Spider-Man Set Nearly Saw Real Punch Thrown at Tobey Maguire

Back in 2002, when Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man was being filmed, Tobey Maguire was already on his way to becoming a household name. But behind the scenes, things weren’t quite as rosy. Joe Manganiello, who played the schoolyard tough Flash Thompson, later shared a surprising story about what went on during filming.

Behind the Scenes: Crew’s Unusual Request

Years after the film’s release, Manganiello appeared on The Pete Holmes Show and revealed that a member of the crew offered him $100 to accidentally land a real punch on Maguire during their on-screen scuffle. According to Manganiello, it wasn’t just one person in on the joke—several crew members seemed keen on seeing the lead actor take a genuine hit.

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 popularity with fans, it appears he wasn’t exactly the crew’s favourite bloke on set. The big question, though, is whether Manganiello went through with it.

Joe Manganiello’s Call: Professionalism Over Pranks

Even with a cash incentive on the table, Manganiello drew a clear line. He refused to take part in the prank, recognising the risks involved. He knew that actually hitting the film’s star—even as a joke—could have ended his career before it really began.

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

He explained that being seen as someone who can’t be trusted on set is a surefire way to get blacklisted in the industry. For Manganiello, no practical joke was worth jeopardising his future or causing harm to a colleague. Despite the awkwardness, he insisted there was no lingering tension and said he “had a wonderful time” working on the film. For him, keeping things professional mattered more than taking the mickey out of a co-star.

Missed Opportunity: Auditioning for Peter Parker

Interestingly, Manganiello nearly had a much bigger role in the film. Before landing the part of Flash Thompson, he actually auditioned for the lead. Like many actors at the time, he saw the role as a massive opportunity. But in a later interview, he admitted he never really fit the bill for Peter Parker.

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 recognised that, despite feeling nerdy himself, his tall and muscular build didn’t match the classic image of the character. Instead of being bitter, he was happy to take on the role of Flash, the school bully.

Film Details and Legacy

For those keen on the details, Spider-Man (2002) was directed by Sam Raimi and starred Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, and Joe Manganiello. The film scored 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and runs for just over two hours. Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, the film remains a fan favourite and is currently streaming on Disney+ in the US.