TheDailyBugle.net (web series)

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TheDailyBugle.net
Genre
Created bySony Pictures
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes19
Production
Production companies
  • Sony Pictures
  • Marvel Studios
Release
Original network
  • YouTube (season 1)
  • TikTok (season 2)
Original releaseOctober 19, 2019 (2019-10-19) –
January 6, 2022 (2022-01-06)
External links
Website

TheDailyBugle.net is a faux American current affairs digital series serving as the center of several viral marketing campaigns for Marvel Studios and created by Sony Pictures. Based on the fictional sensationalist news outlet of the same name that appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)—itself based on the fictional newspaper agency of the same name appearing in several Marvel Comics publications—the YouTube videos began as marketing for the film Spider-Man: Far From Home, and deal with major events depicted in the MCU's films, with the second season primarily airing on TikTok.

The first season of the news program features J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, reprising his role from the MCU films and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Several other actors reprise their roles from the films, while archival footage of others is also used. The initial videos were released from October to November 2019, focusing on the immediate aftermath of Spider-Man: Far From Home. A second season, leading up to the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and featuring Angourie Rice reprising her role as Betty Brant, were released from November to December 2021.

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)[]

See also: Spider-Man: Far From Home
No.
overall		No. in
campaign		TitleGuest(s)Original air dateRuntime
11"EXCLUSIVE Mysterio Final Moments Full Story Credit The Daily Bugle J. Jonah Jameson"Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck[b]October 23, 2019 (2019-10-23)0:24
J. Jonah Jameson runs through the upcoming week's main story: footage of Mysterio's death.[a]
22"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE Footage From Tower Bridge Attack"Tony Revolori as Flash ThompsonOctober 29, 2019 (2019-10-29)0:33
TheDailyBugle.net presents footage of social media influencer Flash Thompson's perspective of an Elemental attack on Tower Bridge.[a]
33"TheDailyBugle.net EXCLUSIVE! Spider-Man is a Menace!"NoneOctober 29, 2019 (2019-10-29)0:34
J. Jonah Jameson reviews Spider-Man's true nature as a criminal menace.
44"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE Spider-Man Unmasked Full Story Credit The Daily Bugle J. Jonah Jameson"Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck[b]
Tom Holland as Peter Parker[b]		October 30, 2019 (2019-10-30)1:12
J. Jonah Jameson reveals footage of Mysterio's death, showing his murder at the hands of Spider-Man and exposing the latter's identity as Peter Parker.
55"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE Coney Island re-opened years after devastating crash"NoneNovember 6, 2019 (2019-11-06)0:25
TheDailyBugle.net reviews Spider-Man's criminal act of destroying Coney Island in 2016 ahead of its 2024 reopening.[c]
66"TheDailyBugle.net: EXCLUSIVE London Attack — Tower Bridge Bill Blues"NoneNovember 20, 2019 (2019-11-20)0:27
The UK Prime Minister demands repayment from the US government after annoying menace Spider-Man was found responsible for the recent attack on Tower Bridge.[a]

Spider-Man: No Way Home campaign (2021)[]

See also: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Episodes six through eight and eleven are Burning Questions with Betty Brant episodes.

No.
overall		No. in
campaign		TitleGuest(s)Original air dateRuntime
71"Hi TikTok! Welcome to The Daily Bugle!"NoneNovember 24, 2021 (2021-11-24)0:31
Betty Brant is hired by the TheDailyBugle.net 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 you hate Spider-Man."NoneNovember 24, 2021 (2021-11-24)0:14
As Betty Brant attempts to tell TheDailyBugle.net 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!"NoneNovember 24, 2021 (2021-11-24)0:31
With the expansion of TheDailyBugle.net 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 Electro and Sandman in New York City;[d] after speculating that "supervillains are back", Brant changes tune to blame the "Spider-Menace" for faking the attacks and storms as with the 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 TheDailyBugle.net 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 TheDailyBugle.net 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.""Tony Revolori as Flash ThompsonDecember 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."Jacob Batalon as Ned LeedsDecember 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 signalling 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 aka. 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
This is an ad for The Daily Bugle's sponsor, "Daily Bugle Supplements".

