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| name = J. Jonah Jameson
| name = J. Jonah Jameson
| series = {{no italic|[[Sam Raimi]]'s}} [[Spider-Man in film#Sam Raimi films (2002–2007)|Spider-Man {{no italic|trilogy}}]] {{no italic|and [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]}}
| series = {{no italic|[[Sam Raimi]]'s}} [[Spider-Man in film#Sam Raimi films (2002–2007)|Spider-Man {{no italic|trilogy}}]] {{no italic|and [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]}}
| image = J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.jpg
| image = [[File:J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.jpg|265px]]
| caption = [[J. K. Simmons]] as J. Jonah Jameson in [[Sam Raimi]]'s [[Spider-Man (2002 film)|''Spider-Man'']] (2002) and [[Jon Watts]]' ''[[Spider-Man: Far From Home]]'' (2019).
| caption = [[J. K. Simmons]] as J. Jonah Jameson in [[Sam Raimi]]'s [[Spider-Man (2002 film)|''Spider-Man'']] (2002) and [[Jon Watts]]' ''[[Spider-Man: Far From Home]]'' (2019).
| first = {{Plainlist|
| first = {{Plainlist|

Revision as of 23:00, 20 October 2021

J. Jonah Jameson
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and Marvel Cinematic Universe character
File:J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.jpg
J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) and Jon Watts' Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).
First appearance
Based on
Adapted by
Portrayed byJ. K. Simmons
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full nameJohn Jonah Jameson, Senior
GenderMale
Occupation
FamilyJohn Jameson (son)[a]
SpouseJulia Jameson (wife)[a]
NationalityAmerican

J. Jonah Jameson, Sr. is a fictional character portrayed by J. K. Simmons in both Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy released by Sony Pictures and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise released by Marvel Studios. He is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

Originally appearing in Spider-Man (2002) and its sequels Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007), Simmons’ portrayal has been universally praised and as a result, he voiced the character in a video game film tie-in, multiple television series and specials including recurring appearances on Robot Chicken, Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., and Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, as well as guest appearances on The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and The Simpsons.[1]

An alternate reality version of the character was later integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Sony's Spider-Man Universe, with Simmons reprising his role in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Spider-Man: No Way Home (both 2021).

Creation and characterization

J. K. Simmons in 2009

J. Jonah Jameson first premiered as a comic book character in the comic book The Amazing Spider-Man issue #1 (March 1963). Stan Lee stated in an interview on Talk of the Nation that he modeled J. Jonah Jameson as a much grumpier version of himself.[2] Later Spider-Man writers Tom DeFalco and Gerry Conway agreed that J. Jonah Jameson was as close as Lee ever came to a self-portrayal, with Conway elaborating that "just like Stan is a very complex and interesting guy who both has a tremendously charismatic part of himself and is an honestly decent guy who cares about people, he also has this incredible ability to go immediately to shallow. Just, BOOM, right to shallow. And that's Jameson".[3] Conway stated that whenever he wrote Jameson's dialogue, he would hear it in Lee's voice, and on one occasion even wrote a Jameson speech that was almost directly quoted from a Stan Lee speech.[3]

A live-action series, The Amazing Spider-Man featured J. Jonah Jameson as a recurring character first portrayed by David White in the pilot and later portrayed by Robert F. Simon for the remainder of the series. It was produced by Columbia Pictures Television and aired from 1977 to 1979.

In 1998, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired the film and television rights to Spider-Man also including 900 characters related to the character. It is perpetual provided that Sony releases a new Spider-Man film at least once every 5.75 years.[4] The character was featured in a trilogy of live-action films directed by Sam Raimi with J. K. Simmons portraying the role of J. Jonah Jameson, with installments released from 2002 to 2007. The character served as a major source of comic relief throughout the series. Portrayed as a blustering, bombastic, obsessed, hyperactive man, this version of Jameson retains his dislike for Spider-Man and takes delight in anything that might discredit or defame him, but remains a good man at his core.

Sony's licensing agreement with Marvel Studios

In December 2014, following the hacking of Sony Pictures' computers, Sony and Marvel Studios were revealed to have had discussions about allowing Spider-Man to appear in the 2016 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Civil War while having control of the film rights remaining with Sony. However, on February 9, 2015, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced that Spider-Man and majority of his supporting characters would appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with the character appearing in an MCU film and Sony releasing a Spider-Man film co-produced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal. Sony Pictures would continue to own, finance, distribute, and exercise final creative control over the Spider-Man films.[5]

Simmons briefly reprises his role as a re-imagined version of J. Jonah Jameson in the live-action film Spider-Man: Far From Home.[6] This makes Jameson the first live-action character to be portrayed by the same actor in two different franchises. However, this version of the character is unrelated to the version that Simmons first portrayed in Raimi's trilogy. Instead, this Jameson appears as the host of TheDailyBugle.net, a sensationalist "InfoWars-type video platform."[7] Director Jon Watts noted that Simmons' performance was over-the-top in Raimi's films, but now that same performance has real-world comparisons,[8] such as Alex Jones. According to Feige, the changes in the real world also meant that moving the character from a newspaper editor to a "radical right news journalist that kind of scream[s] in front of the camera" made more sense.[9] Simmons said he and Watts did not see "eye to eye" on the film's contemporary portrayal of the character versus his performance in Raimi's films.[10]

Simmons announced that he has signed on to play Jameson for more films in the MCU.[11]

Fictional character biography

Sam Raimi film series

Further information: Spider-Man (2002 film), Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3

J. Jonah Jameson is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, with a personal disliking of the vigilante Spider-Man, considering him a "menace". He hires Peter Parker as a freelance photographer due to Parker taking clear photos of the vigilante, and the Bugle's sales get higher due to Spider-Man. He holds the dubious honor of providing nicknames for the villains: the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. Jameson is also shown to have a cynical, avuncular attitude and brusque manner with his staff, though he willingly protects Peter when the The Green Goblin demands to know the identity of Spider-Man's photographer.

