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{{Further|Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man 2|Spider-Man 3}}
{{Further|Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man 2|Spider-Man 3}}


J. Jonah Jameson is the [[editor-in-chief]] of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', with a personal disliking of the vigilante [[Peter Parker (Sam Raimi film series)|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. 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.
J. Jonah Jameson is the [[editor-in-chief]] of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', with a personal disliking of the vigilante [[Peter Parker (Sam Raimi film series)|Spider-Man]], considering him a "menace". He hires Peter Parker as a freelance photographer due to Parker taking clear photos of the vigilante (himself), and the ''Bugle''{{'s}} sales get higher due to Spider-Man. Jameson is also shown to have a cynical, avuncular attitude and brusque manner with his staff, though he willingly protects Peter when 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 Jameson (comics)|John]]'s fiancée, [[Mary Jane Watson (Sam Raimi film series)|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.
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{{efn|Identified in the novelisation as [[Namor|Namor MacKenzie]].}} finds it and sells it to Jameson who is believes it was him who convinced Spider-Man to quit, publicly announcing it in his newspaper. However, after crime and danger is noted as subsequently on the rise and his son [[John Jameson (comics)|John]]'s fiancée, [[Mary Jane Watson (Sam Raimi film series)|Mary Jane Watson]], is kidnapped by [[Doctor Octopus (film character)|Doctor Octopus]], Jameson publicly admits to his staff that Spider-Man is a hero, but once the vigilante returns, taking his suit back from Jameson's office, he recants his statements. After Mary Jane is rescued by Spider-Man, at the wedding of his son John, Mary Jane leaves John at the altar, to which Jameson (having paid for the wedding) asks his wife to get a refund on the food.

One year later, Jameson orders Peter and new hire [[Eddie Brock (Sam Raimi film series)|Eddie Brock]] to obtain a photograph of Spider-Man proving his true criminal nature in exchange for earning a secure staff job in place of their usual freelance work, which Brock seemingly obtains. After Peter exposes Brock as having doctored his photo from one of Peter's own, Jameson immediately fires him and has the newspaper print their first retraction in 20 years. During a subsequent fight between Brock (now bound to a [[Symbiote (Sam Raimi film series)|symbiote]] as [[Venom (Sam Raimi film series)|Venom]]) and [[Sandman (Marvel Comics)|the Sandman]] against Spider-Man and the [[New Goblin]], Jameson, unable to locate Parker, reluctantly buys a camera from a little girl in the surrounding crowd for one hundred dollars. After Jameson attempts to take a photograph of the battle, he finds that the camera contains no film, which the smiling little girl says will cost "extra", infuriating Jameson.


=== {{anchor|Sony's Spider-Man Universe}}Marvel Cinematic Universe ===
=== {{anchor|Sony's Spider-Man Universe}}Marvel Cinematic Universe ===

Revision as of 15:06, 21 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 (left, 2002) and Jon Watts' Spider-Man: Far From Home (right, 2019).
First appearance
Based on
Adapted by
Portrayed byJ. K. Simmons
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full nameJohn Jonah Jameson, Senior
GenderMale
TitleHero of the War on Fake News[b]
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, TheDailyBugle.net (both 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. In April 2014, Simmons expressed interest in reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man duology should the studio offer him the role.[5]

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.[6]

Simmons briefly reprises his role as a re-imagined version of J. Jonah Jameson in the live-action film Spider-Man: Far From Home.[7] This makes J. Jonah 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 J. Jonah Jameson appears as the host of TheDailyBugle.net, a sensationalist "InfoWars-type video platform."[8] Director Jon Watts noted that Simmons' performance was over-the-top in Raimi's films, but now that same performance has real-world comparisons,[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

Simmons announced that he has signed on to play J. Jonah Jameson for more films in the MCU.[12]

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 (himself), and the Bugle's sales get higher due to Spider-Man. Jameson is also shown to have a cynical, avuncular attitude and brusque manner with his staff, though he willingly protects Peter when 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[c] finds it and sells it to Jameson who is believes it was him who convinced Spider-Man to quit, publicly announcing it in his newspaper. However, after crime and danger is noted as subsequently on the rise and his son John's fiancée, Mary Jane Watson, is kidnapped by Doctor Octopus, Jameson publicly admits to his staff that Spider-Man is a hero, but once the vigilante returns, taking his suit back from Jameson's office, he recants his statements. After Mary Jane is rescued by Spider-Man, at the wedding of his son John, Mary Jane leaves John at the altar, to which Jameson (having paid for the wedding) asks his wife to get a refund on the food.

One year later, Jameson orders Peter and new hire Eddie Brock to obtain a photograph of Spider-Man proving his true criminal nature in exchange for earning a secure staff job in place of their usual freelance work, which Brock seemingly obtains. After Peter exposes Brock as having doctored his photo from one of Peter's own, Jameson immediately fires him and has the newspaper print their first retraction in 20 years. During a subsequent fight between Brock (now bound to a symbiote as Venom) and the Sandman against Spider-Man and the New Goblin, Jameson, unable to locate Parker, reluctantly buys a camera from a little girl in the surrounding crowd for one hundred dollars. After Jameson attempts to take a photograph of the battle, he finds that the camera contains no film, which the smiling little girl says will cost "extra", infuriating 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

TheDailyBugle.net web series

Reception

Simmons’ performance as J. Jonah Jameson in both live-action and in animation has been universally praised by both audiences and critics.[19]

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.[20] 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."[9]

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 e This version of the character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  3. ^ Identified in the novelisation as Namor MacKenzie.

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. ^ Topel, Fred (July 30, 2012). "J.K. Simmons is Open to Playing J. Jonah Jameson in Amazing Spider-Man 2". CraveOnline.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Looking Back On Spider-Man: The New Animated Series". Cultured Vultures. May 10, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Spider-Man, retrieved March 18, 2019
  15. ^ IGN: Moe'N'A Lisa Review Archived December 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ The Daily Bugle (October 29, 2019). "TheDailyBugle.net EXCLUSIVE! Spider-Man is a Menace!". YouTube.
  17. ^ The Daily Bugle (October 30, 2019). "TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE Spider-Man Unmasked Full Story Credit The Daily Bugle J. Jonah Jameson". YouTube.
  18. ^ The Daily Bugle (November 20, 2019). "TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE London Attack — Tower Bridge Bill Blues". YouTube.
  19. ^ "Harrison review". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  20. ^ 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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