I Just Wanna Be a Superhero is a heartfelt documentary about what it means to dream big with nothing but passion, friendship, and a camera. A decade after the viral success of Spider-Man: Lost Cause, filmmaker Joey Lever looks back on the chaos, creativity, and community that made the impossible happen a fan film that reached over 64 million views and inspired a generation of young filmmakers.
Through behind-the-scenes footage, new interviews, and personal reflections, this film explores how a small project made by friends became a worldwide phenomenon, and what it really means to be a superhero without a budget.
Meet the team
JOEY
LEVER
Director/Peter Parker
ANDREW MILES
DOP
JORDAN
SCHOFIELD
Dop/Rhino
HEATH
GLEASON
VFX/Co Creator
JASCHA
HEIDICKE
Composer
TERAVIS
WARD
Gaffer/Nightsade
JIMMY REYES
3D Animation
Why we made it
This documentary was made as a love letter to every dreamer who’s ever picked up a camera and believed they could make something that matters. It’s for the ones who taught themselves, who stayed up all night editing, who borrowed their friend’s mic and filmed in their back garden because they just wanted to tell a story.
It’s not about fame or money it’s about creativity, connection, and the power of storytelling. It’s about the idea that passion can outshine budget, that collaboration can build worlds, and that the people around you can become your greatest team.
At its heart, I Just Wanna Be a Superhero is a reminder that you don’t need permission to create. That every filmmaker, no matter where they start, has the power to make something unforgettable when they believe in their story and the people who help bring it to life.
What is Spider-Man: Lost Cause
Spider-Man: Lost Cause is a full-length independent fan film written and directed by Joey Lever. Created without a studio or budget, the film set out to capture the heart and humanity of Peter Parker through the eyes of young filmmakers who simply loved the character.
Released on YouTube in 2014, it became one of the most-watched fan films in the world, reaching over 64 million views and inspiring a generation of creators to pick up a camera and tell their own stories.
The film follows Peter Parker as he struggles to balance life, love, and responsibility exploring what it truly means to be a hero when you have nothing left to lose. With its grounded tone, cinematic visuals, and emotional storytelling, Lost Cause proved that passion and creativity could rival even the biggest productions.
