Spider-Man 3 ended Sam Raimi's trilogy with a whimper rather than a bang but a newly surfaced gallery of concept art from the movie offers some ideas about what might have been way back in 2007...





Much of that boiled down to interference from Sony (Raimi had no interest in including Venom, for example) and while a Spider-Man 4 was planned, it was soon scrapped and replaced with



From scenes lifted straight from the comic books to unfilmed fight scenes and locations, there's a lot to delve into here, including a look at how Venom was brought to life and Green Goblin's hideout!



The highlight, however, has to be seeing Sandman unleash his powers in a truly terrifying manner...well, that and a somehow even more ridiculous version of the dance scene with Peter Parker.



It's definitely fun to see these early designs, so hit the "View List" button to check out this artwork!







Remember in the comics when Venom invades Peter Parker's hme and traumatises Mary Jane? Well, it looks like we were set to get a version of that in Spider-Man 3 as the villain can be seen watching her from the shadows.

Spider-Man 3 had all the makings of an amazing follow-up to the classic second instalment of Sam Raimi's trilogy but everything went wrong and we ended up with a total mess of a movie.Much of that boiled down to interference from Sony (Raimi had no interest in including Venom, for example) and while a Spider-Man 4 was planned, it was soon scrapped and replaced with The Amazing Spider-Man reboot. Now, some newly surfaced concept art from the 2007 release sheds some light on what might have been in the Marvel Comics adaptation.From scenes lifted straight from the comic books to unfilmed fight scenes and locations, there's a lot to delve into here, including a look at how Venom was brought to life and Green Goblin's hideout!The highlight, however, has to be seeing Sandman unleash his powers in a truly terrifying manner...well, that and a somehow even more ridiculous version of the dance scene with Peter Parker.It's definitely fun to see these early designs, so hit the "View List" button to check out this artwork!Remember in the comics when Venom invades Peter Parker's hme and traumatises Mary Jane? Well, it looks like we were set to get a version of that in Spider-Man 3 as the villain can be seen watching her from the shadows.





Harry Osborn's death was undeniably emotional and this lovely piece of artwork shows his final moments as he dies in the arms of Peter and MJ while the sun rises in the background.

Harry Osborn's death was undeniably emotional and this lovely piece of artwork shows his final moments as he dies in the arms of Peter and MJ while the sun rises in the background.





With MJ caught in Venom's web, the wall-crawler races into action to try and stop Eddie Brock from killing the woman he loves and wreaking havoc on New York City.

With MJ caught in Venom's web, the wall-crawler races into action to try and stop Eddie Brock from killing the woman he loves and wreaking havoc on New York City.





The combinatoon of regular webbing and the Symbiote looks undeniably awesome and this did end up making for one of the most thrilling sequences in the entire film as MJ held on for dear life.

The combinatoon of regular webbing and the Symbiote looks undeniably awesome and this did end up making for one of the most thrilling sequences in the entire film as MJ held on for dear life.





The gigantic version of Sandman wasn't anywhere near as cool as Sony probably thought it would be and it's an idea they planned to recycle for that now scrapped Sinister Six movie.

The gigantic version of Sandman wasn't anywhere near as cool as Sony probably thought it would be and it's an idea they planned to recycle for that now scrapped Sinister Six movie.





Setting Spider-Man 3's final battle on a building site wasn't a bad idea and it led to some inventive action scenes, including Peter putting Venom down with the use of those steel girders.

Setting Spider-Man 3's final battle on a building site wasn't a bad idea and it led to some inventive action scenes, including Peter putting Venom down with the use of those steel girders.









This artwork places Spider-Man (in his new black suit) in two very different settings and the moment the web-slinger wakes up and tries out his alien costume remains one of the trilogy's best sequences.

This artwork places Spider-Man (in his new black suit) in two very different settings and the moment the web-slinger wakes up and tries out his alien costume remains one of the trilogy's best sequences.





In this world, Venom arrived on Earth courtesy of a meteorite, something fans argued made no sense as the symbiote should have been burned up and been destroyed on entry!

In this world, Venom arrived on Earth courtesy of a meteorite, something fans argued made no sense as the symbiote should have been burned up and been destroyed on entry!









As Harry chased down Peter on his, well, "snowboard" seems a more apt description than Goblin Glider, he lays a trap which leads to the villain seemingly losing his memory and returning to his old ways.

As Harry chased down Peter on his, well, "snowboard" seems a more apt description than Goblin Glider, he lays a trap which leads to the villain seemingly losing his memory and returning to his old ways.

















This was a thrilling action sequence which saw Spider-Man save Gwen Stacy and ultimately receive the key to New York City (much to the chagrin of MJ, especially after he planted that kiss on her newfound love rival).

