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SATURDAY, APRIL 14 2007

SPIDER-MAN 3'S SANDMAN: THOMAS HADEN CHURCH

The villains in the Spider-Man movie franchise have had two major similarities: 1.) They have a connection to Peter Parker/Spider-Man; and 2.) They aren't moustache-twirling baddies out for world domination.

Such is the case in Spider-Man 3 with Thomas Haden Church's Sandman. Trailers for movie have revealed that Flint Marko is believed to be behind the death of Peter's Uncle Ben, sending the black-suited Spidey on a revenge course.

And Marko's a tragic villain, as Church pointed out, with a very ill child.

"He's spent a number of years in prison, but then he breaks out of prison for what you think is arch-criminal activity," Church said. "But he still has this steady pursuit of saving his daughter. He's trying to fund the research to find the cure himself."

While on the run from the police, Church winds up on a scientific test site, where he is atomized and fused with sand, creating his powers.

Sandman first meets Spider-Man during an armored car heist that was filmed in Cleveland a year ago and has been featured in trailers and previews.

"Spider-Man has this kind of cocky attitude the first time he confronts Marko," Church said. "He has no idea who I am and what I'm capable of. Spider-Man, yet again, has met his match."

Church said being part of Spider-Man 3 was "a pretty gigantic challenge."

"You just want to do what's requested because it's a giant machine and there's so much at stake," he said.

And the work began before production started as Haden had to bulk up for the role.

"Once again, you just try to toe the line and do what's asked of you," Church said. "It's been a great discipline. I've worked out probably about 16 months, and it was just a good discipline. It was very invigorating."

Church said he enjoyed working with director Sam Raimi.

"He's very specific, demanding but in a very positive, very collaborative way," Church said. "I've said in other interviews that Sam pushes you to deliver what he knows ultimately he will be the happiest with.

"He pushed me hard, particularly in the emotional stuff, but it's because he knows once it's in the camera, it's there forever and you just can't, on a movie like this, go back and redo a bunch of stuff. It's just too gigantic, with all the special effects stuff that goes.

And that's where I think he's absolutely masterful at nailing the emotional content, each moment. He's unrelenting in his pursuit of that. But every single day I worked with him, I ended the day by hugging him and thanking him for pushing me as hard as he did."



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