In the 2000s, Tobey Maguire was a Hollywood darling and one of the highest-paid actors of that decade.
However, in just a few years, his career declined dramatically, and Toby was eventually marginalized and removed from the film industry. So, what really happened to the Spider-Man we all love?
We couldn't ignore the story of this charming and talented actor and decided to find out why his success was wiped out so quickly!
The beginning of his acting career, 1992
Tobias Vincent Maguire first appeared on screen at the age of 13 in a small role in a soap opera about doctors. However, at the time he didn't think about becoming a professional actor (young Maguire planned to become a chef like his father). On the other hand, Maguire's mother once dreamed of becoming a movie star, but it didn't come true. Still, the lady managed to motivate her son by giving him $100 to take an acting class!
Maguire soon realised that appearing in commercials and TV shows would bring in a good income. The future Spider-Man dropped out of school at the age of 13 and began earning a living as an actor. Soon after, Maguire landed a role in a film that also starred Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, who was not very famous at the time.
For Maguire and DiCaprio, their side-by-side work on set quickly turned into a true friendship. The two actors are still close to this day – the paparazzi often snap pictures of them vacationing together.
First success, 1998
Maguire's good fortune, talent and good boy image proved to be an explosive combination. Soon after, he found himself starring in feature films directed by Hollywood's coolest directors. His solid performance with Reese Witherspoon in "Pleasantville" and Charlize Theron in "The Cider House Rules" showed everyone that Maguire wasn't just a likable face in an advertisement, but a serious actor.
For a scene in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Maguire bleached his eyebrows and shaved his head to make the blonde wig fit his scalp. But, as he said, the effort to star with Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro was worth it. In addition, Maguire has gained a reputation as an all-around actor who is able to play the coward and psychedelic hippie equally well.
The decisive role of his career, 2002
Maguire's height (5.6 feet), intelligent temperament and undeniable acting talent make him the perfect person to bring the iconic character Peter Parker/Spider-Man to the big screen.
Thanks to his role in Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire joins the A-list (the high-paid list of Hollywood celebrities). During the film's opening weekend, the film generated $110 million in revenue for its creators. After this great success, the actor signed on to star in 2 sequels. Spider-Man 2 is still considered one of the greatest superhero movies of all time!
The problem began, 2007
During the filming of the third film in the series, Maguire tried to squeeze more money out of the studio by demanding an exorbitant fee. The actor constantly complained of back pain and asked the doctor to be constantly on standby on set. Things have gotten to the point where a doctor is actually measuring how many steps Maguire can take in front of the camera without putting his health at risk. All of this put the film's fate in jeopardy, and the producers began to consider replacing Maguire with a more sane Jake Gyllenhaal.
Moviegoers lashed out at Sam Raimi's third installment in the Spider-Man film series (2007). Remy himself admits that when he started working on that movie, he was completely lost in the Spider-Man universe and had run out of interesting ideas. Naturally, this defeat also affected Maguire's career. After a while, the series was rebooted, but without Maguire in the starring role. Toby's fans believe that was when his career began to go downhill.
The actor's addiction to gambling has only made the situation worse. At that time, Maguire frequented underground poker casinos for elite players. Gamblers are accustomed to meeting in the secret atmosphere of luxury hotels. There is no shortage of people willing to play with the world-famous movie star: bankers and tycoons often lose tens of thousands of dollars to Maguire. Later, however, Maguire had to give up part of his winnings in order to settle a lawsuit. All this did not help improve the actor's public image.
Attempts to revive the cause, 2009-2014
Eventually, Maguire decided to reinvent himself as an actor by moving away from his superhero past. But this proves to be difficult - Spider-Man's web still tightly binds him! All the notable films in which Maguire appeared after the end of Sam Raimi's trilogy can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
In the film "Brothers", Maguire starred alongside his former film industry rival Jake Gyllenhaal. The performance earned Maguire a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination. The actor also played a supporting role in the successful 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby, and even tried his luck in several TV series and as a voice actor for cartoon characters. These choices brought him reasonable success, but they failed to launch his film career.
So, what is the real reason behind the misfortune of this talented actor?
Maguire's face looked very young, there was an innocent, childlike look in his eyes, and his voice was soft and gentle. All of this is perfect for his screen persona in his 20s and 30s. But now the actor is 43 years old, but his appearance and demeanor on set have not changed much.
What are the chances of a comeback?
Involvement in television projects could help Maguire regain popularity with audiences and film studios. But the actor himself doesn't seem to be interested in the small screen. He appeared in a TV series called The Spoils of Babylon, but too many people thought its premise was ridiculous. As a result, Maguire stopped all attempts in this regard.
Maguire also founded his own production company, Material Pictures. Most of the company's films released to date, such as "Rock of Ages," "Pawn Sacrifice" and "The 5th Wave," have failed at the box office, despite positive reviews from audiences.
The 2000s are long gone. Maguire has done so much for Hollywood, but maybe it's time for this guy to live for himself. However, if he does retire and leave the film industry eventually, many moviegoers will be saddened.
So, let's hope that this brilliant actor will surprise us with a new and shocking performance!
Do you like Tobey Maguire's films, and apart from Peter Parker, which of his characters impressed you the most?