Six more days to go until the anticipated Spider-Man 3 sets out to shatter box office records across the globe. We have now arrived at our final interview with the film’s main cast, you can catch up with the others if you’ve missed them: Thomas Haden Church (Sandman), Bryce Dallas Howard (Gwen Stacy),  James Franco (Harry Osborn) and Topher Grace (Venom) and Kirsten Dunst (MJ Watson). And who better to cap off the series with Spider-Man himself, Tobey Maguire?

The American actor gave his cinematic debut at the side of Robert de Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio in This Boy’s Life, but his breakthrough didn’t come until he starred in Ang Lee’s sexual revolution study The Ice Storm in 1997. Since then he has gone on to establish his acting talent in acclaimed films such as Pleasantville, The Cider House Rules, Wonder Boys, Seabiscuit, and most recently, The Good German.

What was it like to come back for Spider-Man 3?

Getting together with all of the people that I’ve worked with before is terrific. We’re a little family and the camaraderie is great. There’s a shorthand between us. Creatively I think we work well together. I’ve had more room to contribute as Sam has gained trust in me and given me more of a voice in each successive movie. We try to make a unique film with its own story, its own journey, with a tone and theme fitting under the umbrella of the Spider-Man franchise.

Over the years has the experience of shooting these films deepened?

Definitely. I have changed and I guess we all have.  We’ve gone through all kinds of things together over the six years. As you know people more, and develop friendships, hopefully the work gets better too.

At the end of Spider-Man 2, life was good for Peter Parker. What can we expect from Peter in Spider-Man 3?

He’s got the girl (Mary Jane), he’s handling school, work, Aunt May, everything. Even his super hero duties and public relations are good. People adore him. But eventually that starts to go to his head. He develops an arrogance and he starts to get a little too cocky and gets himself into a little bit of trouble. Then he learns something about Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) and he starts to feel anger and the desire for revenge.

What are some of the themes covered in this third chapter of the franchise?

Well, first of all I think this film is a little funnier. But it’s also darker and we’re dealing with issues of vengeance and pride and ego. Peter makes certain choices and there are consequences. His life is complicated and there are themes of forgiveness in the film as well as the responsibility and of growing up.  But tonally from my standpoint it’s funnier and darker and as an actor those are the things that I get to play with. And black symbiot Peter, or Black Spidey, was kind of fun because I got to explore the bad side of Peter.
 
In addition to mind blowing special effects and action, the Spider-Man movies have also concentrated on the characters, the story and the romance.  Would you agree?

Yes. Relationships, characters, story and emotional impact are all given as much weight in the film as the stunning action sequences. Those are the things that you look for as an actor. And that’s why I first signed on for these movies because Sam was taking that approach right from the start. That’s why I was interested. A few years back, it wasn’t a genre that I was particularly interested in. But talented filmmakers like Sam, are making these kinds of movies now and therefore the movies have got better.

Did you enjoy working with the new cast members (Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace and Bryce Dallas Howard)?

Working with new the players like Thomas Haden Church was a thrill. The new guys, Tom, and Topher (Grace) and Bryce (Dallas Howard) did a fantastic job.

Did you have to do a lot of training for this film?

I’m more used to the training, but it is harder now. As I get older, I’m just hitting the gym constantly. But I am trying to not go to such extremes. Before I’d prepare like a boxer trains for a fight. You know, an intensive period beforehand and then after the film, stop. I’m trying to find more balance where it’s not so intense.

Each Spider-Man movie has achieved that rare feat of winning both critical praise and box office success. Did you feel pressure to raise the bar in Spider-Man 3?

I don’t really think about it in those terms but I do care about it. I try to think about it from the point of view that we need to get it right to satisfy ourselves creatively and I know that this needs to be an entertaining film. It needs great action and I know that you have to be engaged with the characters and be moved by their stories and their journeys, all the while being entertained and having a good pace to the movie.

There has always been a strong link between Peter Parker and his enemies. What is the relationship this time with Venom and Sandman?

It’s a little different but I’m still connected to them in terms of the story. I don’t want to give too much away about the storylines, but it’s not the same. It’s not a father figure or a mentor, it’s a different angle.

So Peter doesn’t need a role model anymore?

Well, first of all he’s got Aunt May. I wouldn’t call her a role model but I would say she is the person he talks to for guidance and wisdom. So she is always there and Uncle Ben is always there in his heart. 

The Spider-Man films are full of special effects, so during production you work quite extensively with green screens.  Is it strange when you finally see yourself in the finished film?

It’s great. It’s kind of cool because I’m approaching it from inside of it trying to live the experience. I’m aware of what we are going for all the time. I’ll watch the animatics and look at the storyboards so I have a sense of it, but of course it’s always different when you see the final cut with the animation and the music.

Has your working relationship with Sam Raimi changed over the years?

He’s pretty inclusive of me in the process. I’m curious and anxious to see things but only where I can be useful in lending an idea. Sam gathers everybody’s thoughts and ideas and considers them and tries to make his own best choices.

Throughout your career, you have portrayed a variety of characters in various time periods.  Does this affect your own personality?

Definitely. You dig into people. You research the time period; what is happening socially and politically. I have to investigate the mood and climate; who is this person and how would he be reacting to the world and how the world would be reacting to him. You are learning history and maybe it is opening your eyes. You learn about your own true direction or you learn about forgiveness, which is one of the themes in this movie. Whatever it is you spend a lot of time thinking about it, talking about it, digging into it so it’s definitely there for you to experience. There’s just something about acting that is really fun and cool. When you are doing scenes and working with people who are really good; it’s great. It can move you.

Spider-Man 3 opens May 1 in Germany, and May 4 in the US and UK.

Check back later today for our very own review of Spider-Man 3!

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Posted by Tai in Interviews, Movies, Spider-Man • Add to del.icio.us Add to Digg