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Tuesday, November 3
Dylan Baker is returning for the upcoming Spider-Man 4 to possibly play the Lizard, but what about Willem Dafoe?
Dafoe played the Green Goblin in Spider-Man and then re-appeared, despite his character's death, in both sequels. With James Franco, who played Dafoe's son Harry Osborn, dying in Spider-Man 3, is there still a way for Dafoe to show up in Spider-Man 4? Dafoe told MTV that anything's "possible."
I think it's possible. But I haven't heard anything. Let's put it this way — no one's called.
How's that for leaving things open?
Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011
Posted 11/3/2009 by Ryan
Related: Willem Dafoe | Spider-Man 4
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Thursday, October 22
Actor Dylan Baker confirmed to UGO that he will again be in the fourth installment of the Spider-Man movie franchise. After three previous appearances as Dr. Curt Connors, the man who becomes "The Lizard" in the comic books, does this mean that he will finally get his shot at lead villain?
Baker said that he had just gotten his first call concerning Spider-Man 4 that very day, and joked about "just appearing in the background." Whether or not that was a deliberate attempt to mislead reporters is unclear. What is clear is that after the debacle of Spider-Man 3, director Sam Raimi sorely needs to get back to basics, and it would be a crying shame to again overlook one of Spidey's classic foes — and one of our Top 10 Spider-Man 4 Villain Candidates.
Posted 10/22/2009 by Jim
Related: Sam Raimi | Dylan Baker | Spider-Man 4
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Thursday, October 15
Sam Raimi is preparing to start shooting Spider-Man 4 in March, but when he's finished with his fourth Spider-Man, will he go on to make the Spider-Man 5 and 6 movies that James Vanderbilt is currently writing? Raimi told MTV that there's a good chance he will.
Every time I make one of the Spider-Man movies, I have to ask myself, is the character still intriguing to me? Do I love the character? Am I dying to tell the next story of Peter Parker and Spider-Man? And so far the answer has been yes.
If ever I feel sated, like I've got no more to say or I'm not really super-excited about it, because I know I'll also love it, but I've got to be super-excited about it. If I can't reach that level of commitment and excitement, I think then there'd be somebody else better to do justice to the story. You have to ask me in two-and-half years.
Fans have to be pleased that Raimi is at least considering returning ... assuming as he's able to fulfill his promise that Spider-Man 4 will be better than Spider-Man 3.
Posted 10/15/2009 by Ryan
Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4
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Tuesday, October 13
With Spider-Man 4 starting production in March, director Sam Raimi ought to know who the villains are, even with Gary Ross rewriting the script, right?
"I'm not allowed to say at this point," Raimi told MTV, but he did describe the thought process involved in choosing a villain.
What we're trying to do right now is really understand the journey [Tobey Maguire's] Peter [Parker] is going to go on this time and have the villain maybe be a counter to that growth, something that he has to overcome. Or maybe he has to grow in a way to overcome the villain, because there always seem to be stories of coming of age, of a young man growing up and learning things about life, so once we are identifying the exact movement that Peter has to grow to, I think the villain — and we're trying this right now; we're trying to choose a villain based on who would be the proper counter to that growth, so we really have dramatic conflict.
Raimi says Spider-Man 4 will continue to follow Parker's maturation, as he balances being a hero with his normal life.
I think it's about putting his head down and moving forward with the knowledge that he has this responsibility. And it's about the growth of that understanding, that it encompasses more than just his sense of duty toward others but he also has a sense of responsibility as a human being toward the ones he loves.
So ... keeping all that in mind, any hints on who might actually accomplish all those goals?
"I love the Lizard," said Raimi in response to an MTV Spider-Man 4 villain fan poll, where the Lizard was picked number one. "There's a great story there in the Marvel comic books about Dr. Connors."
Ok, it's not really a hint, but we'll take it.
Posted 10/13/2009 by Ryan
Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4
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The last movie Gary Ross wrote and directed was 2003's Seabiscuit. Except for a little scriptwriting duties for The Tale of Despereaux, Ross has remained relatively quiet in Hollywood. But that's all changed.
While still finishing the script to Spider-Man 4, Ross was hired to rewrite and direct the Spider-Man 3 spin-off movie Venom, but that's not all. ThePlaylist reports that Ross will also direct Matt Helm, a project previously associated with Steven Spielberg.
A 33-volume, pulp novel series about a suave super-spy that began in the 1960s, Matt Helm was written Donald Hamilton. The series has already been adapted into four movies with Dean Martin in the 1960s (The Silencers, The Ambushers, Murderers Row, The Wrecking Crew), and a TV show in the '70s with Anthony Franciosa in the title role.
Paramount is currently seeking Bradley Cooper for the lead, which will be updated from the swinging '60s to the modern day by Paul Attanasio (Donnie Brasco). Star Trek screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are producing with Paramount eying a summer of 2010 start date should everything fall into place.
