In the realm of what-ifs, had Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 film moved beyond the development phase, audiences might have witnessed Angelina Jolie playing the role of the Vulture’s daughter. Unfortunately, the director’s tenure in the Spider-Man universe concluded with Spider-Man 3, where Peter Parker confronted his darker self while battling the symbiote Venom, Sandman, and Harry Osborn’s New Goblin.
Despite Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland taking up the mantle of Spider-Man in subsequent films, many still regard the Raimi and Tobey Maguire era as the character’s golden age. The revival of both Raimi and Maguire was set for Spider-Man 4. Initially approved for a 2011 release, the film was slated to introduce a fresh array of villains, with John Malkovich cast as the Vulture and Bruce Campbell as Mysterio.
Why Was Spider-Man 4 Cancelled?
In the proposed Spider-Man 4, John Malkovich was set to take on the role of Vulture, while Anne Hathaway was lined up for the character of Felicia Hardy, as previously stated. Additionally, Angelina Jolie was approached for the character of Vulturess, who would have been Vulture’s daughter.
Raimi’s departure was primarily influenced by concerns regarding the film’s quality and profitability, as he struggled to envision how to generate substantial returns on a project with an estimated cost of nearly $400 million.
Had Spider-Man 4 materialized, viewers might have witnessed Jolie taking on the role of the central antagonist. Establishing a legacy character would have provided Raimi and Jolie the creative freedom to craft an original villain unencumbered by the constraints of established comic book lore.
Given the existence of diverse iterations of the web-slinger portrayed by Garfield and Holland, there could have been a potential opportunity for Jolie to make a return in Spider-Man: No Way Home, alongside the reprisals of Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn and Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus.
Angelina Jolie Was Offered Another Superhero Role Before Eternals
In the constantly shifting realm of superhero films, there was one name that consistently piqued interest – Angelina Jolie. Celebrated for her adaptability, Jolie had already made a lasting impression on the world of Hollywood. The 48-year-old actress disclosed that she had declined a notable superhero movie before committing to her role in Eternals.
Jolie disclosed her past decision to decline a superhero role, shedding light on her motivations for accepting the part in Eternals. The Academy Award-winning actress portrayed Thena in the Marvel film, drawn to the project by its emphasis on character development. Speaking to Empire Magazine (via The Direct), she elaborated on her decision, refraining from disclosing which character she had previously been offered, stating,
“I don’t usually lean towards superhero or sci-fi films. It’s not usually what I’m looking to do. It felt like something else was happening in this film, though. It was very character-driven.”
Eternals appeared to be a suitable choice for Jolie, despite her not typically being drawn to genre films of that nature in recent years.
