Looks like Venom and Sandman will try to finish what Green Goblin and Doc Ock couldn’t do — by trying to destroy our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, that is.
In an interview with Zap2it.com promoting her new film Elizabethtown, Kirsten Dunst, who plays Spidey’s love interest Mary Jane Watson, slipped up and revealed what Sony and Marvel have kept a secret for months: the identities of the villains in the highly anticipated Spider-Man 3, which is slated to begin filming in early 2006. ”We have really great people though as the villains in this film, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace (left) — Venom and Sandman,” Dunst said, while displaying some confusion about which actor will take on which role.
Apparently, Venom has similar strengths as Spidey, including the ability to cling to surfaces with his hands and feet, and to shoot webs from a costume of alien origin, while Sandman’s special powers include the ability to turn into a sand-like substance, then mix with dirt particles to grow in physical size.
What do you think of the latest options in Spider Nemeses, and the actors who’ll play them? Sound off now!
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And the studio expected a notorious party girl like Kirsten Dunst to keep a secret?
Terrible choice for Venom, Topher is way to puny to play him. They should have found a no name guy, huge build and with real blond hair, not the dye job Topher did.
Topher Grace as Venom?! Grace better eat his Wheaties because I cannot see him as Venom. I would have chosen someone older and stronger.
The thing about Topher is, he greatly resembles Tobey in build and look. So I think they may be going for an origin that is closer to the ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ origin (a science-created suit worn by a jealous rival of Peter’s) than the far-out ‘Secret Wars alien symbiote, bonds with Pete’s Rival photographer’ origin. In either case, the trick is, the symbiote is supposed to be in synch with Peter and when rejected by him, he chooses Brock’s rage and hatred of Peter as a bonding point. Likely, jealousy over MJ will come into this.
I would not put it past Kirsten to Punk’d Spider-Man fans about the villain at Raimi’s request. I would also not count out The Lizard just yet, as that subplot has been brewing for two previous films! As much as it unnerves me to say, Topher may be playing Ben Reilly– think about it.
umm, i dont think tobey maguire is playing venom guys, if youve seen a pic of thomas hayden church, he looks like such a better venom, and venom is bigger than spidey too. thats what i think, tobey as sandman. but who knows
Church playing Sandman was the most obvious call ever. Was this really ever in question??????
I wish they would do a whole Venom/Carnage movie though. Villians having anything to do with each other.
you mean Topher?
Who cares about Topher. I’d watch Tom Church in anything! Me thinks the Sandman may win this one. I’ll be rooting for the bad guy this time out.
Tom Church could take on either role without any trouble. But Topher? Both the Sandman and Venom are known for their impressive physiques, of which Topher does not have.
But then again, Marvel is making Kelsea “Man Boobs” Grammer into the X Men’s “Beast”, so the trend of putting out of shape guys into the roles of ripped characters doesn’t seem to be a trend that will change any time soon.
For real, why don’t they ever put Steve Bacic in the comic book movies? The guy LOOKS like a superhero already!
I think it’s purposeful disinformation on behalf of the studio using Kirsten Dunst as their pawn.
Dunst might be an idiot, but I’m pretty sure the studio would have had her sign a confidentiality clause. If what she’s saying is true, I’m sure they could sue her for a significant amount.
They came *this close* to replacing McGuire for Spider-Man 2. You don’t think they could find a better actress to replace Dunst?
Did anyone see the “Teen Celebrity Jeopardy” some years back (sometime between 7-10 years ago) that Kirsten Dunst was on. One of the answers was: “This author of Interview with a Vampire…” Kirsten rang in, and then couldn’t name Anne Rice. She starred in the freaking movie and could not answer the question!!!
If the folks at Fox were stupid enough to let her know the inside scoop, it would not surprise me one bit if she let it slip.
I’m happy to say I’m not enough of a nerd to know who Venom and Sandman are. But as for Topher’s lacking the physique for a bad guy? Totally surmountable. Topher was way sexy in P.S. and it’s not like Tobey Maguire was all buff before he trained for Spider-Man. Personal trainers can totally transform physical appearance. Well, not my physical appearance, but if you’re a celebrity and you pay enough, Radu (or whoever’s hot these days) will come to you and not leave until you can punch a hole through Arnold Schwarzenegger’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Or until you stop paying him.
I don’t buy it. I still think that Venom (or at least the black Spider suit, as they say spiderman 4 will be shot soon after, and that will probably feat Venom) will be in it, but it won’t be Topher. I still suspect that Topher will be Hobgoblin.
yeah. so sorry, i meant topher grace. hes nnot a good venom at all. itll be thomas hayden church, he would have made a decent carnage i would have thought. but sam raimi know what hes doing.
It’s beyond idiotic for Topher Grace to be Hobgoblin, when the part was cast WITH THE FIRST MOVIE! James Franco already plays Hobgoblin’s alter ego, and they already set up that story line at the end of Spider-Man 2. Since Franco’s stayed with the series and been such a good actor, and he’s in 3, I don’t see why they would mess with the story now.
I agree with Christopher, about casting Venom to resemble Peter Parker. From what i remember (and from the Spiderman cartoon on Toon Disney), wasn’t the Symbiote intended to Peter Parker in the first place? And then Eddie Brock got it. I don’t know, something like that, right?
And you’re right again, Christopher… they have been setting up for the Lizard the past few movies.
kirsten didn’t let this info “slip” out. it was out MONTHS ago.
i also heard that topher grace and thomas hayden church would be playing the same villain, one who has chameleon-like abilities.
sorry to disappoint but this is probably a done deal with topher playing venom and church taking on sandman. at the core of the character venom was always peter’s anti-hero so it makes sense they would go for an actor who looks like tobey. church is perfect because he has the look of a small time guy which is exactly how the sandman’s character is before he became the villian. as far as physical appearance goes they can get these actors in good enough shape and with the help of wardrobe and cgi i expect the actors to look very imposing on screen. besides did anyone really think tobey would turn out to be a good spidey when he was picked or for that matter alfred molina as doc ock. comic fan boys & girls relax! raimi knows what he’s doing.
I think they should stick to one villian at a time. Have they learned nothing from the Batman movies? one villian good story, two or more crap! Hayden Church would work as either Venom or Sandman. Topher Grace as Ben Reilly could work (Peter’s Clone) but that story has not been brought up as yet. My vote would have been for the Lizard to be the villian as Dr. Conner’s was already introduced in the first two movies.
It’s probably a mistake. Perhaps done purposely. I’m guessing it’s most likely going to be Venom and Carnage if they’re going with two villians. Those are the only two Spidey villians who really have any connection with one another. And Topher’s build would be right for Carnage. Same with Church as Venom. He’s a good Eddie Brock, and Topher would be a good evil sidekick.
I dont know why all of you think that Venom or Eddie Brock should be cast with an actor that resembles Tobey McGuire. Read the comics or even watch the cartoon and you will see that Brock was a big hulking brutish blonde freelance reporter. The black symbiote suit was originally brought back from space by J. Jonah Jameson’s son who was introduced in the second movie. The suit found its way to Spidey, who later shunned it and had it removed by way of Mr. Fantastic. It then found Brock who had the psychological base the symbiote needed, and the already-existent dislike for Peter Parker.
‘Nuff Said
WAIT. I thought the Black Symbiote suit was found on the Beyonder’s Battle Planet by Spider man in the SECRET WARS mini series. It’s still listed in the price guides as the first appearance of SPider Man’s black suit, even if spiderman 300 was the first Venom.
But yeah, Venom is supposed to be a massive brute, the polar opposite of Topher. Tobey did bulk up for Spider Man, but Spidey’s always been drawn as a thin guy to begin with.
anyone who read the comic series knows- peter parker got the black suit in outer space during the secret wars (not knowing the suit was actually alive). The suit started to take a toll on him mentally and he got it removed, but he then donned the black spiderman costume for some time until he changed back to the normal one. The alien symbiote *costume* then feeling rejected, finds eddie brock who also has a vendetta out against Peter Parker, and they form venom.
As far as I know, Anthony has the correct origin from the comics for Venom.
I think Josh is actually thinking about the origin of Werewolf by Night, who is Jonah Jameson’s son. Or perhaps this was how Venom came to be in the cartoon series?
Aich, my Third post on this subject…gods of pop culture at EW, please give us more Blog postings so we’ll have new stuff to comment on!
If you read the article correctly, Dunst is actually quoted as saying “We have really great people though, as the villians in this film, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace– Venom and Sandman.” I think Topher Grace, sicne his name was mentioned second, might be playing Sandman. Did anybody think of that? You all might be jumping the gun here. Although I still contend that this is all most likely a deliberately thrown curve ball. But if it isn’t Sam Raimi knows what he’s doing anyway. If Topher’s Venom then I’m sure they have a good reason for it.
I think having Venom as a bad guy would be great for the Spider-Man franchise…
It’s “villain,” people. Crack a freakin’ dictionary, why dontcha.
I think they are doing two villains because it takes them a long time to do a movie and they have a lot of villains to cover. Many possible villains have been introduced already. Whether or not Kirsten said what she did purposefully to throw us off is irrelevant. Many other sites have said that Topher would be in this latest pictures but none have said as who. There’s the possibility of John Jameson becoming Venom since he is a space traveler. Harry Osbourne becoming the Hobgoblin since he found his dad’s secret lair. Of course Doc Connors can turn into the Lizardman. It’s fun to wait and see what will happen. I just wish they didnt wait to start shooting until 2006.
This just in. Here’s a clue about who’s playing who.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002006/
After reading all of this talk about who should play Venom (Topher vs Church), I personally feel that neither of them would be the right choice…..either would make a decent Sandman, but for my money, the ONLY choice for Venom (aka Eddie Brock) is Brock Lesnar, the former WWE Heavyweight champion. He has the muscle, the size, and the personality to be the kind of bully that Eddie Brock (???coincidence???) is, and he’d put on a much more convincing fight than the 86 pound weakiling that Topher is. Listen up Raimi, should you be reading this, casting the right person in the right role is EVERYTHING! Dump Topher, sign Brock…..it’d be a great battle!