Hollywood gossip columnist Nikki Finke reports that Sony Pictures has locked in director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire for Spider-Man 4.
According to Finke, Kirsten Dunst hasn’t been signed, “but Mary Jane Watson will be featured.”
As we reported in June, Sony is aiming for May 2011 release, which could put it at odds with Marvel’s plans for The First Avenger: Captain America.
If we’re to believe Finke, Sony would like to film the fourth and fifth installments of Spider-Man next fall to cut costs and accommodate schedules.
The Spider-Man 4 script, by Zodiac screenwriter Jamie Vanderbilt, reportedly will lose the black duds, and avoid the darker tone so many seem determined to adopt after the success of The Dark Knight.
Update: Variety‘s Tom McLean writes that, “given Raimi’s preference for Silver Age stuff,” The Lizard seems the likely villain for the fourth movie.
That would fall in line with what Finke writes: “I am told, however, that ‘once you find out who the villain is, you’ll know who’s playing it.’” Actor Dylan Baker appeared as Dr. Curt Connors in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3.
Update 2 (9:40 p.m.): The Hollywood Reporter weighs in with word that Raimi and Maguire “are said to be close to locking in a deal to return for the fourth and fifth installments.”
The trade paper also updates movement on the planned Venom spinoff, first reported in July. Sony has brought in screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Zombieland) to take a crack at Jacob Estes’ draft.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Sounds good !
September 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Nikki Finke’s rumors are 100% wrong.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Sony needs to take a more hands off approach or bring folks from Marvel in to help out, because Spidey 3 was such a royal mess.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
It’s only good if they act like Spidey 3 never happened… Of course, Harry’s death makes that hard. I wouldn’t mind seeing MJ wake up, and in a panic run to the bathroom to find Peter in the shower. It turns out that all of Spidey 3 was just a bad dream on MJ’s part, Peter and MJ got married after Spidey 2 (wouldn’t that be a kick in the crotch to Joey Q!), and Harry’s very much alive. Then they can get on with the real story. Harry can become Green Goblin II proper, either in this movie or the next one, and they can introduce Dr. Connors as The Lizard.
Assuming things won’t happen that way, I agree with silvanthalis that Sony needs to bring in some consultants from Marvel to try to keep this movie from becoming the mess Spidey 3 was. As it is, I’m not going to see it until I’ve read enough good reviews or gotten good word of mouth from people I trust. The Lizard would go a long way towards regaining my trust though. Great character. Far more enjoyable than either Sandman or Venom.
I never want to see Topher Grace in a Spider-Man movie again. Or any movie, for that matter.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Meh, I’m not all too jazzed about seeing another decent person turned evil because of a science experiment gone wrong, only to turn decent again at the last moment of the movie. Maybe the Lizard can kidnap MJ too.
Come on, bring on some real criminals. Tombstone, Hammerhead, Electro, Scorpion, Rhino, Hobgoblin. Villains that want to be villains.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Yeah, Flon’s right. If Finke is saying it, it’s almost for sure not going to happen – if not completely made up.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:57 am
I’d like to see the Vulture someday. I know he’s not the greatest of villains but the idea of seeing Pete in the air hanging by his ankle would be a cinematic treat for me. There’s nothing I like better than seeing Spidey take to the skies.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I really would love a Spidey movie without Maguire.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I do not want to see Kirsten Dunst return as MJ, she’s not a good fit for the part at all. I’d also like to see Chameleon, Mysterio, Rhino, and a J Jonah/Scorpion arc would be as well.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Whether Finke’s right or wrong, I think it’s time for some new blood. Spiderman 3 was a crapfest. We need new actors, new director(s), the whole thing.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I love Sam Raimi, and I really enjoyed Spider-Man 3. I thought Topher Grace was a good counter-point to Toby, since they’re both kind of lame. Topher did a great job with the smarm, and although the ending was muddled, I like the real-world sloppiness of the physical abuse fall-out and all that.
Plus, I was really surprised to see how hot Bryce Dallas-Howard was as blonde Gwen Stacy! Va-va-voom!!!
I’m very interested to see Raimi’s vision continue.
Don’t you all know that it was Avi Arad who forced in the Venom story? So, let’s stop blaming Raimi, and let him do the damn thing!
