J. Jonah Jameson (film character)
J. Jonah Jameson | |
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Spider-Verse character | |
First appearance | Spider-Man (2002) |
Based on | |
Adapted by | David Koepp Sam Raimi |
Portrayed by | J. K. Simmons |
Voiced by |
|
In-universe information | |
Full name | John Jonah Jameson Jr. |
Occupation | John Jameson |
Nationality | American |
J. Jonah Jameson (JJJ) is a
In Raimi's trilogy, Jameson is the head
An alternate Jameson appears in the MCU, depicted as the
Originally appearing in
The MCU version of the character has appeared thus far in the films Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and the web series The Daily Bugle (2019–present). Simmons also makes an uncredited cameo appearance as the MCU Jameson in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), voicing numerous alternate reality versions of the character in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).
Creation and characterization
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, portrayed by David White in the pilot film and by Robert F. Simon for the remainder of the series and the films Spider-Man Strikes Back and Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge. Produced by Columbia Pictures Television, it aired from 1977 to 1979.
Sam Raimi film series
In 1998,
For
Marvel Cinematic Universe films
In December 2014, following the
Simmons briefly reprises his role as a re-imagined version of J. Jonah Jameson in the live-action MCU film
The filmmakers did not want to include the Raimi version's memorable flat-top haircut or mustache; but when expressed this to Simmons, he negotiated with them to keep the mustache, insisting that the character's most important thing was that "he's still the same blowhard and he does have the same damn mustache, close to it, and cigar at least".[14]
In May 2020, Simmons announced that he has signed on to play Jameson for more films in the MCU, and had already filmed his next appearance,[15] next appearing in cameos in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) films Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) and Morbius (2022; in a deleted scene), and in a supporting role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
Fictional character biography
Sam Raimi film series
Campaign against Spider-Man
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, leading to the Bugle's sales getting higher due to Spider-Man. Jameson is also shown to have a cynical, obnoxious attitude and brusque manner with his staff, though he willingly protects Parker when the Green Goblin demands to know the identity of Spider-Man's photographer.
Spider-Man's retirement and return
Two years later, Jameson admits that Spider-Man is a hero, but refuses to talk openly about it. After Spider-Man disappears, a garbage man
Hiring Eddie Brock
One year later, now taking heart medication for stress, Jameson orders Parker and new hire
Marvel Cinematic Universe
J. Jonah Jameson | |
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TheDailyBugle.net | |
Nationality | American |
Exposing Spider-Man's identity
Jameson works as the host of the sensationalist news website
Defaming Spider-Man
After exposing Parker's identity publicly, he focuses on proving further that Spider-Man is a menace. He hires
Months later, The Daily Bugle crew set up an interview with Jameson and electrical worker Nelson Burke, who witnessed Spider-Man's fight with
Hours later, Parker contacts Jameson so he could lure the multiversal villains to the Statue of Liberty to cure them and send them back to their respective universes. Afterwards, Jameson's memory of Parker is erased but continues his war against Spider-Man a few weeks later.
In other media
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2022) |
Television
Keith Carradine voiced the character in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003), an alternate sequel to Raimi's original film that is considerably more dark and gritty than previous Spider-Man adaptations.[17]
Film
- In the mid-credits scene of the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), Eddie Brock and Venom are teleported from their universe into the MCU as a result of Dr. Stephen Strange's first spell in No Way Home. In the scene, Brock and Venom watch a broadcast of Jameson (Simmons reprising his role) that focuses on Spider-Man's identity.[18]
- Simmons filmed a cameo role as J. Jonah Jameson for the SSU film Morbius (2022), which was cut from the film following its delay to after the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).[19]
- Simmons lends his voice to multiple versions of J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse(2025).
Video games
- Jay Gordon voices the character in the first two Raimi films' video game adaptations, Spider-Man (2002, Xbox) and Spider-Man 2 (2004). Simmons reprises the role in the PSP version of Spider-Man 2.
- Simmons fully reprises his role from the films in the video game adaptation of Spider-Man 3 (2007), replacing Gordon.
- Spider-Man pinball, a game based on the Raimi trilogy, features new audio lines of Simmons as Jameson.
Reception
Simmons' performance as J. Jonah Jameson in both live-action and in animation has been universally praised by both audiences and critics.[21]
Far From Home director
Notes
- ^ Identified in the novelisation as Namor McKenzie.
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Conan, Neal (October 27, 2010). "Stan Lee, Mastermind Of The Marvel Universe". NPR.
- ^ a b Trumbull, John (September 2016). "J. Jonah Jameson: Hero or Menace?". Back Issue! (91): 37–41.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Topel, Fred (July 30, 2012). "J. K. Simmons is Open to Playing J. Jonah Jameson in Amazing Spider-Man 2". Mandatory. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (February 14, 2014). "'Amazing Spider-Man's' Movie J. Jonah Jameson Debuts on Tumblr". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
- Marvel.com. February 9, 2015. Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
- ^ VanMetre, Elizabeth (February 28, 2016). "Exclusive: J. K. Simmons Reacts to 'Spider-Man' Petition Calling for His Return: 'I'll Never Close the Door on Anything'". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kinane, Ruth (November 26, 2021). "J. K. Simmons negotiated to keep J. Jonah Jameson's mustache in Spider-Man: No Way Home makeover". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Russell, Bradley (September 2, 2022). " Spider-Man: No Way Home: every new scene in the More Fun Stuff version". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "Looking Back On Spider-Man: The New Animated Series". Cultured Vultures. May 10, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (October 1, 2021). "How Venom: Let There Be Carnage Mid-Credits Scene Shakes Up Sony's Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ H. C., Luiz (June 16, 2022). "Biting into the B-Movie Thrills of 'Morbius' [The Silver Lining]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan (2023-06-02). "'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' Brings Back [SPOILERS], Plus More Cameos and Crossovers Explained". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Harrison review". Houston Chronicle. May 3, 2002. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ 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.