Line 47:
==Cast==
* [[Tobey Maguire]] as [[Spider-Man|Peter Parker / Spider-Man]]: <br> A superhero, a [[Columbia University]] physics student and photographer for the ''Daily Bugle''. Juggling these separate lives means he briefly gives up his responsibilities as a superhero in a moment of adversity. When Maguire signed on to portray Spider-Man in 2000, he was given a three-film contract.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|coauthors=Claude Brodesser|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117784384.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=spider-man|title=Maguire spins 'Spider-Man'|work=Variety |date=July 31, 2000|accessdate=January 22, 2007}}</ref> While filming ''[[Seabiscuit (film)|Seabiscuit]]'' in late 2002, Maguire suffered injuries to his back and Sony was faced with the possibility of recasting their lead.<ref name="greg"/> Negotiations arose to replace Maguire with [[Jake Gyllenhaal]], who at the time was dating [[Kirsten Dunst]], who portrayed [[Mary Jane Watson]]. However, Maguire recovered and was able to reprise his role, with a salary of $17 million.<ref name="rep">{{cite news|author=Claude Brodesser, Dana Harris|title=Tobey's tangled rep web|work=Variety |date=April 13, 2003|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117884592&categoryid=13&cs=1|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Kirsten Dunst]] as [[Mary Jane Watson]]: <br> A friend Peter has loved since he was a child, yet he gave up the chance of being with her due to his obligations as a superhero.
* [[James Franco]] as [[Harry Osborn]]: Harry Osborn has taken his father's position as head of Oscorp.
* [[Alfred Molina]] as [[Doctor Octopus|Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus]]: <br> A scientist and Peter's role model who goes insane after his failure to create a self-sustaining fusion reaction. Octavius is bonded with his handling equipment, four artificially intelligent mechanical tentacles. Molina was cast as Octavius in February 2003 and immediately began physical training for the role.<ref>{{cite news|author=Brian Hiatt|title=Eight Arms to Hold You|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 13, 2003|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,424644~10~0~spider-man2getsits,00.html|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref> Raimi had been impressed by his performance in ''[[Frida]]'' and also felt he had the physicality.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Otto|title=Interview: Sam Raimi|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=June 29, 2004|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/527/527156p2.html|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref> Molina only briefly discussed the role and was not aware that he was a strong contender for the role,<ref name="amazing"/> and was excited, being a big fan of [[Marvel Comics]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Anwar Brett|title=Alfred Molina|publisher=BBC|date=July 9, 2004|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/07/09/alfred_molina_spiderman_2_interview.shtml|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref> Although he wasn't familiar with Doc Ock, Molina found one element of the comics that he wanted to maintain, and that was the character's cruel, sardonic [[sense of humor]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Otto|title=Interview: Tobey Maguire and Alfred Molina|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=June 25, 2004|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/526/526417p1.html|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Rosemary Harris]] as [[Aunt May|May Parker]]: <br> May Parker is the loving aunt to Peter, a widow of Ben.
* [[J.K. Simmons]] as [[J. Jonah Jameson]]: <br> J. Jonah Jameson is the miserly chief of the ''Daily Bugle'' who carries a personal vendetta against Spider-Man, whom he considers a criminal.
* [[Donna Murphy]] as Rosalie Octavius: <br> Rosalie Octavius is the dedicated wife and assistant of Otto Octavius.
* [[Daniel Gillies]] as [[John Jameson (comics)|John Jameson]]: <br> The son of J. Jonah Jameson, fiancé of Mary Jane and a national hero.
* [[Dylan Baker]] as [[Lizard (comics)|Dr. Curt Connors]]: <br> Dr. Curt Connors is one of Peter's physics professors at college. He is a colleague of Octavius.
* [[Willem Dafoe]] as [[Green Goblin|Norman Osborn / Green Goblin]]: <br> Norman returns as a hallucination of his son Harry. Dafoe came up with the idea during promotion for ''[[Spider-Man (film)|Spider-Man]]'', which he compared to [[King Hamlet]] haunting his son to avenge him.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Otto|title=Spidey 2 Talk|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=June 25, 2004|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/527/527428p1.html|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref>
[[Image:Spideygivesup.jpg|thumb|right|Peter Parker gives up being Spider-Man]]
| 
Article Images