After Helm, it is believed Ross will take on Venom.
Posted 10/13/2009 by Ryan
Related: Bradley Cooper | Paul Attanasio | Roberto Orci | Gary Ross | Alex Kurtzman | Spider-Man 4 | Venom | Matt Helm
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Saturday, October 10
Sam Raimi revealed to MTV that Spider-Man 4 is currently in pre-production, but will start shooting in March of next year.
We're hoping that it's the first week in March. The production is starting to come together. I've got a production designer who is starting to design the sets and the environments that the picture will take place in. We just brought aboard Scott Stokdyk as one of the two visual effects supervisors, and I worked with him on all three Spider-man pictures.
Raimi says the script is still be re-written by writer-director Gary Ross.
He's working on a draft. I just gave him some notes and he's doing a rewrite right now.
Ross is becoming very familiar with the Spider-Man universe. Once Ross finishes the Spider-Man 4 script, he'll start re-writing the script for the Venom spin-off. Raimi, meanwhile, will start the casting process. Tobey Maguire is set to return, Kirsten Dunst finally agreed to come back, and Bruce Campbell will have a larger role, but the rest of the cast is a question mark.
None of the casting has really taken place, but we're starting to think about that now.
Once the casting process really begins, perhaps the possible villains of Spider-Man 4 will finally be revealed.
Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011
Posted 10/10/2009 by Ryan
Related: Sam Raimi | Gary Ross | Spider-Man 4
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Thursday, October 8
Variety reports that writer-director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) is in talks to direct and rewrite Venom, the movie spin-off of the Spider-Man 3 villain. Ross is currently working on a rewrite of Spider-Man 4, and clearly Sony is pleased with his progress. Ross will start work on Venom when he has finished Spider-Man 4.
Zombieland writers Rhettt Reese and Paul Wernick wrote two drafts of the screenplay, and recently stated that Marvel and the studio were taking their work and figuring out "the next step." Apparently, that next step is to have Ross rewrite their script.
No word on whether Topher Grace will return for Venom. Variety speculates that the role will be recast.
Venom is currently slated for a 2012 release.
Posted 10/8/2009 by Ryan
Related: Rhett Reese | Gary Ross | Spider-Man 3 | Spider-Man 4 | Venom | Zombieland | Paul Wernick
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Sunday, September 27
According to Sci Fi Wire, Sony is moving forward with Venom, which will focus on the Spider-Man villain featured so briefly (and disappointingly) in the franchise's third installment. The studio also made known that those hired to pen the script are none other than Zombieland co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
In a statement to the press, Wernick said the process is already well underway.
We've written two drafts of Venom, and the studio has it, and they're pushing forward in whatever ways they push forward.... Basically, the studio and Marvel and the Arads are taking our drafts and going beyond and figuring out what's the next step.
It's unclear when production will begin, and Wernick declined to comment on a possible connection between Venom and Spider-Man 4, simply saying, "We can't really talk about that, unfortunately." The movie currently is projected for a 2012 release.
Posted 9/27/2009 by Rich Z
Related: Rhett Reese | Spider-Man 4 | Venom | Zombieland | Paul Wernick
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Wednesday, September 16
Kirsten Dunst kept her inevitable inclusion in Spider-Man 4 a complete mystery for a long time, until earlier this summer when producer Todd Black said Dunst would be back. Today MTV reports that Columbia Pictures has officially announced Dunst's return to the role of Mary Jane Watson that she played in the previous three movies.
Sam Raimi has to be pleased with Dunst's return considering he said he "couldn't imagine making a Spider-Man movie without" her. Fans are likely more excited about Bruce Campbell's bigger role in the sequel than Dunst "officially" coming back.
What do you think? Are you pleased with Dunst coming back for Spider-Man 4? Leave us a comment below.
Posted 9/16/2009 by Ryan
Related: Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4
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Tuesday, September 15
We suppose it's no surprise that Sony and Columbia will release Spider-Man 4 in IMAX when it comes out on May 5, 2011. But for those who needed an official announcement, here it is.
ComingSoon.net reports that several representatives of Sony and IMAX made statements to the press confirming that they are planning even more IMAX screenings than were available for the last installment. One of these representatives was Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing:
The last two Spider-Man releases have been available in IMAX theaters, and we're very much looking forward to our return to a wider IMAX theatre network with this exciting new chapter in the continuing adventures of Spider-Man. The addition of so many new IMAX locations will give even more fans of Spider-Man an opportunity to experience the action and adventure in a unique way.
Director Sam Raimi, who helmed the first three movies, is back for the fourth, as are stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. In addition, cult-movie star Bruce Campbell — who cameoed as a boxing-ring announcer, a theater usher, and a French waiter in the first three movies — will reportedly have a larger role in Spider-Man 4, much to our delight.
Posted 9/15/2009 by Rich Z
Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4