The Daily Bugle (web series)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Daily Bugle
Genre
Created bySony Pictures
Directed by
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes29
Production
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseOctober 19, 2019 (2019-10-19) –
present

The Daily Bugle (formerly TheDailyBugle.net) is an American faux current affairs digital series serving as the center of several viral marketing campaigns created by Sony Pictures. Based on the fictional newspaper agency of the same name appearing in several Marvel Comics publications—the YouTube videos initially began as marketing for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Spider-Man: Far From Home, and deal with major events depicted in the MCU and later the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) films, with the second and third seasons primarily airing on TikTok.

The first season of the

Betty Brant, began in November 2021. A third season, leading up to the events of the SSU film Morbius
and featuring Nicque Marina as a fictionalized version of herself, released in March 2022, separately from the No Way Home videos.

The videos are accompanied by additional marketing materials, such as in-universe web articles and social media posts. The series has been received positively, seen as better than average viral marketing campaigns, and as a fun and insightful expansion of the MCU for fans of the franchise.

Spider-Man: Far From Home campaign (2019)

No.
overall
No. in
campaign
TitleGuest(s)Original air dateRuntime
11"Mysterio Final Moments"
Quentin Beck[b]
October 23, 2019 (2019-10-23)0:24
TheDailyBugle.net presents the first part of Mysterio's edited video, framing Spider-Man for his murder and the London victims.[a]
22"Footage From Tower Bridge Attack"
Flash Thompson
October 29, 2019 (2019-10-29)0:33
TheDailyBugle.net presents footage of
Elemental fusion attack on Tower Bridge.[a]
33"Spider-Man is a Menace!"NoneOctober 29, 2019 (2019-10-29)0:34
Host
J. Jonah Jameson
, being highlighted as a trustworthy representative, accuses Spider-Man as a fraud while Mysterio is praised as a hero.
44"Spider-Man Unmasked"Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck[b]
Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man[b]
October 30, 2019 (2019-10-30)1:12
Jameson presents the second part of Mysterio's video, exposing Spider-Man's real identity as Peter Parker and a criminal menace.[a]
55"Coney Island re-opened years after devastating crash"NoneNovember 6, 2019 (2019-11-06)0:25
TheDailyBugle.net reports of
Adrian Toomes instead of Spider-Man.[c]
66"London Attack — Tower Bridge Bill Blues"NoneNovember 20, 2019 (2019-11-20)0:27
Following the 2024 presidential election, TheDailyBugle.net reports that the UK Prime Minister and 10 Downing Street have demanded repayment from the US government after Spider-Man was revealed as responsible for the Tower Bridge attack.

Spider-Man: No Way Home campaign (2021–2022)

Episodes six through eight and eleven are Burning Questions with Betty Brant episodes. The campaign released additional videos as a bonus feature with Spider-Man: No Way Home's (2021) digital release in March 2022, with further episodes being released in April.

