 This rumor proved to be untrue, as the 1978 television rights to use that character were tied up by a proposed television pilot movie in development by Universal Studios (now a sister company to NBC) that ended up never being produced.The 1981 syndicated version of Spider-Man was based on the popular Marvel Comics character of the same name.The series featured Peter Parker having to balance his alter ego crimefighting with his responsibilities as a university student, a part-time photographer for the "Daily Bugle" and caring for his elderly Aunt May.