
FacePhoenix
PS - do we really need to see Mary Jane in ANOTHER film? What about Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat or Gwen Stacy? It would be a welcome change in my opinion to see more of his life fleshed out beyond his "Lois Lane". I know I had eyes for more than JUST one girl when I was in High School.
FacePhoenix
Devil's Advocate Session:
I know little of Zac Efron's acting ability or previous roles and really could care less. The main and only thing I want to see in the franchise is a good story and directing. Fans always like to whine like little kids about the most trivial of issues. Spider Man's Reboot is something I don't care about because this is Marvel's chance to make this role as big as Batman or James Bond and I mean this in terms that the characters is up to different interpretations. When I heard that Daniel Craig was to be the next Bond I was pissed but his performance blew me away. He delivered the goods. Toby did the same. Michael Keaton did it, Christopher Reeve did it, Christian Bale did it. Just as Matt Damon proved he could carry an action remake of the Bourne Identity. I am going to simply give it a chance and measure the film on it's own merits because sometimes what the fans want doesn't translate that well to the big screen [Punisher: War Zone]. Like I said earlier I am not to eager to see another Spidey Film but I am not going to boycott it if it does defy early expectations. Long as there is a clear vision by the director and writer without too much studio input I'll think we could possible have a pleasant surprise in 2011/2012.
Owaah
Oh God no!
chojiisdavid
OMG , if they change the main character from spiderman then im never going to watch any movie that has any of the cast , director , and everyone eles that is involved in the movie. . . .FAIL!
sodared
I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. Need mouthwash to get the bad taste out of my mouth.
InHumanMarine
Yeah, I won't be watching High School Spiderman Musical.
Gamedude90
GOD...are you there? Why? Have we been so bad that you let this happen? GOD...? Please save spiderman.
Taco151
next time please warn us before you put up a picture of him.
azn_bl1tzkr13g
also, this can't be true because zac efron's head is too round to look good in the spidey mask...
azn_bl1tzkr13g
HAHAHAHAHA the thought of people thinking HSM is an accurate representation of actual high school makes me laugh. as if anyone in high school gives a crap about whether or not a basketball player sings. all high schoolers have 2 things on their mind: drugs and gettin some
greeknerd
This is improbisible! Of course it's a false rumor.
I will also add that high school musical is the most fake representation of a high school. I didn't even have to watch the movies to know they forgot the emo kids.
RickAstin
Perhaps the rumor mill has confused the new film with the Spiderman musical...
-shifty eyes-
Micheal Cera as spidey isn't that bad of an idea.....was certainly not my first choice....but would be interesting.....one way or another I do hope they skew younger this time out...
Dark62442
Jeez, for people who have pretty much signed off the series as "worst superhero movies ever," you sure are pissed off! I actually think this would be a good idea if it were to work out. I've never seen Efron in anything, but I heard that he is trying his best to shed the high school musical image he's developed, so I say let him. Let's look at the facts:
1) The series is down the tubes. Let him have this one and see what he can do with it. Better this than some NEW superhero movie.
2) For those of you who haven't even seen him in a movie, how can you be so quick to judge? Are we judging all actors nowadays because they've been in cruddy movies? John Malcovich, Jeremy Irons, Sandra Bullock, Alan Rickman...feel free to add more.
3) I don't think the self-proclaimed "Mrs. Efrons" out there would follow their heart-throb to an actiony flick, but if so, I say awesome! As one with two younger teenage sisters, I would LOVE if they came home and commented on how much they liked (hell, even the fact that they SAW) a Spiderman movie.
I had a fourth point, but I can't remember it so it must have not been that important, but the theme of this post is apparently quit your whining and open your minds to the possibility that maybe JUST MAYBE something good could come of this.
That said, if Vanessa Hudgens is in it, they're probably riding on the coattails of the pair's popularity so it probably won't be as good.
Blest
I liked the Spidey movies, even the 3rd. I have no problems with Efron giving it a try either. However, I would prefer if they tried to separate it from the past 3, but then again, I see that as a difficult feat seeing as how the past 3 are still fairly recent.
I think it is possible that a lot of people are hating on Efron due to his previous projects and not necessarily his talent or lack there of.
Not the popular opinion, but an original one.
(Also enjoyed Transformers 2 and various other media that was being hated on before distributed.)
nuccam4nn
no..nO....NO..NOOOOOOOO....NOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO **smashed head against wall**
Matt731
NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!
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