No.
overall
No. in
campaign
TitleGuest(s)Original air dateRuntime
71"Hi TikTok! Welcome to The Daily Bugle! Follow us for breaking news on Spider-Man you can't get anywhere else."NoneNovember 24, 2021 (2021-11-24)0:31
Betty Brant is hired by The Daily Bugle as an intern and placed in charge of their TikTok account. Initially excited and the prospect of "her first real job
", she then finds she is unpaid.
82"Tell us you hate Spider-Man without telling us... (even if you don't actually hate him)."NoneNovember 24, 2021 (2021-11-24)0:14
As Betty Brant attempts to tell The Daily Bugle that Peter Parker is a "very nice" person who saved her life, she is cut off by J. Jonah Jameson referring to Parker as a "Spider-Menace".
93"Join us as an intern of The Daily Bugle, no experience required! Get our reporter pack from our in bio."NoneNovember 24, 2021 (2021-11-24)0:31
With the expansion of The Daily Bugle to a "journalist juggernaut" in addition to a website, a crazily-smiling Betty Brant provides an offer of further internships to other interested parties with a free reporter pack, in order to call in with sightings of Spider-Man in action: "Spider-Man sightings, misguided opinions, vague rumours, and craziest conspiracy theories, today!"
104"Lightning and sand storms in NYC? Find out who's behind it all in our latest report!"NoneDecember 2, 2021 (2021-12-02)0:58
Betty Brant reports on the sightings of
Elementals,[a] after being spoken to by Jameson.[e]
115"Do YOU have what it takes to become a reporter for The Daily Bugle? Duet this and show us if you can handle this #Teleprompter Challenge!"NoneDecember 3, 2021 (2021-12-03)0:49
Betty Brant oversees an official The Daily Bugle teleprompter challenge, asking viewers to read out a passage condemning Spider-Man for the murder of interdimensional hero Mysterio.
126"Daily Bugle Exclusive: a chat with one of Peter Parker's teachers, Coach Wilson."Hannibal Buress as Coach WilsonDecember 7, 2021 (2021-12-07)0:23
In a preview of a new segment of The Daily Bugle called Burning Questions with Betty Brant, Betty Brant interviews her former high school coach Wilson, questioning him over why he had "never noticed [Peter Parker] had extraordinary athletic abilities" while teaching him, before Wilson points out that with Midtown High being a science-based school, "two push-ups" could be considered an act of "extraordinary athletic ability".
Closing off the segment with The Last Word, J. Jonah Jameson recommends homeschooling, before proudly mentioning that he was homeschooled himself.
137"Daily Bugle Exclusive: meet author Eugene "Flash" Thompson — the creator of the name "Spider-Man.""
Flash Thompson
December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)0:28
In a preview of Burning Questions with Betty Brant, Betty Brant interviews her former classmate turned published "patriot" author
Eugene "Flash" Thompson, who has published a book about his relationship with Peter Parker and having been the first to dub him as "Spider-Man" when uploading footage of him to YouTube
years earlier, before knowing Parker was Spider-Man, having also considered the names "Arachnokid" and "The Bitten".
In The Last Word, Jameson states that "I wouldn't let that kid near a dog park, let alone a public school."
148"Daily Bugle Exclusive: a sit-down with Peter Parker's best friend, Ned Leeds."
Ned Leeds
December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)0:23
In a preview of Burning Questions with Betty Brant, Betty Brant interviews her ex-boyfriend and Peter Parker's best friend
Ned Leeds
; however, instead of asking about Parker, Betty asks Ned about "what is an appropriate text sent to your ex-girlfriend in the middle of the night" – after an awkward moment of silence, Betty compliments Ned's appearance, before signaling for her camera crew to cut after Ned mentions her continued state of beauty.
159"Join us and play Put A Finger Down: Daily Bugle Edition!"NoneDecember 15, 2021 (2021-12-15)0:56
Betty Brant invites her viewers to participate in a "Put A Finger Down: Daily Bugle Edition" challenge, revealing the (obvious) topic word at the end of the broadcast to be "Spider-Man".
1610"Breaking News! Peter Parker aka. Spider-Man has been released!"Tom Holland as Peter Parker[f]December 17, 2021 (2021-12-17)0:21
Betty Brant announces the release of Peter Parker / Spider-Man by authorities after being detained for the alleged murder of Mysterio.
1711"A Daily Bugle exclusive sit-down with Spider-Menace himself, Peter Parker"Tom Holland as Peter ParkerDecember 20, 2021 (2021-12-20)0:31
Betty Brant asks Peter Parker what would he say to the spider that bit him. After Peter answers "Thanks", Betty adds "For nothing?". In The Last Word, Jameson states that "The Daily Bugle won't rest until we have untied his [Spider-Man's] web of lies".
1812"I was definitely hired for my journalist skills and no other reason, right??"NoneDecember 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)0:18
Betty Brant answers fan questions.
1913"Get your fix on Daily Bugle Supplements today! #Sponsored"NoneJanuary 6, 2022 (2022-01-06)0:13
Brant and Jameson promote The Daily Bugle's sponsor, "Daily Bugle Supplements".
2014"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE – Web of Lies!"[g]Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man[f]April 5, 2022 (2022-04-05)[h]1:19
After reporting on civilians demanding Parker's birth certificate, J. Jonah Jameson assures viewers of The Daily Bugle that they will uncover Parker's "web of lies".
2115"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE – Sticky Street Job"NoneApril 5, 2022 (2022-04-05)0:42
The Bugle reports on Spider-Man's webs being sticked across the city, as a result of him web-swinging.
2216"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE – Spider-Sycophant"Tony Revolori as Flash ThompsonApril 8, 2022 (2022-04-08)[h]1:41
Jameson reacts to Flash Thompson's video, produced ahead of the
Midtown School of Science and Technology
's first day in the 2024–2025 season, encouraging viewers to home school before proudly saying he was home schooled himself.
2317"TheDailyBugle.net – Spider-Menace Tip Line"Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man[f]April 14, 2022 (2022-04-14)0:37
The Bugle produce a video ensuring viewers to visit a Spider-Man tip line after witnessing the vigilante.
2418"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE – "Savies" A New Menace Emerges"NoneApril 29, 2022 (2022-04-29)0:37
Jameson reports on "savies", a "dangerous" new trend on social media where citizens take
selfies
while being saved by superheroes.
2519"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE – The Spider-Menace Strikes Again!"NoneApril 29, 2022 (2022-04-29)[h]1:15
The Daily Bugle report on Spider-Man "damaging" a power grid outside the city; A witness states that he saw Spider-Man repairing the cell towers "all night" after defeating an individual who was "absorbing" the grid's energy.[d]