This was a thrilling action sequence which saw Spider-Man save Gwen Stacy and ultimately receive the key to New York City (much to the chagrin of MJ, especially after he planted that kiss on her newfound love rival).





Norman Osborn has many hidden weapon stores and Harry took full advantage of that, gaining his father's weapons and making good use of the equipment he left behind after becoming the Green Goblin.

Norman Osborn has many hidden weapon stores and Harry took full advantage of that, gaining his father's weapons and making good use of the equipment he left behind after becoming the Green Goblin.





That includes this energy sword and given the way Norman was used throughout this trilogy, it's hard to escape the feeling that the plan was to one day resurrect him just like in the comic books.

That includes this energy sword and given the way Norman was used throughout this trilogy, it's hard to escape the feeling that the plan was to one day resurrect him just like in the comic books.





Mary Jane had started finding success at this point in her career and this is clearly meant to show her on stage (likely hoping to see Peter in the audience only to realise he's too busy being Spider-Man).

Mary Jane had started finding success at this point in her career and this is clearly meant to show her on stage (likely hoping to see Peter in the audience only to realise he's too busy being Spider-Man).





With no Fantastic Four in this world, Peter turned to Dr. Curt Connors for help in understanding the alien symbiote and it's just a shame that we never got to see this version of the character become the Lizard!

With no Fantastic Four in this world, Peter turned to Dr. Curt Connors for help in understanding the alien symbiote and it's just a shame that we never got to see this version of the character become the Lizard!





This is clearly meant to show some of the battle between Spider-Man and Sandman in the sewers, something you'll no doubt remember was a lot of fun to play in the video game adaptation of this movie.

This is clearly meant to show some of the battle between Spider-Man and Sandman in the sewers, something you'll no doubt remember was a lot of fun to play in the video game adaptation of this movie.





While Spider-Man thinks that he's defeated Sandman, the villain (who we learned was responsible for the death of Uncle Ben) managed to make his escape through one of the sewer pipes.

While Spider-Man thinks that he's defeated Sandman, the villain (who we learned was responsible for the death of Uncle Ben) managed to make his escape through one of the sewer pipes.





With his ill gotten gains in hand, Flint Marko clearly believes that his newfound powers mean he's unstoppable...little did he know that the Spectacular Spider-Man was stalking him the entire time.

With his ill gotten gains in hand, Flint Marko clearly believes that his newfound powers mean he's unstoppable...little did he know that the Spectacular Spider-Man was stalking him the entire time.









Some cool alternate takes on Flint's transformation into the Sandman, it was the right move to take the character down this route...and to not have Spidey defeat him with a vacuum cleaner!

Some cool alternate takes on Flint's transformation into the Sandman, it was the right move to take the character down this route...and to not have Spidey defeat him with a vacuum cleaner!





The majority of Spidey's villains have origin stories which are also routed in science and it's easy to imagine Marvel Studios heading down the same route if they ever choose to reintroduce the character.

The majority of Spidey's villains have origin stories which are also routed in science and it's easy to imagine Marvel Studios heading down the same route if they ever choose to reintroduce the character.





On the run from the law, Flint Marko ends up getting into some serious trouble when he falls into the experiment above which ends up turning him into the monstrous Sandman.

On the run from the law, Flint Marko ends up getting into some serious trouble when he falls into the experiment above which ends up turning him into the monstrous Sandman.





Sony really dropped the ball with Harry Osborn's costume as "Green Goblin II" in Spider-Man 3 and it's hard to figure out why he wouldn't just don his father's costume, albeit with some minor cosmetic changes.

Sony really dropped the ball with Harry Osborn's costume as "Green Goblin II" in Spider-Man 3 and it's hard to figure out why he wouldn't just don his father's costume, albeit with some minor cosmetic changes.





A great shot of Spider-Man in his apartment, look closely and you'll notice that the alien symbiote is crawling towards him and about to make Peter Parker its unwitting host.

A great shot of Spider-Man in his apartment, look closely and you'll notice that the alien symbiote is crawling towards him and about to make Peter Parker its unwitting host.





Peter Parker hanging out with his Aunt May and her elderly friends? Why not! This was clearly a moment which was going to be included in an earlier version of the threequel.

Peter Parker hanging out with his Aunt May and her elderly friends? Why not! This was clearly a moment which was going to be included in an earlier version of the threequel.





Yes, it does indeed appear as if Peter was once going to tear his shirt off and start dancing around MJ's club, pulling off some classic Spidey poses in the process. And you thought the theatrical version of this sequence was bad...

Yes, it does indeed appear as if Peter was once going to tear his shirt off and start dancing around MJ's club, pulling off some classic Spidey poses in the process. And you thought the theatrical version of this sequence was bad...





