WILLIN' VILLAIN CHURCH GETS PLUM `SPIDER-MAN' ROLE.

Byline: - Glenn Whipp

As Thomas Haden Church begins the third year of his involvement with ``Spider-Man 3,'' it's beginning to feel like everything in his life has some connection to the movie.

``I thought I heard my 2-year-old daughter say, `Spider-Man, Spider-Man,' the other day,'' Church says. ``Turns out she was asking for `vitamin, vitamin.' My fiancee and I were conjoined in a moment of relief. We don't want her to be too much into papa's work.''

In ``Spider-Man 3,'' Church plays Flint Marko, aka The Sandman, one of two new villains in the movie. (Topher Grace's Venom is the other.) Marko is a small-time crook. Then there's an accident, and Marko turns into a shape-shifting super-villain -- one who may be responsible for a key tragedy in Peter Parker's (aka Spidey's) life.

``The more research I did into the character, the more I thought about Lon Chaney Jr., the way he was, his presence in movies,'' Church says, ``also the innocence of Frankenstein before he was regarded as a monster. He was a simple, accidental character. His fate was wrought in the hands of someone else.''

Church's fate was in director Sam Raimi's hands. The actor was originally slated to work with Raimi in the 2000 movie ``The Gift,'' but ``got bumped to the curb'' (Church's words) when Keanu Reeves expressed an interest in his part.

Two years ago, their paths crossed again at the Broadcast Film Critics Awards dinner. Church won a supporting actor award for ``Sideways,'' and gave a funny and tearful acceptance speech that piqued Raimi's interest.

``He and (producer) Laura Ziskin were really taken with the acceptance speech and thought I'd be great to play Sandman,'' Church says. ``Somehow that speech told them I was the guy. We met the next week, and I was offered the part. I told Sam, `I've got to give more acceptance speeches.' ''

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(color) Thomas Haden Church, left, in ``Spider-Man 3,'' opening May 4.