With Spider-Man 3 arriving on DVD today, it's fitting that we should receive a major announcement regarding Spider-Man 4. Entertainment Weekly reports that James Vanderbilt (who penned the very awesome Zodiac) has been hired to write the script for Spidey 4, and Sony plans to swing the fourquel into theaters in 2009 (most likely early summer). Whether or not Vanderbilt will be the only writer to take on the project is not known; I wouldn't be surprised if this thing passes through the hands of at least two more writers before it moves ahead. Personally, I don't see the impending writer's strike lasting too long (if it happens at all), and so Vanderbilt should start plugging away almost immediately ... if he hasn't already done so. Most likely he pitched his idea to Sony with a full outline, and so I can't see it taking that long to punch out a draft or two.
What we don't know at this moment is whether Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Raimi will return to the franchise. Raimi has already stated that he wants to be involved in some capacity (most likely as producer), and after taking a critical lashing following Spider-Man 3, it'll be interesting to see if Raimi decides to direct one more. Of course, it probably depends on Maguire and Dunst to a certain degree, but if you ask me, I'd like to see them start from scratch with a new cast and director. Feel free to continue the storyline, but this franchise could use some new blood. There's a writer. There's a potential release year. What say you?
[Thanks Steve]
Insert Caption: Indiana Jones DVDs_thumbnail.jpg)
Cinematical Seven: When an Animated Series Goes Live Action ... and Gets it Right_thumbnail.jpg)
Full 'G.I. Joe' Cast Photos!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-31-2007 @ 12:44AM
Natecore said...
I'm ready for Raimi to move on. The real question I want to know is how much the studio interfered w/ Raimi's vision of SM3. There is no way the suck that was SM3 would have been Raimi's fault w/o the studio getting in his way. Raimi isn't going to say much about it now b/c he doesn't want to hurt his film making career, but as time goes on I'm sure we'll hear more about what happened w/ SM3.
Reply
10-31-2007 @ 1:06AM
Phoenix said...
The only thing that didn't suck about SM3 was Venom, and that was only because the studio wanted him in it...so in other words...Raimi's SM3 sucked...and the acting was horrible. Continue the story, but start fresh with new director and cast...but keep Topher Grace if Venom (or Carnage) return.
Reply
10-31-2007 @ 1:19AM
smartsingh said...
There are no words to describe how painfully akward it was to see Tobey Maguire walking down the street doing weird finger snaps at women and other jerky movements trying to convey that he's a bad boy. And whoever thought that the line "They really like me!" was good enough for a $500 million+ movie should defintley reconsider their career as a writer.
Reply
10-31-2007 @ 3:45AM
The Addict said...
"And whoever thought that the line "They really like me!" was good enough for a $500 million+ movie should [definitely] reconsider their career as a writer."
That'd be Sam & Ivan Raimi. Venom sucked because the Raimi brothers just didn't get him. The rest of the movie didn't work because the fate of the film was left in the hands of the guys that wrote "Army of Darkness." While AoD is one of my favorite movies, there's no need for Spidey to be yelling about his boom stick.
Hopefully what will come out of the mess that was Spider-man 3 will be a complete reworking of the third film, posing as the fourth, and they'll completely ignore that that piece of crap ever happened.
Reply
10-31-2007 @ 4:12AM
bongo123 said...
"There are no words to describe how painfully akward it was to see Tobey Maguire walking down the street doing weird finger snaps at women and other jerky movements trying to convey that he's a bad boy"
What? i thought that was hilarious, same with the first one and the "raindrops keep falling on my head" bit.. i didnt think it awkward in the slightest but seen it for what it is, just having a laugh.
Anyways i enjoyed all 3, yes the 3rd one was the weakest but still very watchable, i think they should get in another director and if they cant keep Toby, bin everyone and do a complete reboot.. but then again are Sony likely do risk such a massive cash cow?
Reply
10-31-2007 @ 8:07AM
John R said...
I agree a new cast and director would be appreciated. But its too soon for a reboot, I think. I feel like Spider-man should be like the Bond series in that there should always be new stories with the same chracters but with different players every now and again.
Reply
12-09-2007 @ 8:28AM
SuperFreak said...
I would love to see a complete Reboot. I am so sick of the "lets beat on Parker" formula that Rami & crew have taken. In the first film it was ok just to set the scene, but Come on! It's not even Spidey anymore, it's Whinney. Sure Pete has problems, but he deals with it. he may complain, but he's no whinner. I'd like to see a more Grown up version onscreen. no need to explain the background. who doesn't know Spidey, right? Just throw him up against the heavy hitters like Lizard or Carnage. Lets see some grit in there. & definetly a new cast. end rant.
Reply