Sometimes you come across things that blow your mind.

While reading Jordan Raphael and Tom Spurgeon's biography of Stan Lee, I came across information even more inconceivable to me than Adam West's claim he auditioned to play James Bond. If what this book reveals had come to pass, pop culture may well have imploded.

I knew that Spider-Man's path to the big screen was a tortuous one that lasted nearly 25 years, but I never knew about the package Lee originally tried to put together. Around 1980 he was pushing for Henry Winkler to play Peter Parker in a film directed by Alain Resnais.

Even today, Winkler is the more recognizable name, but back then, as Fonzie, he was the biggest star on TV. Resnais was one of the architects of the French New Wave in the late 1950s. He is best known for the grim and languorous "Hiroshima Mon Amour." A more unlikely alliance of cultural figures is hard to imagine.

But let's try. I can see Marilu Henner as Mary Jane Watson and Farrah Fawcett-Majors as the ghost of Gwen Stacy. The villain would be Richard Pryor as the Hypno Hustler (to grab some of that "Saturday Night Fever" action, you know).

I can even imagine the first page of the script, titled "Forest Hills, Mon Amour":

INT. SCIENCE LAB – DAY

In grainy black and white, a dozen 17-year-olds who all appear to be at least 30 file into a science lab where a beam of radioactive light HUMS inexorably. Just as inexorably, a SPIDER lowers itself from the ceiling. A series of jump cuts reveals the faces of the youths, including the studious PETER PARKER and the bully FLASH THOMPSON (played by Tom Wopat). Her face painted white, the GHOST OF GWEN STACY stands behinds Peter's shoulder. No one sees her.

FLASH: Hey, Puny Parker, you're such a nerd.

PETER: Ayyy! No one calls me a nerd and lives! (To himself) Oh, I guess I am a nerd.

Peter removes his leather jacket.

The camera cuts to the spider, still inexorably lowering itself toward the radioactive beam. The word INEXORABLY flashes on the screen as the spider hits the beam.

SPIDER (voice of Gérard Depardieu): I am radiation. I am death. But to you, Peter Parker, I bring enhanced life. That is my paradox.

GHOST OF GWEN: One day I will fall as the spider falls. My death will haunt you, Peter. Though you will be powerless to save me, you will consider yourself responsible. That is your paradox.

The glowing spider alights on Peter's hand.

SPIDER: Peter Parker, I give you the gift of power. I give you the burden of responsibility. And now, I die.

The spider bites Peter. Jump cut to stock footage of an atomic blast, then to extreme closeup of Peter's startled eyes.

PETER: Hey, whoah! That spider just bit me. That is majorly uncool!

All I can say is it was worth waiting 22 years for Tobey Maguire. I would have hated to see Spidey jump the shark with his first film.