Maguire has his own secret identity, Actor likes to see movies without being recognized

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CULVER CITY, Calif. - Under cover of darkness, Tobey Maguire willwear a disguise and sneak around town.

The date remains a mystery - maybe on Friday, when the crowds willbe at their largest for this guaranteed blockbuster.

His mission: to watch some of his own film - a movie in which healmost lost the starring role, despite the huge success of 2002's"Spider-Man."

"It's exciting. I'll sneak in one night. You want to go when thefans are crazy into the film, and that's when it's fun, to catch thatenergy," said the 29-year-old actor.

The star of "Seabiscuit" and "Pleasantville" says this won't behis first incognito cinema experience.

"I've done it a few times. I'll go and just watch 15 minutes ofthe movie in two or three different theaters, just to feel how theaudience is digging it, get that immediate reaction."

But isn't that a risky move for one of the summer's most famousfaces, likely to get him mobbed if someone recognizes him?

"I'll be fine," Maguire responded. "I'll wear a hat and go in,wait until it's dark, stand there for 10 minutes and leave."

It may not seem like much, but that's a daring move for the boyishactor with the puppy-dog eyes and tousled hair - he has a reputationfor being almost pathologically withdrawing when it comes to high-pressure public exposure.

At a recent press screening of "Spider-Man 2," the ArcLighttheater in Los Angeles dimmed the lights for several minutes beforethe start of the show - so Maguire could grab a seat unnoticed.

A few weeks ago, his representatives also asked MTV to shut offits own backstage camera at the MTV Movie Awards whenever Maguirepassed by, even though he was about to go on stage in front ofthousands in a live audience.

Like his superhero alter ego, would Maguire rather have the secretidentity of an ordinary guy?

"I AM an ordinary guy," he insisted in a recent interview at theCulver Studios lot. "I guess if the question is, 'Would I like to beanonymous in all situations?' Sometimes, sure. But I can remainsomewhat anonymous, or just not go to a place where I'm going to (berecognized.) Then I'm not aware of it at all."

Maguire came close to getting an unwelcome dose of anonymityshortly before shooting began on "Spider-Man 2," something that couldhave tanked his young career.

In what is becoming a famous piece of Hollywood lore, the actornearly lost his Spidey suit to someone else in March 2003 because hetold the producers he had a bad back.

After doctors eventually OK'd his back, Maguire's motivationremains a mystery. More money? A later production start date? Lesstime swinging from wires in a skintight suit?

The actor said he was just trying to do the right thing - the samereason the producers gave for almost replacing him.

"First I was just disclosing it - you have to fill out insuranceindustry forms that say, 'Do you have any back problems?' This issomething that I have to say, 'Yeah, I have a condition.'

Maguire said he didn't want to be responsible for derailing amovie that costs $200 million midway through the shoot.

Finally, doctors certified his fitness, and Maguire was back inthe tights.

Despite the debacle, Maguire ended up getting a reported $17million for the sequel. That's about $13 million more than his salaryon the original - which earned more than $400 million domesticallyand became one of the top five biggest blockbusters in history.

But does a scene in the sequel rub salt into Maguire's woundedpride?

Maguire recalls the experience with a grimace that suggests thepain in his back has since become a pain somewhere lower on hisanatomy.

In one sequence, Peter Parker struggles to regain his superpowersso he can face off against villain Doc Ock (Alfred Molina).

Parker attempts to leap from rooftop to rooftop and ends upfalling into an alley and smashing his body against a car. He groansand walks away doubled over, moaning: "Owww ... my back!"

Maguire doesn't think it was written as a reference to thenegotiations, "although, I was aware that people might see it likethat," he said. "I think it's funny. I say it like I surely meantit."

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