Tobey Maguire Interview, Spider Man 3

Tobey Maguire: What? The man behind the spider? Not quite sure what that means. But I had a good time on the movie. (Laughs) I love it. I love working with the cast and the crew and especially with Sam so it was great coming back and I really felt like in this movie it was definitely the continuing story of Peter Parker and the other characters, but we were exploring new territory for the character, so it was exciting for me to venture into some different areas.

Q: Is it like a whole new character since you’re playing the dark side?

Tobey Maguire: It’s not a new character. It’s a new side to Peter Parker and something I think is kind of unexpected to see -- Peter Parker behave in some of the ways he behaves. It was a lot of fun and it was a lot of work for Sam and I to go over it and really think about and discuss the right tone for that part of the movie.

Q: Did you watch Travolta in ‘Saturday Night Fever’ for the dancing sequence?

Tobey Maguire: I saw that a long time ago, but I didn’t watch it to reference him for the movie.

Q: This wasn’t an intentional homage to that thing?

Tobey Maguire: Not from my point of view. I mean, I recognize some of the similarities and I will say though that he was cooler. (Laughs)

Q: Did you work with a choreographer or a dance instructor?

Tobey Maguire: Yeah, I worked with some people -- a choreographer and some other people, a couple of dance people. And the inside part was pretty much all choreographed and then the outside, the basic idea of it was choreographed, and then we kind of riffed on it and had fun from there.

Q: Was that the toughest thing you did on this movie? Did somebody say, ‘Tobey, you have no rhythm’ or ‘You’re a great dancer’ or?

Tobey Maguire: Well, first of all that was Peter Parker dancing, not Tobey. (Laughs) And you know it really is a thing where Peter thinks he’s super cool and suave, and really he’s a cornball. You know? So we were making fun of that and having fun and our aim was for people to be laughing, so I had that in mind while I was dancing.

Q: Did you ever see ‘Superman III’ which has those great moments when he turns bad?

Tobey Maguire: I haven’t seen that in a long time. I did watch ‘Superman 1’ and ‘2’ more recently, but I didn’t remember loving ‘3’ so much. I’m not saying I didn’t like it, but I didn’t have any desire to go back and watch it.

Q: Regarding the comedic scenes that you have in this movie, we have heard about how funny you are on set.

Tobey Maguire: Extremely. I’m so funny. (Laughs)

Q: You haven’t been in a lot of comedies. Was it fun to tackle that? Is there a wacky comedy yet-to-be-made starring Tobey Maguire?

Tobey Maguire: I don’t know. I want to work in all kinds of movies, so I’d love to do a good comedy. And it was fun. It was a lot of fun. It was fun to do it with Sam, I think he has a great sense of humor. We had a blast doing that.

Q: Sam said the ‘bad’ Spidey scenes were the hardest to shoot during the movie. He didn’t like to see him do the things he does. Did you feel the same?

Tobey Maguire: Well, I probably had the most fun doing those scenes myself. I have heard Sam say that before, I’m not quiet sure that I’ve ever believed him though. I feel like he…it’s a little bit both. I think he’s attracted to it and repulsed by it at the same time. I think it’s hard for him to see Peter behave in those ways because it’s like his treasured character of Peter straying off course. So I do think he has a genuine reaction from that, but also I think we both get a little pleasure out of seeing Peter like that.

Q: The actors have all signed on for three movies. Now the big question is, since it’s been announced they’re going to do 4, 5, and 6 at some point, would you come back for Spider-Man 4? Would you want to?

Tobey Maguire: Well, if there was a great story there and there was something interesting for Peter Parker to do like a storyline that I loved for Peter Parker and Sam was involved and the right cast was in place, at that point I would consider it.

Q: So, if Sam didn’t come back, you wouldn’t consider coming back?

Tobey Maguire: No.

Q: Those comments that appeared in the news that said you wanted this to be your last one, where did those come from?

Tobey Maguire: I’m not sure. That’s not what I’m saying now. No, you know, I think early on through one and two, I always imagined this as like three and out. You know what I mean? Like I would do three films and that would be enough for those. I’m not saying I will do a fourth one at all. I’m saying I’m not really committed either way. We’ll see what happens.

Q: Where do you see your career going now?

Tobey Maguire: You know, I just hope to have opportunities to make good movies with good filmmakers. I don’t really have a specific path or direction I want to go on or even the types or roles or movies that I want to do. I want to do everything with great people.

Q: As just an actor or as a producer or…?

