To paraphrase the famous speech from Blade Runner:
‘I’ve seen things you 2019 people couldn’t believe. Presidential candidates fighting like babies, on the shoulder of America. I watched Coronavirus spread through the world, changing our fates. All those moments seem… insignificant in contrast, like… rain before being hit by a bus’.
‘Time to die’.
Okay, that’s exaggerating a little bit but still: WHY?
An exclusive by The Hollywood Reporter claims that Jaime Foxx is in talks to return as Max Dillon AKA Electro, who had his live-action movie debut in 2014’s: The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Now, this news is bizarre for numerous reasons.
Firstly, Kevin Feige notably disliked the Amazing Spider-Man 2; offering significant criticism to Amy Pascal and multiple pointers on how to improve it. Secondly, Sony themselves were so displeased with the box-office returns of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, that it led to the current deal which allows Marvel to use Spider-Man in their cinematic universe. Thirdly, Electro died at the end of the Amazing Spider-Man 2. Last time we saw him, he wasn’t feeling so good.
Now, that last point could be explained away as: ‘He’selectricity, he reformed’; which is fair enough, however a bigger and far-more pressing concern remains.
Why?
WHY??
WHY???
WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY
Who was asking for this? The Amazing Spiderman series has its fans but even among them, Electro is not exactly beloved. Beyond them; he is a joke, frequently ranked among the worst comic-book villains of all-time. The entire Amazing Spider-Man series has shrunk into obscurity in the wake of Tom Holland’s success as the character, so this move feels unfathomably tone-deaf. Now, that’s not to say a similar thinghas no inherent value. Indeed, calls for a live-action Spiderverse movie have been growing since 2018’s animated smash-hit: ‘Into the Spiderverse’; yet this feels bizarre.
Could I see a multi-franchise, multi-villain crossover, evildoers against all three incarnations of the webhead? Of course; done well, that would be great. However, Tom Holland’s third solo outing does not feel like the place for it. He already has multiple antagonists’ setup to confront him: Mysterio’s team, the Scorpion; possibly even Kraven the Hunter. This feels completely unnecessary.
Had the news been: ‘Electro set to appear in Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness’, I’d be all for it. I’d be singing its praises. Yet this just makes absolutely no sense, unless it’s a post-credit scene that sets up a future Spiderverse crossover. Beyond that… I’m genuinely rather speechless at this news. If Sony have forced Marvel into this as part of their deal, it shows an astounding lack of understanding for film storytelling. They have already caused continuity issues with the MCU, thanks to Venom and the upcoming Morbius. At this point, Sony causing problems with a third-instalment of a Spider-Man trilogy should be no surprise; yet is fundamentally disappointing.
Until this is clarified with further details, one of my most-hyped Marvel films has now become the most-dreaded; as I fear what Sony are doing to yet another Spider-Man series.
Perhaps at least, we won’t have to suffer another jazz club performance this time.
Marley Eleven Bury is a twenty-one year old Film & TV writer who loves takeaway and the superhero genre far too much. His claims to fame are having listened to the entire 26-hour+ Fire and Blood audiobook multiple times and being able to sing the Periodic Table song from memory.
