Spider-Man: Lotus

Last updated
Spider-Man: Lotus
Movie poster for 2023 superhero fan film 'Spider-Man Lotus'.jpg
Release poster
Directed byGavin J. Konop
Screenplay by
  • Gavin J. Konop
  • Sean Thomas Reid
  • Warden Wayne
Story byGavin J. Konop
Based on
Produced by
  • Gavin J. Konop
  • Jacob Watson
  • Warden Wayne
  • Evan Jackson
  • Samuel Harmon
Starring
  • Warden Wayne
  • Sean Thomas Reid
  • Moriah Brooklyn
  • Tuyen Powell
CinematographyTristan Lawrence
Edited byGavin J. Konop
Music by
  • Caleb Liu
  • James Wong
  • Carl Abelgas
  • Josh McCausland
  • Erin Michael Rettig
Production
company
GJK
Distributed byGJK
Release dates
  • August 5, 2023 (2023-08-05)(Los Angeles)
  • August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)(YouTube)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$125,000[ citation needed ]

Spider-Man: Lotus is a 2023 American superhero fan film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was produced, directed, and co-written by Gavin J. Konop. The film stars Warden Wayne as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Sean Thomas Reid as Harry Osborn, and Moriah Brooklyn as Mary Jane Watson. [1]

Contents

The film is not associated with Marvel Studios nor Sony Pictures [1] and was funded by fans via an Indiegogo campaign. Its trailer trended on Twitter and YouTube, which helped gain exposure for the film. [2] The film began receiving media attention in June 2022 after messages were leaked online in which Konop and Wayne used discriminatory language, igniting a controversy which was widely covered by news outlets. [3] [4]

Plot

After defeating a new supervillain calling himself the Shocker, Peter Parker arrives late to a double date with his girlfriend Gwen Stacy and best friends Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson. After some initial friction due to his frequent absences, Peter plans to propose to Gwen during a planned vacation at the lake. However, Peter's arch-nemesis, the Green Goblin, arrives shortly thereafter, kidnaps Gwen, and takes her unconscious body to the top of the George Washington Bridge. Peter, as his alter ego "Spider-Man", fails to save Gwen, resulting in a final battle between himself and the Goblin, resulting in the latter's death.

Sometime later, Peter has retired from being Spider-Man, blaming himself for failing to save Gwen’s life and begins to shut others out. Haunted by the dreams of the night Gwen died, Peter angrily confronts Mary Jane and Harry for not caring about Gwen’s passing. Though she is hurt, Mary Jane begrudgingly gives Peter a letter for him to give to Spider-Man, which asks if Spider-Man can pay a young child named Tim Harrison a visit before he succumbs to a terminal illness. Harry, despondent over his father's death and regretting the strained relationship the two of them had, leaves the city and goes on a bender, before returning to New York to visit his father's grave.

Peter arrives at the Harrison's apartment as Spider-Man, meeting and bonding with Tim, who sees Spider-Man as a hero in spite of what the press says about him. However, when questioned about what happened to "the girl on the bridge", Peter convinces Tim that he isn't a hero, claiming that his origin was an accident and that he only became Spider-Man for selfish desires. Peter abandons Tim, but Tim's mother convinces Peter to make amends with the boy, wanting to give him hope in his dying days. Peter apologizes and even unmasks in front of Tim, who recognizes Peter as Spider-Man's photographer. Peter bids farewell to Tim, encouraging him to stay strong in the face of fear.

Elsewhere, Mary Jane and Harry begin to patch up their relationship as Peter returns to the cemetery to pay his respects at Gwen’s grave. In the distance, he also notices Tim's grave as well, realizing that even though he may not "want" to be Spider-Man, he "needs" to continue being Spider-Man to inspire others.