September 6th, 2008 at 10:14 am
The more I think about it, the more I realize I’m not a fan of Sam Raimi’s campiness. I certainly don’t think Spider-Man has to be Dark Knight, but Spidey 3 was impossible to take seriously. If they reign it in, this could be good.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I have a hard time believing that Sam and Toby will come back…but if they did then I would be excited. Spidey 3 wasn’t totally Sam’s fault. I believe he was pressured to throw Venom in which was one villan too many and felt very tacked on. I would like to see the scorpion, electro, mysterio would be great as well.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:06 am
OK, it’s a good point that The Lizard would be yet another case of science gone haywire and pretty similar to Spidey 2 in that it’s another good person gone bad as a result. But then… What else do people want to see? I’m sorry, but The Rhino? Even as a comic book reader I find him ridiculous. Too many Spidey villains simply are. The Vulture? Honestly? I dunno…
I’m just not sure where the Spidey franchise goes after the crapfest of Spidey 3. I’d love to see Kraven’s Last Hunt adapted to the big screen. Kingpin might’ve worked, but that probably won’t happen since a version of him was used in the Daredevil movie.
I’m also not sure where comic book/superhero movies go at all after The Dark Knight and (hopefully) Watchmen. I’m looking forward to whatever Nolan does with Batman, but even Iron Man (which I enjoyed a lot) seems trite by comparison.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:20 am
No more McGuire please. Does’nt appreciate the role. Ya know, no more Raimi. He’s had his stab at the franchise and it petered out. Oh, and if Mary Jane comes back, no more saving her at the end of the flick, it’s gotten boring.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I am hoping for the Lizard in part 4…Dr. Connors has already been introduced, so it will be easy to feature him and transform him into the villain. Let part 4 feature just the Lizard as the villain, and at the end of the movie, we believe the lizard side of him is suppressed. If part 5 is filmed at the same time, have the Lizard return as a supporting role, with Kraven coming in to hunt both Lizard and Spider-Man.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Boring.
Raimi’s Spider-Man pictures are some of the least interesting films I’ve ever seen. Spider-Man 2 was good because it had heart and featured an interesting villain with Dr. Octopus, but Spider-Mans 1 and 3 were boring ventures into tedious examples of great power and blah blah blah.
Get someone who won’t take Spider-Man so seriously and make a FUN movie, not an AWESOME SPECTACLE, but something FUN.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
“Sony needs to take a more hands off approach or bring folks from Marvel in to help out, because Spidey 3 was such a royal mess.”
thats funny considering marvel has turned the spider-man comic into a royal mess.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
What this movie needs is more Chabon and less Raimi on the script.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I wish people would forgive Raimi the third film, especially since the first two were awesome. It sees like everyone has forgotten that.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
The only reason Spiderman 3 was the mess it was is because a group of comic book fans where piss that Venom was not in the movie.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Bruce Campbell as the Lizard!!! I know Dylan-whatever his name is I don’t care to scroll up to look- played him in the other films, but so what? Bruce Campbell is awesome!
September 6th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Bruce Campbell shpould not be the Lizard. The Lizard (when the guy who plays Conner gets turned into the Lizard) will be mostly special effects/CGI whatever. There is no reason to make Cmapbel the scientist just to do that.
If anyting Campbell would be a good Mysterio, Beetle or heck I could even see Scorpion if he played it straight, but mostly Mysterio.
I think it is silly for two Marvel movies to “bump” each other (Cap and Spidey IV) I bet someone moves first (probably Cap)
September 6th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Damn, that is some bad typos on my part, lol
September 6th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
man i like the news . i think it would be awesome if maybe they did a kraven’s last hunt i think that would be a awesome spidey movie !!!!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
although from the movies all things point to the disaster known as THE CLONE SAGA witch would be horrible
September 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Yay!!! for the clone saga…adapted into a movie!!! I have heard reports by Jason Stakler who reports for Entertainment weekly saying “instalments 4 and 5 will be about the clone saga.”
September 6th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I like the idea of Spiderman 3 being just a dream. If Harry were to come back as the Green Goblin, please, no stupid Goblin helmet. I hated that in the first movie. You had a great actor like William Dafoe and his performance was lost behind that stupid helmet. They should have used special effects make up like Jim Carrey in the Mask to make him up so his facial expressions could have been seen.
Cool Spidey Villains I’d like to see would be Electro and Mysterio! and throw in John Jameson as the Man-Wolf. A guest hero would be cool too, even if it’s just a short cameo!
JA
September 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
WHAT?!?!
no way! That would suck if that turned out to be true.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
You guys are full of inspired ideas. Above everything, I hope Sam Raimi doesn’t extract any inspiration from you geniuses if he wants to keep the franchise going. You bozos are the reason Spider-Man 3 flagged because Venom is the dumbest characters and readers such as you people get behind that crap in the first place! Get a clue and don’t talk so much when you know next to nothing about what makes a comic book or a movie work.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:23 am
If Kirsten Dunst doesn’t return for 4 or 5 my vote goes to Christina Hendricks from Mad Men. She would be the perfect MJ.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
“You bozos are the reason Spider-Man 3 flagged because Venom is the dumbest characters and readers such as you people get behind that crap in the first place!”
