บท 11: Chapter 10
The live-action version of Spider-Man is scheduled for a Christmas release, with Sony betting big on one of Marvel's most popular characters.
"Asian Spider-Man is coming! The trailer has been viewed over 3 million times!"
"Five highlights of Spider-Man and real predictions for the film's box office!"
"Stan Lee: He is my Peter Parker. What about Asian actors?"
As the trailer for Spider-Man gains traction, online discussions are intensifying. TV stations, theaters, and other media channels are also airing the trailer, drawing the attention of traditional outlets like the Los Santos Times, New York Times, Time, and CNN News.
Previously, there was significant controversy surrounding the director's casting choices. As a Chinese actor, Xu Can's role as Spider-Man was initially met with resistance from Marvel fans. However, after the trailer's release, the opposition has softened considerably.
With the trailer's positive reception, some media outlets have issued favorable reviews.
The Los Santos Times stated:
"Judging by the trailer, this live-action movie might break the mold and open a new chapter for American comic book films."
"Director Marc Webb, producer Avi Arad, and Stan Lee have all praised Xu Can's performance."
"Xu is the most spiritually connected actor I have ever seen, and he is the best Peter Parker," said Marvel founder Stan Lee.
"Sony Entertainment originally planned to release Spider-Man in the summer of 2007. However, the production progressed unusually quickly, leading Sony to boldly move the release date to this Christmas!"
"I believe, as the trailer suggests, this Spider-Man will provide a truly breathtaking experience."
However, not all feedback has been positive. The New York Times commented:
"Peter Parker is a high school student from Queens, New York—a white teenager! This has been ingrained in the hearts of the comic community."
"It's not about racism; it's about maintaining the character's integrity. Casting an Asian as Spider-Man is out of character (OOC) and deviates significantly from the original."
"Interviews with New York residents show a lack of interest in an Asian Spider-Man. This is a superhero rooted in our city, and the original work should be respected!"
"While the trailer is impressive, it's well known that a good trailer doesn't always correlate with a quality film."
"Many movies condense their best moments into the trailer, diminishing the overall viewing experience."
"In addition, live-action adaptations of comics often struggle. Many directors and well-known actors have expressed doubts about Spider-Man's box office prospects."
One critic, Richard Newber, was particularly blunt, labeling Spider-Man as a likely flop:
"This will undoubtedly be a popcorn movie, packed with action scenes and special effects."
"The original masked heroes are back on the big screen, giving audiences a chance to see these 'vigilantes' dispense justice—a task usually reserved for the police."
"The most ironic part is that this hero is Asian, portrayed by Chinese actor Xu Can. Is this the justice audiences want?"
This critique, published in the New York Times, sparked widespread debate.
Xu Can's agent, Happy Hogan, quickly contacted Xu Can, concerned that this public backlash might affect both his reputation and the film's box office performance.
Xu Can, however, was unfazed.
"Happy, calm down. This isn't necessarily a bad thing," Xu Can said.
"Huh? How is it not bad?"
"Free publicity is valuable if used wisely. Isn't the discussion more intense now than a few days ago?"
Happy paused to consider and realized Xu Can was right.
"When the Spider-Man trailer first went online, it didn't attract much attention beyond Marvel fans. But now, it's reaching a broader audience, sparking widespread debate."
"The casting controversy, which had been simmering, has reignited with the question, 'Should Spider-Man be played by an Asian?' once again stirring the pot."
Xu Can's name and photos have been widely circulated in the media. Even before the movie's release, he had already made a name for himself in Hollywood.
In fact, it was Xu Can who suggested releasing the trailer on YouTube—a platform that, at the time, was largely ignored by traditional media giants. Xu Can's strategy of leveraging online platforms to boost offline popularity seems to be paying off, as interest in the movie continues to grow.
"Let's stoke the fire a little more!" Xu Can said with a calm sip of Coke.
"Happy, file a lawsuit against that film critic for racial discrimination. Then, I'll do some media interviews to address the issue."
"Coincidentally, a reporter from the Los Santos Times has been trying to reach me."
After discussing their plan, Happy hung up.
The next morning, the Los Santos Times reported:
"In response to film critic Richard Newber's racially discriminatory comments against Asian actor Xu Can, Xu Can's agent has filed a lawsuit."
"Agent Happy Hogan stated that Richard should apologize to Xu Can. There are white, black, female, and even pig Spider-Men in the comics! Spider-Ham!"
"Peter Porker is Spider-Man too! So why can't Xu Can play the role?"
This legal action caught Richard Newber off guard. Faced with a court summons, he quickly agreed to media interviews.
"I am not racist. I publicly apologize to Mr. Xu Can. I have no issue with people of any color, race, or creed!"
"The media misunderstood my point. I merely suggested that casting an Asian as Spider-Man might upset fans and affect the film's box office and reputation."
"I boldly predict that the North American box office for this live-action Spider-Man won't exceed $200 million."
Spider-Man had a production budget of $139 million, meaning a $200 million box office would result in significant losses. The movie would need to gross at least $300 million to break even.
Despite his apology, Richard Newber remains pessimistic about Spider-Man's prospects. Beyond the comic community and the Los Santos Times, most of the film industry shares this skepticism, predicting a box office between $100 million and $250 million.
Amid this swirling public opinion, Emma Stone, who is busy filming The King of Rock, expressed confidence in an interview:
"Spider-Man's North American box office will exceed $500 million! I'm confident in this movie!"
"Xu Can's Spider-Man will definitely leave a mark on you!"
As the release date draws nearer, the controversy and excitement surrounding Spider-Man continue to escalate.
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