Spider-Man director Jon Watts has passed on some wisdom to the next Spidey helmer – but fans aren’t best pleased.
“I have a very practical bit of Spider-Man advice, and I think every Spider-Man director goes through it,” Watts shared with Collider. “It doesn’t look good when someone is just swinging on a rope. You think you’re gonna go in there, you’re like, ‘we’re gonna do it all practical. We’re gonna get a stuntman. We’re gonna be swinging around.’ It’s boring. It looks dumb. It looks like a monkey swinging on a vine when you put someone on just a rope. Don’t waste your time. That’s my advice to the next Spider-Man director.”
Marvel fans, though, have pointed out that practical effects can look great. “Unironically my favorite web swing scene in any Spider-Man movie is this The Amazing Spider-Man 1 scene and it’s all practical,” says one fan, along with a clip of the movie.
unironically my favorite web swing scene in any Spider-Man movie is this TASM 1 scene and its all practical https://t.co/0HS1tmhuxD pic.twitter.com/TIdRvwFjrdMay 12, 2024
“‘It doesn’t look good when someone is just swinging on a rope.’ Meanwhile, Marc Webb over a decade ago… One of the reasons why The Amazing Spider-Man is still such a banger. Practical sets/stunts have a huge impact. The blending of real performers and CGI is the way to go,” is another person’s verdict.
“It doesn’t look good when someone is just swinging on a rope.”Meanwhile, Marc Webb over a decade ago…One of the reasons why The Amazing Spider-Man is still such a banger.Practical sets/stunts have a huge impact.The blending of real performers and CGI is the way to go. https://t.co/KdrdfhGv1b pic.twitter.com/MoSE4LrW69May 12, 2024
“I have never heard a director being so completely wrong,” says another person.
“Web-swinging was the one thing that lacked in the Home trilogy. Would’ve loved to see some more,” says this fan.
Not everyone agrees, though. “How do I break it to some Spider-Man fans that all the good web swinging scenes are CGI bc you can’t actually do that with a real person,” says one fan.
“I keep seeing people bashing Jon Watts for this take, but I think it’s being misinterpreted. Just like previous films, John has used practical effects for his Spider-Man swinging sequences. But just like other Spider-Man movies, he needed to use CGI for the bigger stuff,” adds another person.
Spider-Man 4 hasn’t been officially confirmed by Marvel yet, so this debate might be a little premature anyway.
Next up for Marvel is Deadpool 3, which hits theaters this July 26 in the US and July 25 in the UK. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows for everything else the MCU has in store.
