UPDATED: More new pics below!
Well now. That’s…interesting. Today, we have our first look at Jamie Foxx as Electro, one of the primary villains of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2. Now, if you grew up reading the comics or even just watching the old cartoon, you’d likely remember Electro as wearing a green and yellow suit with an “electric” hood. It’s kind of been his signature outfit for, oh, decades. Then, Marvel started their “Ultimate” line of comics, which allowed for quite a bit of reinvention of all the major players in the Marvel universe. The Ultimate version of Electro was significantly different than the 616 version, featuring a bald head and some variation of a hood/cloak. And of course, there’s the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, which sees Electro as a blueish, bald-headed character, a stark difference from the original and the most consistent with what Foxx is rocking on the set.
Foxx has remained very excited about the role, which will likely show onscreen. As an actor, Foxx can certainly bring the intensity and a villain role will be a nice change of pace, but thus far I’m getting more of an Abe Sapien vibe than an electricity-wielding baddie. Granted, these are set pics and could easily be taken out of context without fully rendered effects, but it’s still a good base for where they’re going. Could it be cool on the big screen? Sure. Could it be a disaster? Yup, that too. I’m open to seeing what the sequel brings, as I’ve kind of checked out after the lackluster first entry. I’ve got nothing to lose at this point.
Get electrified:
So, there you have it. I’m looking forward to seeing what concoction they come up with for Paul Giamatti‘s Rhino as they’ve certainly been consistent with coming up with some odd choices for the villains thus far. It’s getting a little tiring watching these productions jump straight to Marvel’s Ultimate line to find a more “realistic” costume for their characters, though. I feel that Joss Whedon struck a nice balance for The Avengers (Hawkeye aside) and wish more comic adaptations would follow that model (Yes, I’m looking at you, X-MEN franchise).
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Shailene Woodley, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti, Dane DeHaan, Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Chris Cooper, Colm Feore, B.J. Novak, and Felicity Jones swings into theaters on May 2, 2014.
UPDATE: New pics are surfacing showing Foxx’s Electro “lit up” with his hood, giving a very clear indicator that they’re following the Ultimate Spider-Man line for this incarnation. Once the full VFX are put in this could be cool and there’s always the potential that this is just the first evolution of the character before settling into some kind of costume. What do you think? Do the lights make a difference? Or is this way too Mr. Freeze/Avatar/Abe Sapien for you?