The two films that have been getting a lot of grief recently for appearing to have an overabundance of characters are X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST and THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2. While there are arguments for and against these films’ giant casts I think it’s something that we should start getting use to. Every comic book movie wants to emulate the success of THE AVENGERS and while cramming a bunch of superheros/villains together wasn’t the only reason why THE AVENGERS was a hit, a lot of people see that as the primary factor in why the film was so well received.
Director Marc Webb tweeted this picture from the set of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 that gives us an idea of where villains Electro and Rhino may frequent (or more likely break out of) in the new film:
Most people consider Ravencroft Institute to be Marvel’s version of Arkham Asylum. It has housed several Spidey villains before such as Carnage, Jackal, and Vulture. I wonder if the “voltage cells” have anything to do with Electro’s transformation. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they showed a villain in the prison as a tease for the third movie.
I know a lot of people dislike how many villains have been cast in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (and how the same thing is what helped kill SPIDER-MAN 3) but I think if Marc Webb can successfully manage the characters’ stories it could work. One of the things I’ve always loved about Spider-Man in the comics is that he always has the cards stacked against him. He’s a powerful guy but you throw something like the Sinister Six his way you know it’s going to be a battle. So if Webb can work these villains in to make sure Spider-Man really gets his ass handed to him we could end up with a very good second effort.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 is currently filming and is out May 2nd, 2014.