I think you have you have us all confused with Avi Arad.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Pardon the typo above, por favor.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
YES to Christina Hendricks. She’s my first choice, also. She’s a great actress and gorgeous. I was never a fan of Kirsten Dunst as MJ.. or as anyone else for that matter. Her career peaked at 11 (Interview With the Vampire).
You really can’t blame Raimi for Spidey 3. He was never a fan of Venom, and never wanted to feature him in his movies. I’m not sure whether it was Marvel or Sony that pressured him to featuring him, but it surely wasn’t by Raimi’s choice. The Sandman storyline was great, I thought. Really, the only real problem was the Venom side-story.
I don’t know who this Nikki Finke person is, but Raimi has shown interest in doing more Spidey films, and most of the actors said they’d do it again if Raimi returned, so this rumor doesn’t seem too unrealistic. I’ve always thought The Lizard would be a great villain because they’ve featured Dr. Connors in the previous films, so it’d be a waste not to make use of him.
September 7th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I htink they should rotate lead actors like they did with James Bond.
Maguire one movie, someone else another.
And maybe change up the name to AMAZING PSiderman instead of Spiderman 4….to me then it would be like a new arc or soemthing
September 7th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Blammo Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
You guys are full of inspired ideas. Above everything, I hope Sam Raimi doesn’t extract any inspiration from you geniuses if he wants to keep the franchise going. You bozos are the reason Spider-Man 3 flagged because Venom is the dumbest characters and readers such as you people get behind that crap in the first place! Get a clue and don’t talk so much when you know next to nothing about what makes a comic book or a movie work.
Anyone else agree this guy is a total IDIOT. atleast if you are gonna comlain to us have something to suport it . little kids lmao.
anyhow i this this the reason number 3 sucked so bad was not that venom sucked ,but the idea the movie did. also the fact the movie should be classified as a musical , i mean cmon peter parker with that gay ass emo haircut , singin , and dancing in the street . that to me was retarted .
thus is why i believe they need to do a kravens last hunt, not only is it what i think one of the best spider-man stories but i think it would translate into a great movie ,with great fight scenes between spider-man,kraven,and vermin!!!!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
My vote would be for an adaptation of Kraven’s Last Hunt. You can easily have characters like the Lizard or Rhino in this story, when you have a game hunter who is gunning for Spiderman in a very specific and very methodical sort of way.
I could see Kraven setting up these animalistic villains to go after Spiderman. One by one, they bog him down until all that is left is Kraven and Spiderman. Then to have Kraven take over the spider role and bury Peter would be an amazing feat to do with a Spiderman movie.
I’d love to see this as the next installment of Spiderman. Kraven’s Last Hunt is sort of like the Spiderman equivallent of the Dark Knight or Watchmen in terms of stature. It would be a neat way to bring in villains and also a neat master villain to be pulling the strings.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Michael said: “The only reason Spiderman 3 was the mess it was is because a group of comic book fans where piss that Venom was not in the movie.”
Um, Venom WAS in Spidey 3. What movie were you watching? If I’m misunderstanding your point, please try to make it a little more coherent.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Why bother with a Kravens last hunt when ‘Kravens first hunt’ has yet to be illustrated in the movies?
If I want to see a great last kraven story,I read the last kraven story. I’d prefer to see new takes instead of an adaption.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I love Spider-Man, but PLEASE no more motion pictures!!!! I would much prefer a direct to DVD animated film. Something epic, all along the lines of…Sin-Eater and the death of Jean De-wolff, the Black Cat Saga or even Kraven’s Last Hunt.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:56 am
“If I’m misunderstanding your point, please try to make it a little more coherent.”
I’m pretty sure his point was that, if you take Venom out, the movie is good, but people were mad that Venom wasn’t going to be in it, so they forced Venom in, to the detriment of the movie.
I’m not sure that I agree (and, if you’re going to force Venom in, adapt the rest of the movie to it!), but I think that’s what he meant.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Blammo Says: You guys are full of inspired ideas. Above everything, I hope Sam Raimi doesn’t extract any inspiration from you geniuses if he wants to keep the franchise going. You bozos are the reason Spider-Man 3 flagged because Venom is the dumbest characters and readers such as you people get behind that crap in the first place! Get a clue and don’t talk so much when you know next to nothing about what makes a comic book or a movie work.
Ryan K’s response: By the tone of your wirting here I would assume that you don’t know anything about what makes a movie work either. So don’t talk like you got something to say. Maybe you should leave your mom’s basement everyonce and awhile.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:38 am
This is only a good idea if we never want to see ol’ Spidey swinging out of the swingin’ ’70s and into something resembling a decent modern rogue’s gallery.
What the #*$@ am I saying? As long as Dunst isn’t in this thing, it can’t possibly be worse than part three.
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