It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: Oscorp.
The music even hints at the threats to come. The song “It's On Again,” performed by Alicia Keys featuring Kendrick Lamar, featured in the film, contains a score theme that was created by Hans and Pharrell and woven into the song. The filmmakers and composers plan that this theme will, in future films, become the villainous theme of the Sinister Six.
“We wanted this film to be more playful, more fun,” says director Marc Webb, who returns to the helm. Capturing Peter Parker's natural wit – especially as Spider-Man – was one of the keys to the film that Webb wanted to make.
When it comes to Electro and the Green Goblin – two of the enemies that Spider-Man will take on – not only do the villains have different motivations for taking on the wall-crawler, but in some ways, they consider themselves fighting a different enemy. “You've got two guys, one who hates Spider-Man, and one who hates Peter Parker,” says one of the screenwriters, Alex Kurtzman.
“It's hard to be Peter Parker, but it's great to be Spider-Man,” says Andrew Garfield, who returns to the role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2™, after launching a new chapter in the hero's story in 2012 with The Amazing Spider-Man™, a worldwide hit that went on to take in over $750 million at the worldwide box office.
Jamie Foxx, who plays Electro, says that joining the Spider-Man franchise isn't quite like taking on any other role. “It's a great feeling to come to work on a Spider-Man movie,” he says. “I remember the moment I first stepped on to the set and I saw Andrew in the suit. For me, it was like a moment in history.”
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the first film in the Spider-Man franchise to shoot entirely in New York State. “Spider-Man is from New York City and his story is a story of New York City,” says Webb. “So to be able to shoot in our actual locations, instead of doubling it on a backlot, was really appealing.”
In addition to filming on location in New York City and Rochester, New York, the production shot on stages on Long Island and Brooklyn – comprising the largest stage footprint ever seen in the Empire State. In fact, according to the Governor of the State of New York, Andrew Cuomo, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was the largest film to ever shoot in New York State.
For the film's music, the filmmakers are experimenting with a very unusual arrangement. Marc Webb has turned to Oscar® winning composer Hans Zimmer to form a supergroup, including Pharrell Williams, The Smiths' Johnny Marr, Incubus' Michael Einziger and JunkieXL – among others – to work together on the music for the film.
