I don’t know if this is a joke or something that was done with 100-percent seriousness, but it’s fantastically entertaining.
Ahead of the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, a new clip from Tobey Maguire’s screen test for Spider-Man has begun making the rounds, and it looks more like a Bruce Lee movie than a superhero film.
The clip, which clocks in at just over a minute, sees a ripped Maguire dramatically confront three men assaulting a woman. The set, unnecessary expletives, and lighting gives the screen test a very ‘80s vibe, as if it’s some kind of anti-crime campaign.
But, no, it’s reportedly a screen test to make sure Maguire was the man for the job. I just don’t understand why the screen test featured so many f-bombs.
Judging by the over-the-top sound effects, I’m inclined to think the original screen test was dubbed over by a comedic mastermind. That’s the only explanation I can think of why this clip exists in the form it does.
Clearly, the tone is much different from the final Spider-Man movie, which still holds up beautifully after all these years. The screen test in the video above was likely more to admire Maguire’s athleticism rather than his acting chops.
It’s funny to see something like this exist when you consider the weird direction the third Spider-Man film went in.
Real or not, clips like this need to be seen to appreciate how writers, actors, and directors take what’s on the page and create big, beautiful movies. It’s hard to imagine a screen test like this was turned into the movie it was.
Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on July 7.