This looks like another moment which was torn straight from the pages of the comic books as Spidey battles Sandman with the citizens of New York City watching from below.

This looks like another moment which was torn straight from the pages of the comic books as Spidey battles Sandman with the citizens of New York City watching from below.









Harry Osborn's funeral was clearly set to be an emotional, depressing sequence and it's interesting to see that Norman's headstone would have loomed large in the background.

Harry Osborn's funeral was clearly set to be an emotional, depressing sequence and it's interesting to see that Norman's headstone would have loomed large in the background.





Sandman ended up robbing an armoured truck in the movie but here we see that he would have used his new powers to sneak into a vault and steal the priceless diamonds from within.

Sandman ended up robbing an armoured truck in the movie but here we see that he would have used his new powers to sneak into a vault and steal the priceless diamonds from within.





Sandman's powers are pretty terrifying when you think about it and these poor security guards are clearly learning that the hard way as he fills up this space with sand and causes them to sink into the depths below.

Sandman's powers are pretty terrifying when you think about it and these poor security guards are clearly learning that the hard way as he fills up this space with sand and causes them to sink into the depths below.





Another take on one of Norman's old hideouts, it's a shame we didn't get to spend more time here and maybe even get a glimpse at a costume which could have later been donned by the Hobgoblin!

Another take on one of Norman's old hideouts, it's a shame we didn't get to spend more time here and maybe even get a glimpse at a costume which could have later been donned by the Hobgoblin!





A jealous Peter watches on as Harry grows close with Mary Jane, something which would culminate in a surprisingly violent battle between the two that left Harry badly scarred.

A jealous Peter watches on as Harry grows close with Mary Jane, something which would culminate in a surprisingly violent battle between the two that left Harry badly scarred.





This is presumably a slightly different take on the fight between Spider-Man and Harry but it's interesting that this piece is titled "Death Platform" so perhaps he wasn't meant to find any sort of redemption in the final act?

This is presumably a slightly different take on the fight between Spider-Man and Harry but it's interesting that this piece is titled "Death Platform" so perhaps he wasn't meant to find any sort of redemption in the final act?





Spider-Man certainly looks pretty sinister here with his new black suit on and it's easy to see some of the Venom influences creeping into both his posture and size.

Spider-Man certainly looks pretty sinister here with his new black suit on and it's easy to see some of the Venom influences creeping into both his posture and size.





As Spider-Man and Mary Jane enjoy some quality time in the park, a certain symbiote would come crashing to Earth. This take on that scene is way more visually impressive than what ended up on screen, though.

As Spider-Man and Mary Jane enjoy some quality time in the park, a certain symbiote would come crashing to Earth. This take on that scene is way more visually impressive than what ended up on screen, though.





Looking to get revenge on Peter for what he did to his father, Harry wielded this impressive looking weapon with the goal of impaling the wall-crawler on the end of it and making things "right."

Looking to get revenge on Peter for what he did to his father, Harry wielded this impressive looking weapon with the goal of impaling the wall-crawler on the end of it and making things "right."

















He may have looked foolish but Harry did have a formidable array of weapons in this movie. Here, we get to see a number of takes on the Pumpkin bombs he carried into battle after setting his sights on killing his former best friend.

He may have looked foolish but Harry did have a formidable array of weapons in this movie. Here, we get to see a number of takes on the Pumpkin bombs he carried into battle after setting his sights on killing his former best friend.





As we mentioned at the start of this post, Raimi didn't want Venom in Spider-Man 3 but a lot of work was put into bringing the iconic, fan-favourite villain to life on the big screen.

As we mentioned at the start of this post, Raimi didn't want Venom in Spider-Man 3 but a lot of work was put into bringing the iconic, fan-favourite villain to life on the big screen.





Venom looked quite a bit different to the version in the movie that came out in 2018 but it was a design fans still got on board with, even if he wasn't quite as big as he probably should have been.

Venom looked quite a bit different to the version in the movie that came out in 2018 but it was a design fans still got on board with, even if he wasn't quite as big as he probably should have been.





There's a real element of body horror here as we see what happened to Eddie Brock while the Venom symbiote took hold of him and it's fascinating to see how that went from the concept art stages to real-life.

There's a real element of body horror here as we see what happened to Eddie Brock while the Venom symbiote took hold of him and it's fascinating to see how that went from the concept art stages to real-life.





These sketches of Venom are nothing short of amazing and it's definitely interesting seeing how much closer he could have ended up looking to Spider-Man beyond just the pattern across his alien suit. These sketches of Venom are nothing short of amazing and it's definitely interesting seeing how much closer he could have ended up looking to Spider-Man beyond just the pattern across his alien suit.

Many thanks to Phil Saunders, James Carson, and Kasra Farahani for the artwork featured in this post!