Cast

Production

On January 16, 2021, independent filmmaker Gavin J. Konop announced the development of an upcoming film based on the character Spider-Man. The film was funded by fans through a campaign on Indiegogo, receiving $112,000. According to Konop, it was a dream of his to make a Spider-Man film. [6] The film is loosely based on two comic books, "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" and Spider-Man: Blue . [7]

Later that year, Konop announced the main cast of the film as well as its synopsis and its main theme. The same year the teaser and the trailer were uploaded to his channel. [7] [8] The script was finished in May 2021, with production beginning in June with principal photography wrapping on August. Filming took place in New York City. [9]

In October 2021, the project was recognized by Jon Watts, the director of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man films, who stated that he was "100% supportive" of the film. [10]

Spider-Man: Lotus was originally set to premiere in January 2022, but was delayed. [11] In October 2022, the film’s final trailer was released to YouTube. [12]

In July 2023, a scene from Spider-Man: Lotus was released on Konop's social media, its runtime of 120 minutes was revealed, and it was set for a release date. It was released on YouTube on August 11, 2023. [13]

Release

Spider-Man: Lotus held its premiere in Los Angeles, California on August 5, 2023. [14] It was released on YouTube on August 11, 2023. [15]

Reception

Controversy

In June 2022, messages were leaked online in which lead actor Warden Wayne used racist, homophobic, and ableist slurs on social media. [16] Wayne issued an apology, referencing his conservative upbringing [17] [18] and stating that he "would hope and pray that people watching [the film] wouldn't judge it based on [his] past, and instead take it for what it is: a film about redemption and coming out of the darkness." [19] [20] Soon after, similar messages were released in which director Gavin J. Konop used racist and ableist slurs. A series of screenshots were also released concordantly. Konop later released a video to address the various controversies. [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwen Stacy</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Gwendolyne Maxine "Gwen" Stacy is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in those featuring Spider-Man. A college student and the daughter of George and Helen Stacy, she is the first romantic interest for Peter following his high school graduation before she is murdered by the Green Goblin. Her death has haunted Peter ever since, and stories published long afterwards indicate she still holds a special place in his heart. Gwen is posthumously subjected to numerous cloning experiments by her former professor Miles Warren, Peter's clone Ben Reilly, and an A.I. of Harry Osborn, the latter resulting in the creation of the Kindreds, and Ben briefly resurrecting Gwen in "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy" (2016–2017), with the embodiment of Death herself confirming in Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider (2017–2018) that all clones Ben created of deceased people had their souls intact on being brought back, while clones of living people had unique souls of their own. In the alternate realities of Ultimate Marvel and Spider-Gwen, a still-living Gwen respectively becomes their universe's versions of Carnage and Spider-Woman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Jane Watson</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Mary Jane "MJ" Watson is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, making her first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #25, and subsequently designed by John Romita Sr. in #42. Since then, she has gone on to become Spider-Man's main love interest and later his wife. Mary Jane is his most famous and prominent love interest due to their long history, and one of the most iconic in all of comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Osborn</span> Comics character

Harold Theopolis "Harry" Osborn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Spider-Man. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Allan</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Elizabeth "Liz" Allan, also known as Elizabeth Allan-Osborn and commonly misspelled as "Liz Allen", is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In the character's earliest appearances, she was a popular girl at the high school Peter Parker attends. She has been a regular supporting character in the various Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Venom series in an on-and-off basis, and has ties to the Green Goblin and Molten Man. She is married to Harry Osborn, the mother of their son Normie Osborn, and the CEO of Alchemax. Liz Allan later becomes Misery after bonding to portions of the Anti-Venom and Carnage symbiotes.

<i>Ultimate Spider-Man</i> Comic book series

Ultimate Spider-Man is a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2011. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of the company's Ultimate Marvel imprint. Ultimate Spider-Man exists alongside other revamped Marvel characters in Ultimate Marvel titles including Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four and The Ultimates.

Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, or simply Spider-Man, is an American animated superhero television series based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and produced by Sony Pictures Television. Initially intended to serve as a continuation of Sam Raimi's film Spider-Man (2002), as well as a loose adaptation of the Ultimate Spider-Man comic books by Brian Michael Bendis, the show was made using computer generated imagery (CGI) rendered in cel shading. It ran for only one season of 13 episodes, premiering on July 11, 2003, and was broadcast on cable channels MTV in the U.S. and YTV in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Night Gwen Stacy Died</span> 1973 story arc of The Amazing Spider-Man

"The Night Gwen Stacy Died", alternatively known as "The Green Goblin's Last Stand", is a story arc of the Marvel Comics comic book series The Amazing Spider-Man #121–122. The two-issue story was written by Gerry Conway, with pencil art by Gil Kane and inking by John Romita Sr. and Tony Mortellaro.

Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a modernized, alternate universe counterpart of Spider-Man who is in his youth, a superhero first created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962. The Ultimate version of the character originated in Ultimate Marvel, a line of comic books created in 2000 that is set in a parallel universe with a narrative continuity separate and independent from the main continuity of Marvel Comics stories that began in the 1960s.

