[Vanilla Shake]

QUOTE

`Spider-Man 4' delayed; Maguire, Raimi out LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tobey Maguire is out as Peter Parker and Sam Raimi won't be returning as director when "Spider-Man 4" hits theaters a year late in 2012. Sony Pictures said in a statement Monday that the movie was supposed to hit theaters in 2011 but has not yet gone into production amid rumors of trouble on the set. Raimi said his work on the previous "Spider-Man" films was the experience of a lifetime, but acknowledged the studio was heading in a "new direction." Sony said it would have more news about "Spider-Man 4" in coming weeks. The new movie will be based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on Peter Parker in high school.

Link

Looks like they're gonna pull a Batman Begins on us.

[Don Garcia]

Well a Batman Begins would be excellent. I don't expect that.

This is odd. I just read yesterday that Sam and Tobey were still on board, and just waiting for a better script to come along since Sam hated the last one. Lets give it time.

[Vanilla Shake]

QUOTE (Don Garcia @ Jan 11 2010, 19:18)

Well a Batman Begins would be excellent. I don't expect that.

Oh if they reboot the franchise, which by the looks of it they will be doing (focusing on Parker in high school? He was in high school at the beginning of the first flick), I have low expectations of it being as good of a reboot that Christopher Nolan pulled off with Begins. And they'd be throwing away the greatness that was Spider-Man 2. 3 may not have been as good but there was potential for the 4th film, and now this happens.

Oh well, I'm just waiting on news for the next Batman movie, if there is one.

[Darrel]

I'll see it, but no Tobey maguire is a loss. A change of director though isn't a bad thing as long as its a good one.

[GTAvanja]

They wanna rape the franchise even further? I'm glad Raimi is out because he doesn't want to be involved with a bad movie. It's a good move. Now they have to find another fool to destroy the franchise completely.

[DemonKing]

I really think it's way to early to even consider a reboot I mean what Spiderman was released in 2002, and spiderman 3 in 2007. Whereas the first Batman (Burtons anyway) was released in 1989 and Batman & Robin in 1997. Begins was released in 2005. Giving at least a 8 year gap between the two, 3 years is too little.

And if they're going to reboot the franchise why call it Spiderman 4 anyway?

[Don Garcia]

What would they call it? Spiderman Begins? Returns?

Guess the title is the least of the worries. I really hope this series dies, and someone with a real vision resurrects it in the far future.

[Otter]

A reboot? After less than 6 years? Not entirely unprecedented for these f*ckheads, as they did the same thing with Hulk. Sort of. And it was sort of better.

Regardless - what a f*cking dumb idea. It's not often that film news pisses me off - I've come to expect a lot of sh*t from hollywood over the years - but this is one of those cases.

There are tons of great Spiderman stories left to tell - and it could still be taken in an entirely new direction. f*ck this Disney otion that highschool is is the center of the god damned universe.

Oh yeah, and f*ck Disney proper, as they're probably the reason this is happening.

[Don Garcia]

Sony's official press release:

QUOTE

Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) -- Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.     The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.     “A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.     “Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.     “We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade.This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”     "Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. "We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen."     The studio will have more news about Spider-Man in 2012 in the coming weeks as it prepares for production of the film.

[RomanViking]

As much as I'd want to see Tobey's cute Russian neighbor Ursula again, yet another Spiderman sequel that continues from the already tired Spiderman 3 wouldn't be a good move.

All the little story arcs have been resolved by the end of 3. Uncle Ben's death has been explained, the Green Goblin's (William Dafoe's) son has forgiven Peter for his father's death. Mary Jane is with Peter. Dr. Otto Octopus is dead, Sandman is dead, Green Goblin is dead. Venum, (played by Topher Grace from That 70s Show lol) is dead.

Only option left is for Mary Jane to die and have Pete hook up with Ursula finally

And as much as I'd like to see that, as a real movie another sequel in the same universe wouldn't work well.


My only gripe is how fast the reinvention is happening.

[GTAvanja]

If they made a TV show about Peter in high school like DC did with Superman in Smallville then it might actually work. But a movie? Hell no!

[Craig]

I'm glad in a way; number 3 was a tired effort, and didn't have the excitement and drive the previous two had. It almost felt like they were doing it because they could, or doing it because they felt they had to. I read about rumours that were spreading about 4 just after 3 was released and I heard tall-tales of Vulture and Dr. Connor's transformation into The Lizard but that would've got as messy as it's predecessor. Having Venom and Sandman was just too much for me. One or the other. Venom was ruined. It was almost as if they'd been so busy with the build-up they forgot about the big reveal altogether.

However, I digress. I did read rumours that Robert Pattinson was on board to play Peter Parker, and if that's the case, that'll be the final nail in the coffin. The entire point of casting Maguire was that he looked like any other kid from New York. Now Pattinson's got this "Mr. Perfect" light on him through Twilight, he's just too much of a ladies man. He's not the geek we saw in Maguire.

[gta_king]

I don't really get the issue people have with him being portrayed as being in High School, I mean isn't that where he is in the comics? If anything that'd be more true to the comics then the current version. As for a reboot, only if it was the Marvel Film studios handling it and it was part of the universe being created there, as it is with Sony having the rights and the chances of that being slim I'm not very optimistic.

[Pandazoot]

I would love it if they went for a complete unknown to be the next Spider-man. Think Brandon Routh in Superman Returns (er, sequel to that please)

[Craig]

Complete unknown is the way to go - I can't think of anyone but Maguire, though to be honest I had no idea who Tobey was before 2002. I'd never seen Pleasantville, either.

[Don Garcia]

Why do I think the new dude from the upcoming Kick-Ass movie would be great? But that's not gonna happen.

[Darrel]

QUOTE (Masterkraft @ Jan 12 2010, 16:10)

I did read rumours that Robert Pattinson was on board to play Peter Parker, and if that's the case, that'll be the final nail in the coffin.

That would be so typical if they were to cast him as 'spider man'. Who's next zac efron?

[ldee]

"Spider-Man 4" is a wrong term here.

Yeah, fourth Spider-Man movie, but the franchise is going to rebooted, completely different storyline, or canon, or whatever they call it.

Anyway it's quite a sigh of relief, there were a lot of loopholes in the storyline and much of it was rushed in relation to the original comics, although the visuals have been stunning as always (though I didn't like a slim Venom).

2012, though, is quite a while away. Haha, at least life will be better for me in that year to enjoy it.

[Goodfella.]

QUOTE (Don Garcia @ Jan 12 2010, 03:11)

What would they call it? Spiderman Begins? Returns?

At one point in time Spider-Man 2 was going to be called The Amazing Spider-Man.

I'm gutted, I for one was really looking forward to Spidey 4. After the critism they received for 3 and after Raimi was back to good old self with Drag Me To Hell, I honestly thought they were going to make a winner. The first two were brilliant, and whilst the third was in no way great, I think people are way over-harsh on it. I mean it wasn't as bad as X-Men 3.

I've no desire to see Peter back at high school.

At least I can still look forward to Captain America.

[Otter]

QUOTE (Goodfella. @ Jan 12 2010, 11:05)

I mean it wasn't as bad as X-Men 3.

Not even the holocaust was that bad.

I agree, though, entirely. It's a shame that they'd do something like this. There's tons of territory left to explore.