Morbius campaign (2022)

No.
overall
No. in
campaign
TitleGuest(s)Original air dateRuntime
261"BREAKING NEWS about Dr. Michael Morbius from our NEW social correspondent"
Michael Morbius[j]
March 18, 2022 (2022-03-18)1:01
Nicque Marina introduces herself as having taken the "unusually hazardous job" of social correspondent at TheDailyBugle.net, reporting on Dr.
Michael Morbius' recent public rejection of a prestigious award from the scientific community,[i]
before elaborating on who Morbius is: the world's leading expert on blood diseases, the director of the prestigious Horizon Labs, and the inventor of "synthetic blood", something Marina believes will either be "very helpful, or a disaster".
272"This just in: Dr. Michael Morbius is missing! Stitch this video with any info about his whereabouts!"Adria Arjona as Martine Bancroft[j]March 24, 2022 (2022-03-24)0:51
283"Developing story: Dr. Michael Morbius has been found looking... healthier than ever."Jared Leto as Dr. Michael Morbius[j]March 29, 2022 (2022-03-29)1:24
294"A super creature spotted in New York City! Could Dr. Michael Morbius be involved? @nicquemarina reports from the safety of her closet."Jared Leto as Dr. Michael Morbius[j]March 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)1:37

Cast and characters

Also reprising their roles from the

Michael Morbius and Martine Bancroft from the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Morbius
is used.

Production

From 2002 to 2007, the

The Amazing Spider-Man duology in April 2014, should the studio offer him the role.[8]

Simmons ultimately reprised his role as a re-imagined alternate reality version of J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: Far From Home, released in the United States on July 2, 2019,[9] making him the first live-action character to be portrayed by the same actor in two different franchises, also reprising the role as the same incarnation of the character in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Contrastingly to his original depiction, J. Jonah Jameson appears as the host of TheDailyBugle.net, a sensationalist "InfoWars-type video platform."[10] Director Jon Watts noted that Simmons' performance was over-the-top in Raimi's films, but now that same performance has real-world comparisons,[11] such as Alex Jones. According to Kevin 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.[12] 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.[13]

Simmons announced that he has signed on to play J. Jonah Jameson for more films in the MCU and the SSU;

mid-credits scene of the 2021 SSU film Venom: Let There Be Carnage;[18][19]
this was officially released as part of the No Way Home campaign on YouTube, named "Web of Lies!", in April 2022.

