23 things you probably didn't know about 2002's 'Spider-Man' movie

Kirsten Acuna,Olivia SinghDec 13, 2021, 00:36 IST

Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst in a scene from the film "Spider-Man."Columbia Pictures/Getty Images

The first live-action "Spider-Man" movie, starring Tobey Maguire, came out almost 20 years ago.
How much do you know about the 2002 movie?

Tobey Maguire beat out Jude Law (and others) for the role of Spider-Man.

Jude Law was another person who could have played Spider-Man.Albert L. Ortega/WireImage via Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Joe Manganiello was offered $100 to punch Maguire during their scene.

Flash Thompson tries to beat up Peter at the start of "Spider-Man" and fails.Columbia Pictures

James Franco auditioned to play Spider-Man.

Could you have seen Franco as Peter Parker?Columbia Pictures

J.K. Simmons first learned he was cast in "Spider-Man" from a fan.

J.K. Simmons' agent told him he was cast in Spider-Man hours after a fan told him the news.Columbia Pictures

Elizabeth Banks said she was told she was "too old" to play Mary Jane Watson.

Elizabeth Banks can be seen an hour and two minutes into "Spider-Man."Columbia Pictures

Kirsten Dunst thought she was going to play Gwen Stacy because they both had blond hair.

Kirsten Dunst's hair was blond at the conference before they started filming on "Spider-Man."Barry King/Wire Image via Getty Images

Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst dated for a short time. Their break-up originally worried director Sam Raimi.

Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst attend the after party of the Spider-Man London Premiere at the In and Out Club in London on the 5th of June 2002.Dave Benett/Getty Images

"Home Alone" director Chris Columbus turned down directing "Spider-Man," something he waited his entire life to do.

Emma Watson, producer David Heyman, Daniel Radcliffe, director Chris Columbus and Rupert Grint at the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage via Getty Images

When Peter Parker first takes off his shirt, that's not Tobey Maguire's body.

Maguire's head was put on another body for the first shot on the left.Columbia Pictures, composite by Kirsten Acuna/Insider

Tobey Maguire's hand isn't in the famous shot where he gets bit by a spider.

That is not Tobey Maguire's hand.Columbia Pictures

The tray scene in the cafeteria where Peter Parker catches all of the food wasn't done digitally.

Tobey Maguire really did this.Columbia Pictures

J.K. Simmons has a telescope in his editor's office because the New York Post editor had one.

J.K. Simmons took his role as an editor seriously.Columbia Pictures

The Twin Towers can be seen in three shots of "Spider-Man."

The first image shows a scene used in a teaser for the film. You can spot it 55 minutes and 49 seconds into the movie after a montage of Spidey. The second shot appears at the movie's end.Columbia Pictures

If Tobey Maguire ever had to go to the bathroom, it was about a 30-minute process to get out of the Spider-Man costume.

Needing to take a break or get a drink was not the most fun in the first Spidey suit.Columbia Pictures

Maguire couldn't breathe during the famous upside-down kiss scene.

The making of the famous upside-down kiss wasn't as sexy as it looked.Columbia Pictures

It took 30 minutes and three people to get Dafoe into the Green Goblin suit.

Willem Dafoe's costume used to be a lot more complicated than it will be in "No Way Home."Columbia Pictures

Dafoe wore prosthetic teeth for much of the film to play Norman Osborn, but his natural teeth could be seen when he tapped into the Goblin's persona.

You can see the gap in Willem Dafoe's teeth when he's in his Green Goblin persona only.Columbia Pictures

James Cameron almost made the first live-action "Spider-Man" movie in the '90s and he wanted Leonardo DiCaprio to star.

Director James Cameron and actress Kate Winslet and actor Leonardo DiCapri pose for photographers after Cameron won the award for Best Director for "Titanic" at the 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards.Hal Garb/AFP via Getty Images

Hugh Jackman almost had a cameo in the film as his "X-Men" character, Wolverine.

Jackman starred in 2000's "X-Men" two years earlier as Logan/Wolverine.20th Century Fox

The SFX team had to tone down the gore of Spider-Man and Green Goblin's final battle so the movie could maintain a PG-13 rating.

Spider-Man getting punched by Green Goblin in "Spider-Man."Columbia Pictures

Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich were considered for the role of Norman, but Dafoe said that he "lobbied" to prove he could play the part.

Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn in "Spider-Man."Columbia Pictures

Maguire improvised the phrases that Peter says when he tries to activate his biological web shooters.

Peter Parker trying to activate his biological web shooters in "Spider-Man."Columbia Pictures

Originally, Stan Lee's cameo involved him selling sunglasses at a stand at the Unity Day Festival and referencing the X-Men.

Stan Lee in his original cameo for "Spider-Man."Columbia Pictures

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