Tobey Maguire: Yeah, all of it. Whatever.

Q: Do you have any concern about being haunted by this persona?

Tobey Maguire: I’m not really concerned about it as long as I have opportunities to make other types of movies. Certainly I’m identified with this film or with this character and I don’t think that’s going to go away anytime soon. I’m not fighting that or resisting it. As long as I get to make some other movies, I’m fine with that.

Q: Sam said Spidey/Peter Parker needed to learn he was a sinner and learn the concept of forgiveness and redemption. Did you appreciate those spiritual characteristics coming out in this film? Was the spiritual imagery intentional and part of the character development?

Tobey Maguire: Well I guess if you are talking about the imagery you should talk to Sam or Bill Pope, the director and cinematographer. For me, from my department, you know, I wasn’t thinking about it in those terms really. There is definitely deep remorse I think from Peter’s part. You know, I think he feels like he lost his way and he’s really remorseful and feels really humbled and wants to stop behaving in that way. It’s difficult for him, it’s emotional. I think about it from the character’s perspective and not really in religious terms. It’s more about psychological and emotional terms that I’m thinking.

Q: The look on your face when you say ‘I forgive you’ seemed like part of the process of letting go of that vengeful part. Were you looking forward to that moment when you wrap up the whole character arc for Peter?

Tobey Maguire: I think there is a lot of resolution in this movie from all three movies for many characters and different storylines. I don’t like talking too much about the end of the movie or what happens. I don’t want to take away from anybody’s experience of seeing the movie. I think trailers nowadays give enough information. But, as I said, I do think that there’s a lot of storylines kind of concluded in this film that were in process through the other movies.

Q: Have you ever had to cope with some of the things that Peter does in this film such as success going to your head?

Tobey Maguire: I think Peter and I react differently to that aspect of it. He’s really kind of loving it and bathing in it and getting that kind of arrogance and self importance and to me, I just enjoy playing it and thought it was funny and fun to do. Personally, we just have different experiences.

Q: You and Kirsten have a great emotional arc in this film, and as a movie couple, you’ve grown a lot. Did it just flow really easily this time or was it a little bit harder?

Tobey Maguire: No, it flowed pretty easily for me, just the whole movie in general. I had a good time and I felt really at ease during the whole shooting process. And working with Kirsten is great. I love what she brings to the role and to the movie. So it was a lot of fun.

Q: Bryce was just here and talking about what a great help you and Jennifer (Jennifer Meyer, Tobey Maguire’s fiancee) were during her pregnancy. Being three months ahead of her, what did you find out about fatherhood?

Tobey Maguire: Yes, it’s definitely amazing. I love being a dad and I love my daughter. It’s amazing. It’s like everybody says. All the cliché’s are true. It’s indescribable and you just have to be there to understand it. You don’t really get it until you’re there.

Q: In Parade you talked about your own childhood being troubled and forgiving your parents. Do you have any advice to kids today who might find themselves in a situation like that?

Tobey Maguire: You know it’s hard to say. I think each individual experience is so different. I do think it’s important to – I don’t know. It’s hard for me to say. I was fortunate enough to find different people along the way whether it was through movies or books or people that helped buoy me in times when things were a little bit down. I never wanted to be a victim or kind of wallow in the harder things. I always wanted to move forward. I was very ambitious. I felt like I had a pretty good imagination and vision for my life and I had people telling me, ‘You are driving the vehicle of your life here. You are the master of your own destiny in a sense. So do whatever you want to do.’

Q: Your scene with Bruce Campbell is hilarious. How much of that was ad libbed?

Tobey Maguire: It wasn’t really like ad libbed. There was a different tone at first to the scene. It was kind of more confrontational. And we thought it would be funny -- we were kind of getting along strangely. There were some awkward moments, but I thought it would be a better tone if we were getting along better. You know, Sam is always coming up with gags or different jokes. So I think everybody was throwing some ideas here and there and it did change up a bit. You know, and there is some ad lib in there. That was a lot of fun. And I thought Bruce was fantastic and the best appearance of the three appearances for him in these movies.

Q: Whose idea was it to make him French?

Tobey Maguire: I don’t know whose idea that was.

Q: You got to work with Stan Lee in this film, the creator. What’s your take on him and him seeing this character he created 40 years ago become this huge movie property?

Tobey Maguire: I’m not sure what his perception is or what his experience is of that, as I’m not him and don’t embody him, but I think what he’s done is pretty amazing to me. He created all these characters that are -- not just Spider-Man, but lots of characters -- that are these huge, iconic characters and are really present in Hollywood movies now. It’s pretty interesting and he’s an icon himself like his characters.

