In the 1990s, Michael Jackson tried buying Marvel to play Spider-Man; the company instead went bankrupt before changing Hollywood forever

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rewriting box office records, but long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe became a global phenomenon, the company was fighting for survival. Around the same time, Michael Jackson was looking for ways to expand his presence in Hollywood beyond music. Those two entertainment giants briefly crossed paths in the 1990s, when the King of Pop reportedly tried to buy Marvel because he wanted to bring Spider-Man to the big screen and possibly play the superhero himself.

Years later, members of Jackson's family and Marvel legend Stan Lee confirmed that the singer had seriously explored the idea. It never happened, but the story has resurfaced again as Spider-Man is once again ruling the theatres following the record-breaking opening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Michael Jackson's Spider-Man dream

Marvel was going through one of the most difficult phases in its history during the mid-1990s. The comic book publisher filed for bankruptcy in 1996 after years of declining comic sales and business struggles. Its stock had been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, while its television and licensing businesses had also weakened. The company eventually merged with Toy Biz in 1998, a move that helped keep Marvel afloat.


According to Jackson's nephew, Taj Jackson, the singer saw an opportunity during that period and began discussing a possible deal with Marvel.

Speaking to Popcorned Planet, Taj Jackson said, "I remember being with my brothers and him talking about purchasing Marvel. He wanted to do that with Stan Lee. They had been talking and discussing that. Unfortunately, that didn't happen; I think they were shut down from doing that. I don't know the reasons why, but they were adamantly in the process of doing that."

He added that his uncle's interest extended beyond simply owning the company.

"Besides Spider-Man, he was a huge Marvel fan. He knew all the characters. So it was not only Spider-Man [he wanted to buy]. But yeah, he probably wanted to be Spider-Man."

Stan Lee confirmed Jackson's interest

The story was later backed up by Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee. Speaking after Jackson's death, Lee recalled that the singer had approached him believing he could help secure the rights to Spider-Man.

In comments reported by the Associated Press and later by The Telegraph, Lee said, "I'm not sure whether he just wanted to produce it or wanted to play the role. Our conversation never got that far along."

Lee also explained why the plan did not move forward.

"He thought I'd be the one who could get him the rights [to Spider-Man], and I told him I couldn't. He would have to go to the Marvel company. But we did become friendly, and he was a great guy."

During a 2012 interview with Moviefone, Lee confirmed Jackson's larger ambition.

"Yes, he wanted to. He felt that would be the only way that he could play Spider-Man."

When asked how different Marvel might have become if Jackson had succeeded, Lee replied, "I can't imagine it would have been totally different of course, but maybe not as successful. Michael was not a great businessman."

The role eventually went to Tobey Maguire

Jackson's reported plans came at a time when filmmaker James Cameron was developing an early Spider-Man project that ultimately never moved ahead. According to multiple reports, Jackson hoped to become involved in the character's future and even explored buying Marvel after learning Spider-Man himself was not available for purchase.

The sale never happened and the company followed a very different path. Marvel's film revival began with Blade in 1998 and X-Men in 2000 before Sam Raimi's Spider-Man arrived in 2002 with Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. By then, Jackson was already in his 40s, while Maguire was 26 and playing a much younger version of the character.

Jackson had long shown an interest in filmmaking through projects such as Moonwalker, Captain EO and elaborate music videos directed by filmmakers including John Landis, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. His ambition to enter superhero films was another extension of that interest, although it never became reality.