Simmons returned as J. Jonah Jameson, with

Michael Morbius; the No Way Home videos are released in a non-chronological order relative to the events of the film.[4]

Release

The first season was made available on TheDailyBugle.net

The Mary Sue.[16] TheDailyBugle.net videos also appear as bonus features on the Blu-ray release of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).[15] The second and third seasons were made available on TheDailyBugle.net TikTok channel, with the official website redirected to it.[4]

Supplementary material

Other content released for the viral marketing campaigns include ongoing posts on social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram,[16] as well as a real version of the fictional TheDailyBugle.net website. Inspired by real-world "conspiracy-pushing" websites such as that of Alex Jones, the website features Simmons reprising his role as Jameson in a video where he speaks out against Spider-Man and in support of Mysterio, before adding "Thanks for watching. Don't forget to like and subscribe!"[20] The website includes testimonials from supposed victims of "the Blip", including one complaining that they disappeared in a dangerous situation and were seriously injured when they reappeared. This contradicts a statement by Feige saying that anyone in such a situation would have reappeared safely.[22] Several days after this was pointed out, the website was updated to say this story was faked for an insurance claim;[23] with the launch of the Spider-Man No Way Home campaign in November 2021, the website was redirected to TheDailyBugle.net TikTok account.[4]

Reception

Critical response

Aaron Perine of

Nerdist described Simmons' role as a "real delight", saying that "[e]ven though he was missing his signature flat top, fans were more than fine with his updated version of Jonah", further describing the tie-in website as a "clever marketing push", praising its "striking resemble to certain famous conspiracy blogs that shall remain nameless [InfoWars, with] the site's whole aesthetic [being] pretty much spot on."[27]

Accolades

The TikTok campaign for Spider-Man: No Way Home was nominated for a Shorty Awards in the entertainment category.[28]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d As depicted in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
  2. ^ a b c Footage from Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
  3. ^ As depicted in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
  4. ^ a b As depicted in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
  5. ^ Voice only
  6. ^ a b c Footage from Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
  7. (2021).
  8. ^ a b c Originally released on March 15, 2022, as a bonus feature with the digital release of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
  9. ^ As depicted in Morbius (2022)
  10. ^ a b c d Footage from Morbius (2022)

References

  1. ComicBook.com. Archived
    from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  2. from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ Chang, Tom (September 27, 2019). ""Spider-Man: Far From Home": Viral Daily Bugle Site Goes Live". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d Al-Heeti, Abrar (November 24, 2021). "Spider-Man: No Way Home joins TikTok with an account for The Daily Bugle". CNET. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Micajah, CL (November 25, 2021). "Spider-Man: Watch J. Jonah Jameson Returns as The Daily Bugle Now Has its Own TikTok Channel". Fan Fest. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Burwick, Kevin (July 20, 2018). "Spider-Man Cast Celebrates Spider-Man: Far From Home Reunion on Instagram". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Woerner, Meredith (July 12, 2019). "'Spider-Man' Writers Break Down What Really Happened During the Marvel Blip". Variety. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  8. CraveOnline. Archived
    from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  9. ^ Owen, Phil (July 3, 2019). "Yes, That Was Who You Thought It Was at the End of 'Spider-Man: Far From Home'". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  10. ^ Britt, Ryan (July 5, 2019). "The Spider-Man: Far From Home Mid- and Post-Credits Scenes, Explained". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Aquilina, Tyler (May 30, 2020). "J.K. Simmons recalls his Spider-Man audition, teases his future in the MCU". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  15. ^
    ComicBook.com. Archived
    from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  16. ^ from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  17. ^ Brace, Samuel (September 23, 2020). "J.K. Simmons is "very optimistic" about more J. Jonah Jameson appearances in the MCU". Flickering Myth. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  18. ^ Vary, Adam B. (October 2, 2021). "Does 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Reshape Sony's Marvel Universe? And More Burning Questions". Variety. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  19. ^ Couch, Aaron (October 19, 2021). "Marvel's Kevin Feige Talks 'Eternals' Ambition and That 'Venom' Surprise". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Jaworski, Michelle (September 26, 2019). "The Daily Bugle's website from 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' is now real". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  21. ^ Welk, Brian (September 26, 2019). "JK Simmons' J Jonah Jameson Labels Spider-Man a 'Miscreant' on New Daily Bugle Website (Video)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  22. CinemaBlend. Archived
    from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  23. from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  24. from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  25. from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  26. ^ Fisher, Jessica (November 1, 2019). "Watch the Full Daily Bugle News Report From Spider-Man: Far From Home's Mid-Credits Scene". Geek Tyrant. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  27. Nerdist. Archived
    from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  28. ^ "@THEDAILYBUGLEOFFICIAL TIKTOK". Shorty Awards. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.

External links