Q: If you didn’t do this anymore, would you miss the character and would it bother you to see another actor take over the role?

Tobey Maguire: Well, I would definitely – I love working with all the people, as I said, like Sam, the cast and all that, so I would hope to work with them whether it was this or not. I’m sure at some point I’ll have reminiscent, sentimental kind of feelings about my experiences on the film. I already do. I’ve had great times. But there’s no pain involved in that. It’s just kind of nice. In terms of another actor playing the part, I don’t take any issue with that.

Q: This is such a thrilling character for people. What is something you do in real life that is thrilling?

Tobey Maguire: I don’t know. I like to be very active, so I do all kinds of stuff. I can’t say that there is anything that quite compares to swinging around like Spider-Man does. I like to ride bikes and run and scuba dive and do different kind of sports. I like to play basketball. Kind of normal human beings stuff.

Q: So there’s not one particular adventure sports that you gravitate towards?

Tobey Maguire: I will do anything pretty much. I’ve never been like skydiving or bungee jumping. And I don’t really see the point for myself in bungee jumping, but I would consider skydiving, but now my fiancée is like ‘You are not sky diving.’ And it would be a shame if something happened and I missed my daughter’s life. That would be a drag.

Q: A lot of actors and actresses who have children say it affects what they do in the future. Mark Wahlberg says he wouldn’t do ‘Boogie Nights’ now that he has children. Will having a daughter affect your choices?

Tobey Maguire: It may, I don’t really know right now. I think that the greatest effect it will have is on what the locations of movies are more so than what the content is, although it may affect my decisions about the content as well. I don’t know.

Q: You did a very ugly American very well in "The Good German.” Is that the sort of thing you’d like to do more in the immediate future – things that are totally the flip side of Peter Parker?

Tobey Maguire: Not necessarily. I enjoyed doing that movie. Kind of like I said before, I don’t have any character in mind or types of characters or types of films. I just want to do everything with people that I really respect and people I want to work with.

Q: Do you know what you are doing next?

Tobey Maguire: No.

Q: When I saw Spider-Man 3 last night, I thought it was very powerful and there were moments that made me cry. How do you compare Spidey to the other big superhero movies?

Tobey Maguire: First of all, I’m glad you had that experience and thank you. For me, I think there’s a bunch of them. I really liked ‘Batman Begins.’ I really liked ‘The Matrix’ a lot. The first two original ‘Superman’ movies were great. Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ was great. There are a lot of really good ones out there and we are just trying to make the best films we can and hopefully be peers to those other great ones.

Q: How is this journey with Peter Parker over the past six years? Do you think it has changed you personally in any way?

Tobey Maguire: I’m sure I’ve changed a lot over the last six years. I’m not quite sure how to separate how I’ve changed based on the movies over the last six years versus just growing up over the last six years. So it’s hard for me to answer without manufacturing something.

Q: Somebody said that you were a perfectionist and very, very involved in the character and the scripts and the way to shoot it and so on. Was that always the case or is that something that developed more recently?

Tobey Maguire: I’ve always been like that. Since before I can remember.

Q: Certain actors can do movies that will have the same type of character such as playing a detective over and over again. Can you see yourself doing another type of graphic novel or comic book genre? Like Zack is doing the ‘Watchmen’ next. Could you see yourself doing something like that or are you done with the comic book genre?

Tobey Maguire: The funniest part about that whole thing is that you just said, ‘Zack is doing the ‘Watchmen’ next’ like I’m supposed to know what all that means. (Laughs) Who is Zack?

Q: Zack Snyder.

Tobey Maguire: Oh, Okay. The director who did "300.”

Q: Yeah

Tobey Maguire: Okay, thanks. I don’t think I’ll be playing another iconic super hero from a comic book. I mean I think that would be kind of odd and I would guess that it would be kind of hard for audiences to accept me in that way. But sure, what was that thing with Viggo Mortensen? That was from a graphic novel, wasn’t it?

Q: ‘A History of Violence’

Tobey Maguire: ‘A History of Violence.’ Yeah, there are a lot of things that take on a different tone. Like I said, I wouldn’t go and be in another film where I was an iconic superhero. I mean it would be weird, I don’t think it would work.

Q: The fight with Harry Osborn where you fought the whole time as Peter Parker, was that a lot more complicated to do than the costume fights?