Cast and characters[]

Also reprising their roles from the films are Tony Revolori as social media influencer Eugene "Flash" Thompson, Hannibal Buress as Midtown High gym teacher Coach Wilson, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds,[6] and Tom Holland as Peter Parker, while Jake Gyllenhaal appears as Quentin Beck / Mysterio via archive footage from Spider-Man: Far From Home.[7]

Production[]

From 2002 to 2007, the character of J. Jonah Jameson was featured in a trilogy of live-action films directed by Sam Raimi, serving as a major source of comic relief throughout the series, retaining a dislike for Spider-Man and taking delight in anything that might discredit or defame him, but remains a good man at his core. After reprising the role in numerous animated projects, Simmons expressed interest in reprising the role in live-action in Marc Webb's 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;[14] following the home media release of Spider-Man: Far From Home by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on digital on September 17, 2019, and on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 1,[15] a viral marketing series of shorts starring Simmons, expanding upon his role in and set immediately after the events of Far From Home running the faux news program TheDailyBugle.net, including an in-character Twitter account.[16][17] Elements of the Spider-Man: No Way Home promotional campaign appears in the mid-credits scene of the 2021 SSU film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, including new footage of Simmons.[18][19]

Simmons returned as J. Jonah Jameson, with Tony Revolori also returning as Eugene "Flash" Thompson. Marvel partnered with Sony Pictures to produce the videos,[20] which follow the character in the immediate aftermath of Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the buildup to Spider-Man: No Way Home, while featuring numerous easter eggs to the MCU, including such events such as the criminal career and arrest of Adrian Toomes.[21] In addition to archive footage of Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal from the Spider-Man films, the videos also use original material, and footage showing the aftermath of Mysterio's attacks.[16] The second season, primarily released through TikTok, features Angourie Rice as Betty Brant alongside Simmons, depicted as a new (unpaid) intern at TheDailyBugle.net put in charge of its TikTok account; the episodes are released in a non-chronological order relative to the events of No Way Home.[4]

Release[]

The first season was made available on the TheDailyBugle.net YouTube channel, with some of them debuting in publications such as Facebook and The Mary Sue.[16] The TheDailyBugle.net videos also appear as bonus features on the Blu-ray release of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).[15] The second season was made available on the 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 the TheDailyBugle.net TikTok account.[4]

Reception[]

Aaron Perine of ComicBook.com praised the decision to have Simmons return as the character, summarizing their appearance with the meme "When you own a role so much that the first reboot doesn't show your character and the second reboot straight up brings you back", accompanied by a photograph of Simmons from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 (2004) hysterically laughing.[24] Josh Weiss of Syfy Wire complimented the web series and accompanying website, saying that "Hopefully, this isn't just a one-off thing for the DVD and Blu-ray release, because Sony can milk this thing for all it's worth and ramp up excitement for the next entry."[25] Jessica Fisher of Geek Tyrant described Simmons' appearance as "awesome but not jaw-dropping" in reviewing the first episode.[26] Eric Diaz 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]

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. ^ As depicted in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
  5. ^ Voice only.
  6. ^ Footage from Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).

References[]

  1. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (July 12, 2019). "Original Spider-Man Director Sam Raimi Approves SPOILER's Spider-Man: Far From Home Cameo". ComicBook.com. Retrieved July 12, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Holmes, Adam (September 25, 2019). "Watch J.K. Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson Tear Into Spider-Man In Far From Home Video". CinemaBlend. Retrieved September 25, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Chang, Tom (September 27, 2019). ""Spider-Man: Far From Home": Viral Daily Bugle Site Goes Live". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved September 27, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. Retrieved November 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. Retrieved November 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  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, 2019. 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. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Bonomolo, Cameron (August 29, 2019). "Spider-Man: Far From Home Blu-ray Special Features and Digital HD Release Date Revealed". Comic Book. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  16. ^ a b c d Leishman, Rachel (October 31, 2019). "Behold, the Scariest Thing of All: The Daily Bugle Twitter Account". The Mary Sue. Retrieved October 31, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Brace, Samuel (September 23, 2020). "J.K. Simmons is "very optimistic" about more J. Jonah Jameson appearances in the MCU". Flickering Myth. Retrieved September 23, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. 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 29, 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 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  22. ^ Chichizola, Corey (September 26, 2019). "Spider-Man: Far From Home's Daily Bugle Website Contradicts Kevin Feige On The Blip". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  23. ^ Lovett, Jamie (September 28, 2019). "Spider-Man Website Updated to No Longer Contradict Kevin Feige After Marvel and Sony Deal". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  24. ^ Perine, Aaron (October 3, 2019). "Spider-Man Meme Perfectly Sums Up JK Simmons Return as J. Jonah Jameson". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 3, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Weiss, Josh (September 25, 2019). "J. Jonah Jameson Headlines Fake Daily Bugle Website To Promote Spider-Man: Far From Home Blu-Ray". Syfy Wire. Retrieved September 25, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. Retrieved November 1, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Diaz, Eric (September 26, 2019). "Spider-Man's Daily Bugle Is Now A Real Website". Nerdist. Retrieved September 26, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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