Two years later, Jameson admits that Spider-Man is a hero, but refuses to talk openly about it. After Peter is persuaded to give up his life as Spider-Man and abandoned his suit in an alley, a garbage man finds it and sells it to Jameson who is believes it was him we convinced Spider-Man to quit. Crime and danger is on the rise and his son, John's fiancée, Mary Jane Watson, is kidnapped by Doctor Octopus. Jameson publicly admits that Spider-Man is a hero and once the vigilante returns, he recants his statements. After Mary Jane is rescued by Spider-Man, at the wedding of his son John, Mary Jane had left John at the altar.

Six months later, Jameson sets Eddie Brock and Parker up as rivals to earn a staff job, instructing them to obtain unflattering pictures of Spider-Man. Later, Jameson fires Brock after learning his photo was doctored and destroyed the Bugle's reputation. Forcing them to print a retraction — something they haven't done in 20 years. During the fight between Spider-Man, Sandman and Venom, Jameson was unable to locate Parker, bargains with a little girl in the crowd to obtain her camera and shoot the battle himself. She refuses to sell for less than a hundred dollars. After Jameson reluctantly pays, he discovers that there is no film in the camera. The girl smiles and says, "The film's extra", infuriating the stingy Jameson.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Further information: Spider-Man: Far From Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Spider-Man: No Way Home

In a different reality, Jameson is the executive reporter of the TheDailyBugle.net. In 2024, Jameson is provided a video exposing Spider-Man's identity as Peter Parker and broadcasts it to the entire world, framing Parker for the attack on London, claiming Mysterio as a hero, and Spider-Man as a murderer; a later broadcast of Jameson's is seen by a universe-displaced Venom and Eddie Brock.

In other media

Television

See also: Spider-Man in television

Video games

Reception

Simmons’ performance as Jameson in both live-action and in animation has been universally praised by both audiences and critics.[15]

Far From Home director Jon Watts explained that they approached Simmons "as late as possible" before the film's release to ask him to reprise his role as J. Jonah Jameson from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy, hoping to keep the cameo a surprise for fans.[16] Watts stated that he never considered another actor, saying, "It's gotta be him. Like, if it wasn't him, it wasn't worth doing."[8]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e This version of the character appears in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy.
  2. ^ a b c d This version of the character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

See also

References

  1. ^ Somers, Fraser (March 1, 2021). "Spider-Man: Every Time J.K. Simmons Has Played J. Jonah Jameson (In Order)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Conan, Neal (October 27, 2010). "Stan Lee, Mastermind Of The Marvel Universe". NPR.
  3. ^ a b Trumbull, John (September 2016). "J. Jonah Jameson: Hero or Menace?". Back Issue! (91): 37–41.
  4. ^ Clark, Travis. "Spider-Man's movie adventures have been a headache for Sony for over a decade, but the character is too valuable to compromise on". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-09-27.
  5. ^ "Sony Pictures Entertainment Brings Marvel Studios Into The Amazing World Of Spider-Man". Marvel.com. February 9, 2015. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Owen, Phil (July 3, 2019). "Yes, That Was Who You Thought It Was at the End of 'Spider-Man: Far From Home'". TheWrap.com. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Britt, Ryan (5 July 2019). "The Spider-Man: Far From Home Mid- and Post-Credits Scenes, Explained". Vulture. New York Magazine. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  8. ^ a b Erbland, Kate (July 7, 2019). "'Spider-Man' Director Explains Those Post-Credits Scenes and What They Mean for the MCU". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  9. ^ Dumaraog, Ana (July 7, 2019). "Kevin Feige Explains Spider-Man: Far From Home's Iconic Post-Credits Cameo". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; September 22, 2020 suggested (help)
  10. ^ Lawrence, Gregory (September 21, 2020). "J.K. Simmons' 'Spider-Man: Far from Home' Cameo Led to Some Creative Disputes". Collider. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  11. ^ Aquilina, Tyler (May 30, 2020). "J.K. Simmons recalls his Spider-Man audition, teases his future in the MCU". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  12. ^ "Looking Back On Spider-Man: The New Animated Series". Cultured Vultures. May 10, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  13. ^ Spider-Man, retrieved March 18, 2019
  14. ^ IGN: Moe'N'A Lisa Review Archived December 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Harrison review". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  16. ^ Goldberg, Matt (July 7, 2019). "'Spider-Man: Far From Home': Jon Watts on How They Got THAT Actor for the Credits Scene". Collider. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
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