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Spider-Man Has Back Problems

skantman writes "Potentially sad news for Spiderfans. Tobey Maguire has back problems and may have to pull out of the Spider-Man sequel." Since the film was apparently slated to pay him 11M GBP, sucks to be him just as much as us if he doesn't play the part. CT Updated, thats 11M pounds, not USD.

17 of 460 comments (clear)

  1. uh oh...series syndrome by VinniTheGeek · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Like Batman with multiple stars, we now get a chance at Spiderman. For the love of any god out there man, I hope his back heals soon.

  2. really? by Lxy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This part confused me:
    "Tobey has experienced mild discomfort in his back, which is in the final stages of healing"

    So, what's the problem? I know his back needs to be fully healed, but if it's in the final stages of healing, why not delay production until it's healed? All too often sequels have alternate actors playing the main characters, and I refuse to see such movies. If Tobey's not in the sequel, I probably won't see it.

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  3. Not Entirely Out by Grip3n · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Note that the article states Toby might not be up to performing "difficult" stunts - which is just fine. We're not going to be able to tell if that's Toby or someone else under that suite with the mask on. Realistically, his back problems, which by the way are in "in the final stages of healing" according to the article, should not pose such a threat as to completely disabling him from acting altogether. If you want to make a bet, Toby is going to be in the sequel.

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  4. Materialist scum by psicE · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How about, sucks to be him not because he's going to lose $11 million in potential earnings, but because he has back problems, and loses an opportunity to do what he likes best? He already got paid a shitload of money for the first movie. Spider-Man 2 or not, he's still one of the richest people in the country. And as soon as his back heals, he'll be right back on the silver screen, doing stunts and earning money galore.

    God. I feel bad for him because as an actor, he undoubtedly loves his work, and it's unfair that he loses such a great opportunity to use his talent. I don't feel bad for him because he's only a multi-millionaire instead of a multi-multi-millionaire.

  5. Who said he's wearing a suit? by oneiros27 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    From my memory of the first one, he wasn't wearing the suit for all of the stunts. I don't know what they consider to be 'difficult', but it's entirely possible that there might be parts of the movie in which the character Peter Parker would have to use his abilities when he's not wearing the disguise.

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  6. he doesn't have to do his own stunts by Xpilot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Doesn't Spider-Man wear a MASK? A stunt double doesn't even need to look like him! What's the problem here?

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  7. Re:What the big deal? by TrollBridge · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Of course, it could fail miserably as well.

    Hell, just look at Batman after Michael Keaton! I believe I have proven my point (though the departure of Tim Burton from the series also contributed to the downfall of the Batman movie franchise).

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  8. Re:correction by lubricated · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It doesn't suck to be him. It sucks to be me. I would love to be him. So he doesn't get 11 million pounds today, big fucking deal. I won't get 11 million pounds ever.

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  9. Re:No Big Deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Like MASH. Like Bewitched. Like Bond. It can work if you replace the original with a better actor. Batman is a bad example because Michael Keaton just is Batman. It is not possible to get better. I don't get the sense that Tobey just is Spiderman. I thought he was only mediocre.

  10. Correction by cmburns69 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now that I looked at the right place, the USD value of 11m GBP is $17,406,247.58.

    His negotiated salary is probably about $17.5m when it was signed.

    Now it REALLY sucks to be him if his back goes out.

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  11. Re:CGI to the rescue? by Sabalon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Spiderman droned on about responsibility coming with power

    Wasn't that part of the whole basis of spider man?

    He decided one night not to stop a theif even though he had the power to, and that guy ended up killing his uncle.

  12. Re:Please say it ain't so!! by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think they were trying to move away from the "this is completely unplausible" factor. I mean the movie already requires a gigantic suspension of disbelief, now we have to believe that this kid is going to whip up a neat little gadget the military would just pop a fucking boner over so high-pressure that it would detonate in their metaphorical pants. And he does this what, in a week or two in his bedroom? My asssssss. That seemed goofy to me even when I was a kid.

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  13. Wouldn't the actor be wearing a mask anyway? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    So why pull out? Anyone would be doing the hard moves in the mask, he would be acting the easy part without the mas.

  14. Re:What the big deal? by davmct · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But this freakish casting is exactly what killed the Batman series...

  15. Re:What the big deal? by cgenman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I wish people would stop saying that.

    Has anyone even watched what the director did to the colors, the theme, the riddler? Batman went from a deep, dark, brooding near killer to a vehicle to sell breakfast cereal and toys due to pressure from Kenner and parents groups. Keaton left, but so did Burton, Elfman, and a host of other talents who contributed greatly to the overall feel of the first two movies.

    Batman was too popular to not get sunk by special interests. Keaton jumping ship didn't really matter: Clooney played a wonderful batman in "From Dusk till Dawn," and Kilmer fit the strong silent persona rather well. But the movie they were starring in, and in fact the role they were written, had intentionally lost the edge which made the series popular in the first place... Companies didn't like parents having to explain to children why catwoman was electrocuting the bad guy with a tazer while putting her tongue down his throat on the cover of batman cereal.

    Star Wars suffered the same fate. What made it great was the collaboration of people working to it's strengths, but once it became legend external considerations (such as enormous egos) got in the way of quality filmmaking.

  16. couple of notes by geekoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    1)this is an article for variety, not /.
    2)You can't use CGI for close ups.
    3)In the first movie he was upside down for some shots. try that with back pain.
    4)some shots can take hours. Imagine walking into the same room, over and over again, all day long. Now add sharp back pains. now you have back spasms.
    5)Would you really want to put more strain on your back then you haad to if it meant you may not be able to do what you love doing for the rest of your life?

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  17. Re:Same thing happenned to Barry Gibb by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I saw BB King recently, a killer concert, but he sat all the way through. He can walk, just can't stand for extended periods of time.