Once Sony and Marvel Studios struck a deal to share the rights to Spider-Man, the next hurdle became finding a director who could bring the character to life on-screen in a way that resonated with audiences more than the underwhelming "Amazing Spider-Man" franchise. While "Cop Car" director Jon Watts, a relative unknown to mainstream audiences, eventually landed the gig, there were a few other directors who were in the running.
Jonathan Levine ("Warm Bodies," "50/50," "The Night Before") might have been the stiffest competition for Watts, as he admits that he did have a few conversations with Marvel though they did not lead anywhere significant (he was also in the running for "Doctor Strange").
"I've gone in to talk to them about probably three things now - Spider-Man being the one that I thought was the best fit for me," Levine told Cinema Blend. "I think I had a pretty cool take, but it didn't get as far as it looked like it got. They were like, 'We want to do John Hughes tone in New York.' I was like, 'Oh, cool. Just f---ing give it to me.' But then, I think, ultimately the more we spoke, the more I think we both kind of hesitated and I think their guy is a really, really good choice. He's actually someone I know. But I would love to do a movie with them at some point."
Levine has successfully traversed both the comedy and the drama genres as a filmmaker while oftentimes blending both in the same picture. But he has never helmed a full-fledged blockbuster tentpole (his biggest budget to date is $50 million). The thought of handling such a massive undertaking actually made the director a bit "trigger shy" when he began to think about. Though he respects Marvel Studios, he pointed out that the comfort level he felt working with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen on "The Night Before" wouldn't necessarily be present on the set of such a mammoth production.
"I love working with these guys because I always feel safe and protected, and I think for me, just my personality, like that's probably a good thing. I can see myself making a great blockbuster, but I can also see myself making a f---ing horrible one, so I would have to go into it eyes wide open," said Levine.
Rather than jump back into the race for another big budget flick, Levine is reportedly in negations to direct Amy Schumer in an upcoming mother-daughter comedy from "The Heat" screenwriter Katie Dippold.
"The Night Before" is in theaters today.
