Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 had to change the director's initial villain plan. The Marvel Cinematic Universe would have needed to completely change Tom Holland's Spider-Man: Homecoming if this change had not occurred. Tobey Maguire was the first cinematic Peter Parker, and Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy is still considered some of the best Marvel movies ever made. However, there was a noticeable drop in quality from the iconic Spider-Man 2 to Raimi's final collaboration with Maguire in 2007's Spider-Man 3.
The main reason for this decline in quality was that Raimi was not allowed to use the villain and story he originally intended for Spider-Man 3. The movie ended up featuring Topher Grace's Venom as the main villain, a character that Raimi did not particularly like. He had initially envisioned Vulture as the villain for the film, but Sony executives forced him to change his plans and include Venom instead. If this had not happened, the first of the MCU's Spider-Man movies would have likely undergone significant changes.
Spider-Man: Homecoming Likely Wouldn't Have Used Vulture Had He Been Spider-Man 3's Villain
Michael Keaton Played Vulture In The MCU
Michael Keaton's Vulture in Morbius - Michael Keaton Played Vulture In The MCU - Spider-Man: Homecoming Likely Wouldn't Have Used Vulture Had He Been Spider-Man 3's Villain
If Raimi had used Vulture in Spider-Man 3, Vulture would not have been the first villain in Homecoming. Director Jon Watts explained in 2016 that they chose Vulture because he was the first supervillain Spider-Man faced in the comics after the Chameleon. They wanted to stay true to the roots of the character.
Watts mentioned that the decision to choose Vulture as the villain in Spider-Man: Homecoming was partly because it allowed for exciting visuals. If Raimi had used Vulture in Spider-Man 3 as originally planned, the same approach would not have been possible for Spider-Man: Homecoming according to Watts. The idea of going back to the character's origins and the unique visual appeal of Spider-Man battling Vulture would not have fit with a previous adaptation.
Based on Watts' comments, it is possible that Spider-Man: Homecoming could have chosen Chameleon as the main villain or one of the foes to maintain a connection to Peter's comic book roots if Vulture had been used in Spider-Man 3 by Raimi.
Why Changing From Vulture In Spider-Man: Homecoming Would've Totally Changed His MCU Story
Adrian Toomes Played An Important Role In Peter Parker's MCU Journey
Tom Holland's spiderman and the vulture - Adrian Toomes Played An Important Role In Peter Parker's MCU Journey - Why Changing From Vulture In Spider-Man: Homecoming Would've Totally Changed His MCU Story
Vulture was a key figure in the evolution of Spider-Man in the movie Spider-Man: Homecoming. As the first villain to challenge the hero on his own, Vulture posed both a mental and physical threat. By uncovering Spider-Man's secret identity and using it against him, Vulture highlighted the importance of caution for Peter in future battles. If the original plan for Spider-Man 3 had been followed and a different villain chosen for Spider-Man: Homecoming, we would have missed out on Michael Keaton's chilling portrayal of Vulture, Liz Allan might have had a more prominent role in the MCU, and more.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the significant impact that the change in villain for "Spider-Man 3" had on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Raimi's initial vision for Vulture as the antagonist would have altered the trajectory of the MCU's Spider-Man movies, potentially leading to a different villain in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
The article also emphasizes the importance of Vulture's character in Peter Parker's MCU journey. As the first villain to challenge Spider-Man on his own, Vulture played a crucial role in shaping Peter's understanding of the risks and responsibilities of being a superhero. His chilling portrayal by Michael Keaton added depth and nuance to the film, while his connection to Liz Allan hinted at potential future storylines. It is fascinating to speculate how the MCU's Spider-Man narrative might have unfolded differently had Raimi's original plan for "Spider-Man 3" been realized.