Spider-Man Set Nearly Saw Tobey Maguire Get Hit for Real

While Tobey Maguire is widely celebrated for his portrayal of the web-slinging hero, his experience filming Sam Raimi’s 2002 adaptation was not entirely harmonious. Joe Manganiello, who played the schoolyard antagonist Flash Thompson, later disclosed that his time on set included a rather unexpected proposal from the crew.

Behind the Scenes: A Surprising Request

During a 2014 appearance on The Pete Holmes Show, Manganiello recounted an incident where a crew member approached him with an unusual offer. He was promised $100 if he were to ‘accidentally’ land a punch on Maguire during their on-screen altercation in the school corridor. According to Manganiello, this was not a solitary suggestion; several crew members seemed to be in on the joke, with one electrician giving him a knowing nod.

There was a crew guy, who came up to me and said, ‘Listen, um, I’ll give you $100 if you hit him in the face by accident’. And he said, ‘Some of the other guys are in on it.’ And I looked over, and there was an electrician plugging something in, and he just looked up at me and gave me that look, like [nods head].

Despite Maguire’s status as the film’s leading man, it appears he was not universally adored by those working behind the camera. The question, of course, is whether Manganiello went through with the prank.

Joe Manganiello’s Professional Stance

Even with a cash incentive on the table, Manganiello drew a clear line. He refused to participate in the scheme, recognising the potential consequences for his career and the importance of maintaining professionalism on set. He explained that striking the lead actor, even as a joke, could have been disastrous for his future in the industry.

And I went, ‘I’m not gonna f*cking punch him in the face, guys’. I probably wouldn’t have worked again.

Manganiello later reflected that such a move would have risked his reputation, possibly marking him as untrustworthy in Hollywood. He emphasised that, despite the odd request, he enjoyed his time working on the production and held no ill will towards the crew.

Spider-Man: Key Details and Casting

For context, the 2002 film was directed by Sam Raimi and featured a cast including Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, and Joe Manganiello. The film received a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes and runs for just over two hours.

Manganiello has since stated that he had a “wonderful time” working on the project, despite the peculiar moment. For him, upholding a sense of professionalism outweighed any temptation to join in on a practical joke at a colleague’s expense.

Auditioning for Peter Parker

Interestingly, Manganiello originally auditioned for the role of Peter Parker before being cast as Flash Thompson. In a 2020 interview, he shared that he was ultimately passed over for the lead, which instead went to Maguire. Rather than feeling resentful, Manganiello recognised that his physical presence did not fit the archetype of the character.

The trope or the archetype of Peter Parker is that he’s this, like, nerd. He’s very smart but not the cool guy in school, and he is in love with the cool guy’s girlfriend. So, I knew that no matter how much of a nerd I am on the inside, I’m never gonna be cast as Peter Parker.

He accepted that, despite his own inner awkwardness, his stature was more suited to the role of the school bully. Manganiello approached the audition with this in mind, ultimately embracing his part in the film’s memorable school corridor brawl.

Spider-Man is currently available to stream in the US on Disney+.