Before Spider-Man, Sam Raimi Made A '90s Spy Thriller Series That Failed To Take Off

Sam Raimi, best known for his work in cinema, including the "Evil Dead" horror franchise and directing the "Spider-Man" movies, also has a history of producing TV shows. In 1997, Raimi, along with his brother Ivan and producer John McNamara, created the ABC series "Spy Game." The show, set in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, focused on former spies going rogue and being recruited by a government organization.

The series starred Linden Ashby as Lorne Cash, a retired secret agent, and Allison Smith as Max London, the leader of the ECHO organization. Max and Cash's contrasting approaches to spycraft - Max's high-tech gadgets and Cash's old-fashioned methods - created an interesting dynamic between the two characters. However, "Spy Game" struggled to find its footing and was canceled after just three episodes.

Critics, such as Variety and The Los Angeles Times, were harsh in their assessments, calling the series "loud, unoriginal, and unimaginative" and "really bad television on just about every level."

Despite the failure of "Spy Game," Raimi has continued to make his mark in the television industry. He has created shows like the superhero series "M.A.N.T.I.S." and produced the horror series "American Gothic," which featured Sarah Paulson in an early role. Raimi also produced "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and helped develop its successful spinoff, "Xena: Warrior Princess."

More recently, he co-created and developed "Spartacus," a Starz series about gladiators and a slave revolt, as well as "Ash vs. Evil Dead," a Starz revival of the "Evil Dead" franchise.