This spring Columbia Pictures will lure Spiderman a.k.a. Peter Parker back to his roots when it plans to…
By Jennifer Warren
In 1963 when Marvel Comics executives Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created Spiderman, the webbed wonder, they also made Forest Hills, Queens his home.
This spring Columbia Pictures will lure Spiderman a.k.a. Peter Parker back to his roots when it plans to spend two days filming on 69th Road between Metropolitan and Sybilla Street.
Gina Cascino of Columbia Pictures announced the company’s plans last week at a meeting of Community Board 6, according to Kathleen Reilly, who said brief brushes with Hollywood were nothing new to Forest Hills.
“It’s great, but it’s just one of many. There’s always a movie being filmed here,” Reilly said citing other films, including “The Royal Tannenbaums,” television pilots and beer commercials. Many of these productions have been drawn to Station Square, Reilly said because of its “old world look.”
The filming dates were tentatively set for April 25 and May 4, said Cascino, Spiderman location manager for Columbia Pictures.
Location scouts had surveyed Forest Hills last summer, according to Cascino, who said they finally decided on the street south of Metropolitan Avenue because “the trees aren’t that big and you can see all the houses.”
Orphaned at a young age Peter Parker — to be played by Tobey Maguire, who most recently appeared in “Wonder Boys” opposite Michael Douglas and “The Cider House Rules” opposite Michael Cane — is raised in Forest Hills by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben.
Aunt May is played by Rosemary Harris and Uncle Ben is played by Cliff Robertson. Willem Dafoe will play Spiderman’s arch-enemy, the Green Goblin.
In the film, Peter leads the life of a normal student, working as a photographer at the Daily Bugle until one day during a science demonstration on spiders, he is bitten by a genetically altered spider. Soon afterwards the young student finds himself endowed with unusual spiderlike strength and agility.
The film crew will “definitely” be using local extras during its two days of shooting, Cascino said. The details of how to sign up will be available once the casting office opens, closer to the filming dates.
The film, which will be directed by Sam Raimi of “The Gift,” is scheduled for release in May of 2002.
Reach reporter Jennifer Warren by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 155.