<i>Spider-Man: Blue</i> Six issue limited comic book series by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

Spider-Man: Blue is a comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale. It ran for a total of six issues and has been reprinted in trade paperback form. Loeb and Sale had also worked on the limited series: Daredevil: Yellow, Hulk: Gray and Captain America: White which also chronicle their respective Marvel Comics characters in their formative years.

<i>The Green Goblins Last Stand</i> 1992 American film

The Green Goblin's Last Stand is a 1992 superhero fan film by Dan Poole, based on the comic book story "The Night Gwen Stacy Died", published by Marvel Comics in The Amazing Spider-Man #121–122. Poole is the director, producer, creative editor, screenwriter, and star of the film. The film and its attendant documentary received showings and accolades at several small film festivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Osborn</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Norman Virgil Osborn is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 as the first and best-known incarnation of the Green Goblin. He has since endured as one of the superhero Spider-Man's most prominent villains and is regarded as one of his three archenemies, alongside Doctor Octopus and Venom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Goblin in other media</span> Appearances of Green Goblin in cinema, television and video games

The Green Goblin, a supervillain in Marvel Comics and an archenemy of the superhero Spider-Man, has been adapted in various forms of media, including films, television series, and video games.

The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. Since the introduction of Peter Parker as a character in 1962, with the superhero alter-ego, Spider-Man, a number of these locations have been prominently featured in connection with storylines specific to this character. These have then been carried over to depictions of Spider-Man in film, video games, and other media. There follows a list of those features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Parker (Sam Raimi film series)</span> Film character portrayed by Tobey Maguire

Peter Benjamin Parker, also known by his alter ego Spider-Man, is a superhero portrayed by Tobey Maguire, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. He is the protagonist of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film in 2002, and its two sequels with the tie-in video games. This version of the character was followed by Andrew Garfield's portrayal in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man duology (2012–2014), with a further iteration being portrayed by Tom Holland set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) (2016–present). Maguire reprised his role as a supporting character in the MCU film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), appearing as an older version of himself alongside his two successors' versions of the character. To distinguish himself from the two other versions of himself, he is nicknamed "Peter-Two" by them, referred to by Marvel's official website as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and in the film's script as "Raimi-Verse Peter" and "Raimi-Verse Spider-Man".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Osborn (Sam Raimi film series)</span> Sam Raimis Spider-Man film series and Marvel Cinematic Universe character

Norman Virgil Osborn is a character portrayed by Willem Dafoe in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy and later the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, Osborn first appeared in Spider-Man (2002) as a scientist and the CEO of Oscorp who tests an unstable performance-enhancing serum on himself, developing superhuman strength, but at the same time, a crazed alternate personality known as the Green Goblin. The Green Goblin takes control of Norman, and compels him to commit crimes. He uses advanced Oscorp armor and equipment to terrorize New York City and battle the local hero Spider-Man, whom Goblin would discover is the secret identity of Peter Parker. However, during his final battle against Spider-Man, he reveals his identity, and both Osborn and Goblin ultimately die when they are impaled by Goblin's own glider. A hallucination of Osborn haunts his son Harry in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).

Gwen Stacy (<i>The Amazing Spider-Man</i> film series) Fictional character in 2012-14 Spider-Man film series

Gwendolyne Maxine Stacy is a fictional character in Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man films, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. She was portrayed by Emma Stone in the films The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. As opposed to taking a supporting role in the previous film trilogy, Gwen is given a prominent role in Webb's films as one of Peter Parker's classmates, serving as his primary love interest and a foil to his character. Webb based Gwen's character off of her traditional comic-book portrayal. For her performance in the films, Stone has received critical praise and wider recognition, despite the divided response to the film series as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Jane Watson (Sam Raimi film series)</span> 2002-2007 Spider-Man film series character

Mary Jane "MJ" Watson is a fictional character in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series. Based on the character of the same name, she is portrayed by Kirsten Dunst. In the films, Mary Jane is Peter Parker's next-door neighbor, childhood crush, and primary love interest. Though Mary Jane dates several other men in the first two films, she ultimately falls in love with Peter and Spider-Man and discovers they are one and the same. Despite his strong feelings for her, Peter initially declines a relationship with her in order to keep her safe, but they eventually become a couple in the end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Osborn (Sam Raimi film series)</span> 2002-2007 Spider-Man film series character

