Sam Raimi remembers “awful” Spider-Man 3 backlash

Director Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies featuring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker remains one of the most influential trilogies in all of superhero cinema. Having come long before the dawn of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it paved the way for the record-breaking franchises we have today.

But it wasn’t without its controversies, namely Spider-Man 3, which many remember for its messy plot featuring too many villains. Given the lasting “awful” response to Spider-Man 3, Raimi assumed he’d never be at the helm of another superhero movie ever again; a backlash like that will make you question your future. However, Raimi is returning to Marvel to direct one of its most ambitious films yet, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and we can’t wait.

“I didn’t know that I could face it again because it was so awful, having been the director of Spider-Man 3,” Raimi told Collider. “The Internet was getting revved up and people disliked that movie and they sure let me know about it. So, it was difficult to take back on. But then, I found out that there was an opening on Doctor Strange 2.”

It was Raimi’s obsession with Spider-Man that drove him to make his trilogy in the first place. Sure, some people still love the third installment despite its drawbacks, perhaps partly out of nostalgia. And the first two movies largely speak for themselves.

Raimi’s love for the character Dr. Stephen Strange — although not as popular a hero as Spidey — was enough to convince him to return to the world of superhero movies:

"My agent called me and said, ‘They’re looking for a director at Marvel for this movie and your name came up. Would you be interested?’ And I thought, ‘I wonder if I could still do it.’ They’re really demanding, those types of pictures. And I felt, ‘Well, that’s reason enough.’ I’ve always really liked the character of Doctor Strange. He was not my favorite, but he was right up there with the favorites. I loved the first movie, I thought Scott Derrickson did a wonderful job, an incredible job. So, I said, ‘Yeah.’ They left the character in a great place. I didn’t think I would be doing another superhero movie. it just happened."

Believe it or not, Doctor Strange 2 marks the first movie Raimi has directed since Oz the Great and Powerful all the way back in 2013. With the Marvel multiverse now up and running, Raimi is not short on options when it comes to creating something completely unique. Perhaps, he could enlist the help of his former friendly neighborhood Spider-Man Tobey Maguire?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres on March 25, 2022.

Sam Raimi thinks Doctor Octopus looks “great” in Spider-Man: No Way Home

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness isn’t the only MCU movie tackling the multiverse. Far from it. So far, both Loki and What If…? have dealt with bizarre alternate realities, and we’re just getting started.

In December, the hugely anticipated Spider-Man: No Way Home will open up several alternate realities after Doctor Strange uncharacteristically messes up a spell. In the trailer, we saw the return of Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, who was the main antagonist in Raimi’s Spider-Man 2. “He looks great, the animation’s great,” Raimi told SyFy Wire.

“I’m assuming it’s not puppeted because when we did Doc Ock, we had puppets and animation for his octopus tentacles,” Raimi continued. “[This time] it was smooth and powerful and I loved his costume they kept. I think it’s gonna be a great movie.”

No Way Home also includes several other Spider-Man villains from the franchise’s past, as well as appearance by (probably) former Spider-Men Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. It’s all set to be the superhero event of the year. Catch it in theaters when it premieres on December 17!

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels