INTERVIEWS
Tobey's Smash Hit!
May 11, 2002 http://www.etonline.com
'Spider-Man' pulled an amazing feat over the weekend, snagging an enviable $72 million at the box office -- which brings the super-flick to a grand total of $223 million in two weeks!
Fans of the wall-crawler came to theaters in droves to catch their favorite Marvel hero romance Mary Jane Watson and face off against the Green Goblin!
'Spider'-stars TOBEY MAGUIRE and KIRSTEN DUNST kicked off the movie's star-studded premiere in Los Angeles, attracting on-screen villain WILLEM DAFOE and high-profile Spidey fans such as MATTHEW PERRY, WILL SMITH, who brought kids TREY and JADEN, and basketball great KOBE BRYANT and his wife VANESSA. Even "The Bachelor," ALEX MICHEL, showed up at the event!
'Spider-Man' stars Tobey as Peter Parker, a high-school photographer bitten by a radioactive spider who develops amazing powers. Kirsten is his concerned girlfriend and Willem portrays the nefarious Green Goblin! The movie was written by 'Jurassic Park' scribe DAVID KOEPP and directed by 'Evil Dead' helmer SAM RAIMI.
ET's JANN CARL sat down with the studly Tobey to learn more about Spidey's death-defying stunts -- and his gravity-defying, upside-down kiss with Kirsten!
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JANN CARL: The first time you put the costume on, what was that like?
TOBEY MAGUIRE: There wasn't one moment for me, because it was such a process. I had a body cast and computer scans, then they put plaster cast all over my body. You stand there for hours while they do different sections of your body and they peel it off. They rip lots of hair off your body and it's excruciatingly painful. I tried the suit on dozens of times before I got to the final one, but I did have moments when I was walking to the set or on the soundstage that was kind of strange and surreal. Somebody would do a double take, "Hey, what's up Spider-Man!"
JANN: When you were all suited up and people would catch a look at you, what were their expressions like?
TOBEY: People would be excited for the most part. I like being in the suit, too, because it gives me a freedom -- when I'm working to express myself -- in a way I wouldn't if I was dressed normally.
JANN: Did you get hurt in any of the filming?
TOBEY: I got a few bumps and bruises, but nothing too bad.
JANN: Did Sam have to stop you from doing some of the stunts -- or are you pretty good at going, "That one is out of my league."
TOBEY: In the beginning, I wanted to do some, but after awhile I just accepted where the line was when I was going to do something and when I wasn't. There were certain things that weren't even a question because it would take the abilities of seasoned gymnasts. And, at times, there were things that even humans couldn't do, that's when we get into the C.G.I.
JANN: That's when the computer takes over. If you could have a superhuman power, what would it be?
TOBEY: I would like to fly. That'd be fun.
JANN: The scene everyone is talking about is the kissing scene. What was that moment like, that whole scene like to shoot?
TOBEY: The conditions weren't as sexy, romantic, and sweet as it came off, but I managed to sneak some pleasure out of it anyway. I actually really loved the moment, it's one of my favorite scenes because it's a scene where you see the character within the superhero and he gets vulnerable with somebody.
JANN: Kirsten was saying the hard part was when she takes off the costume and all of a sudden oxygen is not an option through your nostrils anymore.
TOBEY: I couldn't breathe, and rain was pouring up my nose, then she was kissing me and I couldn't breathe out of my mouth! So, I had to hold my breath while I was kissing her. I would sneak little breaths of out the corner of my mouth -- it was still nice!
JANN: We can feel that moment on screen. She said it almost felt like CPR!
TOBEY: It was a little mouth-to-mouth.
JANN: The sequels: When you signed up for Number One, you signed up for two and three at the same time?
TOBEY: This is true.
JANN: You're going to be Spider-Man for quite awhile now.
TOBEY: It looks like we are going to make the next one early next year. Sam signed on. I'm excited to see where the character goes from here.
JANN: The other thing that became very talked about when you were doing the movie is the relationship between you and Kirsten. Everybody said you were a couple. Can you set the record straight: Were you a couple?
TOBEY: We were friends, just friends. I don't really talk about my personal life anyways. So, there you have it.
JANN: When you look back at the experience, the best thing about doing this movie was what?
TOBEY: I would say the whole experience. It's hard for me to single anything out, there are so many little sections of it and how it lives in me. It was a long process, and I really like the character and the character's journey and my experience with SAM (RAIMI). I think I have a great relationship with Sam. He put together a great team of people to make this movie. I just feel this character is so relatable and I identify with the struggles that he has -- taking responsibilities for his actions, the theme of the movie. With great power comes great responsibilities, which are the words his uncle said to him that resonates in him.