As
he’s proven two times over now (with soon to be a third), Peter
Parker is the role Tobey Maguire was born to play… But you
wouldn’t know it from his previous acting credits. With movies like
PLEASANTVILLE, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, and WONDER BOYS, it’s obvious
the guy’s got talent, who woulda thunk he’d make a great
crime-fighting superhero? In SPIDER-MAN
3 though, he once again continues to do just that – this
time even getting the chance to show a darker side to the character.
If you thought Spidey had some major hardships to deal with during
the first two go-rounds, you haven’t seen anything yet. Find out
more for yourself when the movie hits theaters this Friday, May 4
(you can read my review HERE).
JoBlo.com
recently got the chance to chat it up with the masked web-slinger at
the Four Seasons Hotel in LA, where he showed up in full costume
while swinging in through a building window. OK, I’m lying, but that
would’ve been cool, right? So, no, Tobey didn’t do any wall-crawling
or anything like that, but he did discuss his thoughts on coming
back for another movie, as well as how playing this character has
changed his life. Admittedly, despite his pleasant and humorous
attitude, it was fairly apparent that he didn’t want to be there at
the junket. I can’t really blame him though, as he himself discusses
what type of stuff you have to deal with doing never-ending
promotions on movies this big. You can read all about this and more
by continuing on below…
Tobey
Maguire
So
what was it like coming back for a third time? Being the man behind
the spider once again?
The
man behind the spider. I’m not quite sure what that means, but I had
a good time on the movie. [Laughs] I love it. I love working with
the cast and the crew and especially with Sam [Raimi]. So it was
great coming back and I really felt like in this movie it was
definitely the continuing story of Peter Parker and the other
characters, but we were exploring new territory for the character.
So it was exciting for me to venture into some different areas.
Was
it a whole new character playing the dark side to Peter Parker?
It’s
not a new character. It’s a new side to Peter Parker and something
that I think is kind of unexpected to see, Peter Parker behaving in
some of the ways that he behaves. It was a lot of fun and it was a
lot of work for Sam and I to go over it and really think about and
discuss the right tone for that part of the movie.
Did
you watch John Travolta in ‘Saturday Night Fever’ for the dance
sequence?
Well,
I saw that a long time ago, but I didn’t watch it or reference him
for the movie.
So
it wasn’t like an intentional homage to that?
Not
from my point of view. I recognize some of the similarities. I will
say though, that he was cooler. [Laughs]
Did
you have to work with a choreographer or a dance instructor?
Yeah.
I worked with some people, a choreographer and some other people –
you know, a couple of dance people – and the inside part was
pretty much all choreographed and then the outside, the basic idea
of it was choreographed, and then we kind of riffed on that and had
fun from there.
Was
the dancing challenging or at all awkward for you?
Well,
first of all, that was Peter Parker dancing. [Laughs] Not Tobey. It
really is like a thing where Peter thinks that he’s super cool and
suave and really he’s a cornball. So we were making fun of that and
having fun and our aim was to have people laughing. So I had that in
mind while I was dancing.
With
some of the comedic scenes that you have on this movie, and then,
we’ve heard about how funny you are on set…
[Jokingly]
Extremely funny. I’m so funny.
We
haven’t seen you in a lot of comedies onscreen. Do you want to
tackle one of those eventually?
I
don’t know. I want to work in all kinds of movies and so I would
love to do a good comedy, and it was fun. It was a lot of fun. It
was fun to do this with Sam. I think that he has a great sense of
humor and so we had a blast doing that.
Sam
said that the evil Spidey scenes were the hardest for him to do. Do
you feel the same?
Well,
I probably had the most fun doing those scenes myself. I’ve heard
Sam say that before too and I’m not quite sure that I’ve ever
believed him though. I feel like it’s both ways. I think that he’s
attracted to it and repulsed by it at the same time. I think that
it’s hard for him to see Peter behave in those ways because it’s
like his treasured character of Peter sort of straying off course
and so I do think that he has a genuine reaction to that. But also I
think that we both get a little pleasure out of seeing Peter like
that.
Now
that you’ve done the three movies and knowing that Sony is going to
probably make 4, 5 and 6, the big question is will you come back for
‘Spider-Man 4?’
Well,
if there was a great story there and there was something interesting
for Peter Parker to do, like a storyline that I love for Peter
Parker, and Sam was involved and the right cast was in place, at
that point I would consider it.
So
if Sam didn’t come back you wouldn’t consider coming back?
No.
Comments
appeared in the news where you said that you couldn’t see yourself
doing a part four…
I’m
not sure.
So
that’s not what you’re saying now?
That’s
not what I’m saying now. I think that early on through one and two I
thought, or always imagined, that it was going to be three and out.
I would do three films and that would be enough of those, and I’m
not saying that I will do a fourth one at all. I’m saying that I’m
not really committed either way and we’ll see what happens.
Where
do you see your career going from here now that you’re known
worldwide? You’re in a position now that you never were before.
I
just hope to have opportunities to make good movies with good
filmmakers. I don’t really have a specific path of direction that I
want to go on or even types of roles or movies that I want to do. I
want to do everything with great people.
Just
as an actor or as a producer or…?
Yeah,
all of it. Whatever.
Do
you ever get concerned that you’ll only be seen as Spider-Man now?
I’m
not really concerned about it as long as I have opportunities to
make other types of movies. I mean, certainly I’m identified with
this film or with this character and I don’t think that’s going to
go away any time soon. So I’m not fighting that or resisting it. As
long as I get to make some other movies I’m fine with that.
Sam
Raimi talked about your character development using a lot of
spiritual terms. Did you appreciate those spiritual characteristics
coming out in this film?
Well,
I guess if you’re talking about the imagery you should talk to Sam
and Bill Pope, the director and cinematographer. For me, from my
department, I wasn’t thinking about it in those terms really
although there is definitely deep remorse, I think, on Peter’s part.
I think that he feels like he lost his way and he’s really
remorseful and feels really humbled and wants to stop behaving in
that way and it’s difficult for him and emotional. I think about it
from the character’s perspective and not really in religious terms.
It’s more about psychological and emotional terms that I’m thinking.
Could
you identify with some of the things that Peter went through in this
film, with the success going to his head and things like that?
I
think that Peter and I react differently to that aspect of it. He’s
really kind of loving it and bathing in it and getting that kind of
arrogance and self-importance. To me, I enjoyed playing it and I
thought it was funny and fun to do personally. We just have
different experiences.
You
have a great emotional arc in this with Kirsten Dunst and you’ve
sort of come up as a movie couple together. Did it flow really
easily this time or was it harder?
It
flowed pretty easily for me. Just the whole movie in general I had a
good time on and I felt really at ease during the whole shooting
process and working with Kirsten is great. I love what she brings to
the role and to the movie. So it was always a lot of fun.
What
have you been able to learn about fatherhood since having your baby?
It’s
definitely amazing. I love being a dad. I love my daughter. It’s
amazing. It’s like everyone says. All the clichés are true. It’s
indescribable and you just have to be there to understand it. You
don’t really get it until you’re there.
You’ve
talked about your own childhood troubles in ‘Parade.’ Do you have
any advice to kids today who might find themselves in similar
situations?
It’s
hard to say. I think that each and every individual experience is so
different. I was fortunate enough to find different people along the
way whether it was through movies or books or people that helped
buoy me in times when things were a little bit down and I never
really wanted to be a victim or kind of wallow in the harder things.
I always wanted to move forward and I was very ambitious. I felt
like I had a pretty good imagination and vision for my life and I
had people telling me that I was driving the vehicle of my life
here, that I was the master of my own destiny in a sense. They told
me to do whatever I wanted to do.
That
scene with Bruce Campbell was hilarious. Was there any adlibbing in
your scene with him?
Well,
there wasn’t really like, adlib. There was a different tone at first
to the scene and it was kind of more confrontational and we thought
that it would be funny if we were kind of getting along strangely.
There were some awkward moments, but I thought that it would be a
better tone if we were getting along better and Sam’s always coming
up with gags or different jokes. So I think that everyone was
throwing ideas in here and there and it did change up a bit and
there is some adlib in there, but that was a lot of fun, and I
thought that Bruce was fantastic and the best appearance of the
three appearances for him in these movies.
You
got to work with Stan Lee in this movie, the creator of the iconic
hero. What’s your take on him?
I
think that what he’s done is pretty amazing to me. He created all of
these characters, and not just Spider-Man, but a lot of characters
that are these huge iconic characters that are really present in
Hollywood movies now. So it’s pretty interesting and he’s an icon
himself like his characters are.
This
is such a thrilling character for people. What is something that you
do in real life for excitement?
Well,
I don’t know. I like to be very active. I can’t say that there is
anything that quite compares to swinging around like Spider-Man
does. I like to ride bikes and run and scuba dive and do different
kinds of sports. I like to play a lot of basketball and kind of
normal human being stuff.
There’s
not one particular adventure sport that you really prefer?
I
like all kinds of things. I’ll do anything pretty much. I mean, I’ve
never been skydiving or bungy jumping and I don’t really see the
point for myself in bungy jumping, but I would consider skydiving.
Now, however, my fiancé is like, “You’re not skydiving.”
It would be a shame if something happened and I missed my daughter’s
life. That would be a drag.
Has
having a child changed what kind of movies you’ll act in?
It
may. I don’t really know right now. I think that the greatest affect
that it’ll have is on what the locations of movies are more so than
what the content of them are. Although, it might affect my decisions
about the content as well, I don’t know.
You
played a very good ugly American in ‘The Good German.’ Is that the
sort of thing we can expect more from you, characters who are sort
of the flipside to Peter Parker?
Not
necessarily. I mean, I enjoyed doing that movie and kind of like I
said before I don’t really have any character in mind or types of
characters or types of films. I just want to do everything with
people that I really respect and want to work with.