Tobey Maguire: Well, they are all kind of similar. I definitely am doing a lot more of that than some of the other stuff. But they are really a long involved process. It’s similar, but a little more work for me basically.

Q: Where did your creative input on ‘Spider-Man 3’ begin? Was it early on or was it after they figured the story out?

Tobey Maguire: Well, Sam Raimi and Ivan Raimi, I think, came up with the basic idea for the movie and it was kicked around awhile before I got involved, but I was involved fairly early on in terms of the screenplay. Sam was very open to me contributing all of my ideas both from the story standpoint, tonally, content of scenes, everything. He was very open and would listen and I think would use stuff when it was good and dismiss it when it wasn’t.

Q: What has been your weirdest encounter with a Spider-Man fan?

Tobey Maguire: I guess I’ve had some strange experiences. I can’t think of anything. I think I just try to block them out after they happen so I don’t remember them. I did have an interview the other day where a guy was wearing Spider-Man tights which I thought was a bit [inaudible].

Q: Was it in Tokyo?

Tobey Maguire: Wait, was it in Tokyo or was it here? I don’t remember. (Laughs) No, it was part of his bit. He was proud of his Spidey pants. (Laughs)

Q: Can you go anywhere without being recognized?

Tobey Maguire: Can I go anywhere without being recognized? Sure.

Q: Can you go to a restaurant or the mall or anywhere without someone coming up to you and calling you Peter or Spidey or Tobey?

Tobey Maguire: If I went to a mall, I would definitely be recognized. If I went to an empty restaurant and sat in a certain way, I might not be recognized. Kind of what you’d probably imagine.

Q: Have you ever been to a party in your suit? (Laughs)

Tobey Maguire: I actually don’t’ have a suit. I have had many offers to show up for kids’ parties. (Laughs)

Q: How do you respond to kids when they see you and think you really are Peter or Spider-Man?

Tobey Maguire: First of all, I love kids and it’s a lot of fun interacting with kids, but it’s a little confusing sometimes because I want to take the lead from parents. Because sometimes parents will want to explain that I’m an actor and sort of the reality of the situation and other parents like to keep the illusion alive. So, that’s always a tricky spot, the younger they are especially. I did have a thing where at the time I thought the right thing to do was to explain. A kid asked me and I’m honest about it. They said, ‘Well, how do you do that?’ Well we take the building, the vertical building and we turn it on its back and I’m crawling across it, and the kid just was like really bummed out. (Laughs) I was just like shattering his whole thing and then I had to work to get back in there. But we ended up hugging and he was telling me he was going to miss me and it was really sweet. It ended up being a really sweet thing, but for a while I felt really bad about it.

Q: Do you have a favorite of all three Spider-Man films?

Tobey Maguire: Right now, I feel like this one is my favorite. I’m excited about it. It’s fresh. I feel like there are so many great things. It’s funnier, it explores new territory, it’s probably the most distinctly different of the three films. I thought ‘2’ was a really good movie. The story came together very well. In the first one, I loved the excitement of it and the origin story. So, right now, I would probably say this one is my favorite but that might change.

Q: You’re in the middle of a world-wind publicity tour. How much of a blur is the current process to you?

Tobey Maguire: Well, I’m very present. So, I’m present when I’m in a room, but it’s very hard for me to remember how it all worked out.

Q: Which continent are you on?

Tobey Maguire: Exactly. Yeah, well, it is hard. If I did 100 interviews in Tokyo and I’m going to do 100 to 150 here, it’s hard to remember exactly who I talked to in what place Like Tokyo is a three-day stop where I’m just pounding away.

Q: With the global opening of movies like this, does that make your promotional duties much shorter than they were on the first two perhaps?

Tobey Maguire: Well, I’ve been promoting the film since, not as concentrated, not as much energy into it, but since last year, late last year sometime. It’s just constant promotion.

Q: How long will you go?

Tobey Maguire: Well when the film is released, the big sweep will be done. There will probably be some follow up stuff for a week or two afterwards. And then they will give me a ring a month or two before the DVD comes out.

Q: I don’t think I’ve ever heard you answer this question before: how do you feel about spiders?

Spiderman 3 Clip: Subway Accident	Spiderman 3 Clip: Romantic Date	Spiderman 3 Clip: Restaurant	Spiderman 3 Clip: Goblin Fight	Spiderman 3 Clip: The Bell Tower
Spiderman 3 Clip: Aunt Mays Ring	Spiderman 3 Clip: Crane Accident	Spiderman 3 UK Trailer