Spider-Man 3 star Thomas Haden Church, while in town promoting his new film Over The Hedge, was kind enough to take some time to chat with us in this exclusive for Skewed and Reviewed. While the majority of the interview, which will be posted soon, focuses on "Hedge," I was able to get a few comments on his eagerly anticpated turn in what is shaping up to be the must-see film of 2007. Here's what he could say on Spider-Man 3:

When I asked what he could tell me about the film he said that he is bound by honor to keep it a secret with a wry tone, but did confirm that he is indeed The Sandman. As he put it, "he is part man, part sand." When I asked about the reports that he had to bulk up for the part, Thomas replied that when he was shooting Sideways he put on 20 pounds to about 200lbs. He said that after the film he went to his "walking around weight" of 180.



This all changed when he met Sam Raimi, who said his thin swimmers build needed to be bulked up. He has put on 20 lbs of "lean muscle" through intense diet and weight training.Thomas said that he lifts for about 90 minutes a day 5-6 days a week to keep the reguired tone, and that after 13 months, the training had become damn boring, but it is what the part required.

Look full the full interview on Over the Hedge to be posted soon.