Do
you think SPIDER-MAN and its sequels stand as the defining comic
book movies out there? What do you think of other comic book films?
For
me, no, I think that there is a whole bunch of them. I really like
‘Batman Begins.’ The first two original ‘Superman’ movies were
great. Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ was great. I mean, there are a lot of
really good ones out there and we’re all just trying to make the
best films that we can and hopefully live in that world and be peers
to those other great ones.
You’ve
been Peter Parker for six years now. Do you think the character has
changed with you over the years?
Well,
I’m sure that I’ve changed a lot over the last six years. I’m not
quite sure how to separate how I’ve changed based on the movies over
the last six years versus just growing up over the last six years.
That’s kind of hard for me to answer without manufacturing
something.
Someone
said that you’re a perfectionist. Was that always the case?
I’ve
always been like that. Since before I can remember.
Could
you see yourself doing another comic book based character?
I
don’t think that I’ll be playing another iconic superhero from a
comic book. I think that would be kind of odd and I’m guessing that
it might be kind of hard for audiences to accept me in that way, but
sure. I mean, what was that thing with Viggo Mortensen? That was
from a graphic novel, wasn’t it?
‘A
History of Violence.’
Yeah,
sure. So there are a lot of things that take on a different tone.
Like I said though, I wouldn’t go be in another film where I was one
of these iconic superheroes. I think that would be weird. I don’t
think that it would work.
During
the early fight with Harry Osborn, you fought the whole time without
the costume. Was that more complicated?
You
know, it’s just that they’re all kind of similar. I am definitely
doing a lot more of that than some of the other stuff, but they are
really long and involved processes. I would guess that it’s similar,
but a little more work for me basically.
Have
you had any strange encounters with an overzealous ‘Spider-Man’ fan?
[Laughs]
Yeah. I guess I’ve had some strange experiences. I can’t really
think of anything. I just try to block them out after they happen.
So I don’t remember them. I did have an interview the other day
where a guy was wearing Spider-Man tights, which I thought was a bit
odd.
Did
you say something about them or just ignore it?
It
was part of his bit. He had a whole bit with them. He was proud of
his Spidey pants. [Laughs]
Was
that in Tokyo?
Wait…
Was he in Tokyo or was he here? I don’t remember. [Laughs]
Is
it hard to stay present in all the interviews that you’re doing for
the movie, and to always know who you’re talking to?
Well,
I’m very present. So I’m present when I’m in a room, but it’s just
hard for me to remember how it all worked out.
Or
which continent you’re on.
Exactly.
It is hard saying, considering that if I did a hundred interviews in
Tokyo and I’m going to do a hundred to a hundred and fifty here,
it’s hard to remember exactly who I talked to and in what place
because Tokyo is a three day stop where I’m just pounding away.
With
the global release date, has that lessened your duties in terms of
doing press?
Well,
I’ve been promoting the film since – not as concentrated with as
much energy into it as this – but since last year, late last year
sometime. I mean, it’s constant promotion.
When
do you get to take a break from the press? Do you go through May
with it?
Well,
probably when the film is released the big sweep will be done and
there will probably be some follow up stuff for a week or two
afterwards and then they’ll give me a ring a month or two before the
DVD’s going to come out.
Can
you go anywhere without being recognized?
Can
I go anywhere without being recognized? Sure. If I went to a mall, I
would definitely be recognized. If I went to an empty restaurant and
sat in a certain way I might not be recognized. I mean, it’s just
kind of what you would probably imagine.
Have
you ever been to a party in your suit?
No.
I actually don’t have a suit. I’ve had many offers to show up for
kid’s parties. [Laughter]
That’s
a whole different kind of fan too – children. How do you respond
to kids who see you and think that you’re really Spider-Man?
Well,
first of all, I love kids and it’s a lot of fun interacting with
kids, but it’s a little confusing sometimes because I want to take
the lead from parents. Sometimes parents will want to explain that
I’m an actor and sort of the reality of the situation and other
parents like to keep the illusion alive. So, that’s always a sort of
trickier spot and especially the younger they are. I did have a
thing where at the time I thought the right thing to do was to
explain. The kid asked me and I was honest about it. The kid said,
“How do you do that?” I said, “Well, we take the
building, the vertical building and turn it on it’s back and I’m
crawling across it.” And the kid was just really bummed out. I
was just like shattering his whole thing and then I had to work to
get back in there, but we ended up hugging and he was telling me
that he was going to miss me and it ended up being really sweet. It
ended up being a really sweet thing, but for a while I felt really
bad about it.
Out
of the three ‘Spider-Man’ films, which is your favorite?
Right
now I feel like this one is my favorite. I’m excited about it. It’s
fresh. I feel like there are so many great things. It’s funnier. It
explores new territory. It’s probably the most distinctly different
of the three films. I thought that ‘2’ was a really, really good
movie. The story came together very well and in the first one, I
loved the kind of excitement of it and the origin story. Right now
though, this is probably my favorite, but that might change.
Got
questions? Got comments? Send me a line at: quigles@joblo.com.