It's fair to say audiences were underwhelmed by director Sam Raimi's third episode in the Spider-Man saga. I mean, Emo Peter? The dance sequence? Ugh. So the recent announcement of a brand-spankin' new Spider-Man may bring back that bad taste in your mouth, fear not. The whole cast and crew is back, and ready to wash numero three from your memory bank with an amped-up new installment.
With over a year and a half before the release of Spider-Man 4 (now with four times more spider) it's time to start obsessively searching the Internet for any tidbit of information we can get our hands on!
Click the jump for all the facts, speculation, and rumors on the latest Spidey adventure and make sure to check back for more updates!
Confirmed:
Spider-Man 4 will begin shooting in March 2010 with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst signed on to star. (MTV)
It will be released on May 5, 2011 in theaters and IMAX. (Comingsoon.net)
The first draft of the script was written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and rewritten by Pulitzer winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Robots). A new draft will be written by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville). (IGN)
James Vanderbilt has also been hired to pen a Spidey 5 & 6. (MTV)
Raimi is planning a smaller, intimate movie using skills and sensibilities he picked up on Drag Me to Hell. This means less villains then Spider-Man 3. (Coventry Telegraph)
Producer Todd Black says the villain will be "a big part of New York" and that he/she will be one of the bad guys from the comics, not an original for the film. (NY Post)
J.K. Simmons will return as J. Jonah Jameson. (MTV)
Dylan Baker will return as Dr. Curt Connors, who many know as the alter-ego of Spidey villain The Lizard.
Rumor:
Could Carnage end up in Spider-Man 4? Or maybe he'll make an appearance in Venom or his own movie? (MTV)
Bruce Campbell, who has appeared in all of Raimi's Spider-Man films, may play a "major role" in the next installment, who some speculate could be Mysterio. (Access Hollywood)
During a Q&A at Wizard World, actor Michael Papajohn, who played the mugger who kills Uncle Ben in the first film, said he would be reprising his role in the new installment. (Comingsoon.net)
Spider-Man 4 could tie into the writer/director Gary Ross' own Venom movie. (MTV)
The Lizard could end up being the movie's only villain. (Marketsaw)
Willem Dafoe has ideas on how he could return to the franchise, but hasn't gotten a call. (MTV)
Has Rachel McAdams been cast as the Black Cat? (Mania)
Slashfilm thinks Raimi and Co are definitely looking for another female lead (Black Cat or not) and actress Romola Garai has auditioned (Slashfilm)
Debunked:
Producer Todd Black says the film will not feature the wedding of Peter Parker and Mary Jane. (NY Post)
The villain will not be Morbius the vampire (NY Post)
Are we missing an important spoiler for Spider-Man 4? Are you even excited for this movie? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to check our spoiler pages for big blockbusters like Avatar and Iron Man 2!