Harold Theopolis "Harry" Osborn is a fictional character in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series. Based on the comic book character of the same name created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, he is portrayed by James Franco. In the films, Harry is Peter Parker's best friend and a rival for Mary Jane Watson's affections, though the three are friends for much of the series. Harry and Peter's friendship strains severely after the death of Harry's father Norman, who was the villainous Green Goblin, which he blames on Peter's alter-ego Spider-Man on top of some resentment towards Peter for seemingly "stealing" Mary Jane's affections from him. Upon finding out his best friend is actually the web-slinger, Harry, despite being reluctant at first, vows revenge on him, taking on the New Goblin mantle and utilizing the technology his father left behind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kindred (Marvel Comics)</span> Comics character

The Kindreds, or simply Kindred, is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Introduced in 2004 as Gabriel and Sarah, the alleged twin children of Norman Osborn and Gwen Stacy, with Gabriel becoming the Gray Goblin and later the second American Son, their true origin is later revealed during the Sinister War story-arc as a series of constantly dying and recreated clones of Peter Parker and Gwen, created by a corrupted A.I. copy of Harry Osborn, that were then transformed into demonic revenants by Mephisto as Kindred.

References

  1. 1 2 Gulati, Shivam (2021-10-28). "What is Spider-Man Lotus? Is It Affiliated With Marvel or Sony?". DualShockers. Archived from the original on 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  2. ↑ Watson, Averie (2021-11-17). "What Is Spider-Man: Lotus - and Why Was It Trending on Twitter?". CBR. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  3. ↑ Morrison, Matt (2023-08-10). "Spider-Man: Lotus Fan Film's Controversy Explained". Yahoo. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  4. ↑ Ulatowski, Rachel (2023-08-14). "Turns Out 'Spider-Man: Lotus' Is as Terrible as It Is Controversial". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  5. ↑ "Spider-Man: Lotus Fan Film Trailer Reveals the Menacing Green Goblin". MovieWeb. 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  6. ↑ Spider-Man: Lotus (Fan-Film) | Announcement Trailer (HD) . Retrieved 2022-05-01– via YouTube.
  7. 1 2 Arvedon, Jon (2021-10-28). "Spider-Man Fan Film Drops Trailer for Mashup Adaptation of Two Classic Comics". CBR. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  8. ↑ Spider-Man: Lotus (Fan Film) | Cast . Retrieved 2022-05-01– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ "GJK". Twitter (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  10. ↑ "Spider-Man: No Way Home Director Jon Watts Loves Fan-Made Project". We Got This Covered. 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. ↑ "Fan-film 'Spider-Man: Lotus' to highlight Peter Parker's psyche - Daily Planet". dailyplanetdc.com. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  12. ↑ Spider-Man: Lotus | Final Trailer (Fan-Film) , retrieved 2023-07-27
  13. ↑ Freitag, Lee (2023-07-12). "Spider-Man: Lotus Fan Film Lands Official Release Date, Poster". CBR. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  14. ↑ Konop, Gavin [@GavinKonop] (August 6, 2023). "What a night" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-13– via Twitter.
  15. ↑ Konop, Gavin [@GavinKonop] (July 8, 2023). "SpiderManLotus will be coming to YouTube for free on August 10th, 2023. Poster by Israel Soteldo" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-08-13– via Twitter.
  16. ↑ Lang, Brad (2022-06-20). "Spider-Man: Lotus Fan-Film Star Addresses His Past Offensive Comments". CBR . Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  17. ↑ Wayne, Warden [@mrwardenwayne] (June 19, 2022). "I've been wanting to come forward about this for a long time. Please read" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2022-09-25. Retrieved 2023-08-13– via Twitter.
  18. ↑ Burton, Jamie (2022-06-20). "Actor in 'Spider-Man' Film Connects Past Racism to Religious Upbringing". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  19. ↑ Ulatowski, Rachel (2023-01-02). "What the Heck Is Going on With 'Spider-Man: Lotus'?". The Mary Sue . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  20. ↑ "'Spider-Man: Lotus' Actor Speaks Out on Past Homophobic, Racist Allegations". Newsweek on MSN. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  21. ↑ Zogbi, Emily (2022-09-04). "Spider-Man: Lotus Fan-Film Director Addresses Recent Controversies". CBR . Retrieved 2023-07-27.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.