Wednesday, November 4

• The Evil Dead Hits the Big Screen Again in 2010, Bruce Campbell Comments

  In the early '80s, an unknown director (Sam Raimi) took a miniscule budget and crafted what would become the cult horror-comedy The Evil Dead. That movie is still fun to watch today for its ingenuity and its ability to juggle both straight horror elements and hilarious satire. But the gruesome dismemberments and multi-colored bodily fluids (not to mention a very disturbing, not-so-subtly-suggestive use of tree limbs) were enough to earn the movie an X rating (changed to an NC-17 when the X rating was laid to rest in the early '90s).

  Raimi has of course reached stratospheric heights since then, crafting two larger-budget sequels and helming the massively successful Spider-Man franchise. Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell went on to relative fame as a cult-movie icon, using his leading-man looks and his impeccable timing to forge a career out of schlocky comedy genre-hybrids, such as Bubba Ho-Tep and the TV show The Adventures of Brisco County Jr..

  Now, fans everywhere will have a chance to relive the old days of Evil Dead on a nation-wide scale. Comicbookmovie.com writes that Grindhouse Pictures plans to re-release the movie — uncut, by the way &mdash for midnight screenings across theaters in the United States and Canada sometime in 2010.

  Of course, Campbell had a witty, tongue-in-cheek statement for the press:

  Nothing can prepare an audience for what they are about to see, because nothing punishes an audience like Evil Dead — especially on the big screen. I'm really glad it's back. People are gonna be hurt.

  To Bruce, we say: Bring the pain!

  If you're not familiar with this masterpiece of campiness, check out the official trailer.

  
  

  Posted 11/04/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | The Evil Dead

Thursday, October 22

• Will "The Lizard" Finally Get Lead Villain in Spider-Man 4?

  

  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

Thursday, October 15

• Sam Raimi to Direct Spider-Man 5 and 6?

  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

Wednesday, October 14

• Sam Raimi Says World of Warcraft Movie Will Be Original

  

  If you've never heard of World of Warcraft, then you're probably living in a deserted cave, underneath a rock, and without an internet connection (in fact, how are you reading this?). WoW holds the Guinness World Record as the most popular MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), with approximately 11.5 million monthly subscribers. Because of its popularity, it's no wonder that WoW is soon headed to the big screen.

  Director Sam Raimi, famous for his Evil Dead and Spider-Man films, is currently in pre-production on the WoW movie. He told MTV that rumors about the film being based on the Arthas: Rise of the Lich King novel are false.

  We would choose ... something that encompasses lands and characters and storylines, and we would be true to it. But our story may or may not be about one of those central characters.

  Raimi said that an original script is being written by Robert Rodat, whose script for Saving Private Ryan earned him an Oscar nomination.

  We would have our writer, Robert Rodat, really craft an original story within that world that feels like a World of WarCraft adventure. Only obviously it's very different 'cause it's expanded and translated into the world of a motion picture.

  
  

  Posted 10/14/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Sam Raimi | Robert Rodat | World of Warcraft

Tuesday, October 13

• Sam Raimi Opens Up (a Little) About Spider-Man 4's Villains

  

  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

Saturday, October 10

• Spider-Man 4 to Start Production in March

  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

Thursday, September 24

• Sam Raimi to Produce Yeti Horror Movie

  British music-video director Corin Hardy has apparently made Sam Raimi an offer he can't refuse. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Raimi has accepted a pitch from Hardy to direct a horror movie from a script by Tom De Ville.

  Refuge will center around the Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman, a mythological creature that resides in the Himalayas. A Yeti is said to resemble a giant ape, much like its North-American counterpart, Bigfoot. The story will see the creature terrorizing a small village, although no other details were available. One studio will reportedly give Hardy and De Ville the chance to make a short film with the same premise, giving them a blueprint to work with when they tackle the feature.

  THR also pointed out that Raimi's decision follows in the footsteps of several other established directors who are extending offers to younger filmmakers. Surprisingly, they didn't mention Peter Jackson and his decision to let Neill Blomkamp — who is almost 20 years younger — direct the critically and commercially successful District 9. We wonder if Hardy will have the same success.

  
  

  Posted 09/24/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Sam Raimi

Friday, September 18

• Bruce Campbell Says Evil Dead 4 Probably a Remake

  For years, Evil Dead 4 has been speculated about, hinted at, and even confirmed (more or less) by Evil Dead's writer-director Sam Raimi, who said he would force Bruce Campbell to return. However, Campbell says he likely won't return, telling About.com that when it comes to Evil Dead 4, "We're probably going to do a remake." And Campbell's fine with a remake of Evil Dead?

  I am because we're going to just try and make it scary, you know? We want to make it a scary movie with technology that we can now finally use where you don't see garden hoses spewing fake blood.

  Campbell says they will hold on to the Evil Dead spirit: "Well, this will still be fun, too. It will." It may even be retain some of the campy nature of the original trilogy, though Campbell does say nothing is set in stone.

  It depends on how we do it. We're still trying to decide what we're going to do, what the approach is.

  What do you think, Dead fans? Remake or straight-up sequel? Tell us what you think with a comment below.

  
  

  Posted 09/18/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn | The Evil Dead | Army of Darkness: Evil Dead 3

Tuesday, September 15

• Sony and Columbia Plan More IMAX Screenings for Spider-Man 4

  

  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 09/15/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4

Thursday, August 6

• Superman Wants to Play World of Warcraft

  MTV spoke with Brandon Routh at San Diego Comic-Con and the Superman Returns star revealed that he's not only a big gamer, but specifically excited about the upcoming World of Warcraft adaptation:

  I know they just announced that Sam Raimi is gonna be directing so that's very cool. And, again, my friends over at Legendary [who also produced Superman Returns] are working on that so, you know, I'm looking forward to what's gonna happen with that.

  Routh was obviously looking to express his interest in working on the movie and Raimi (he was even wearing a Warcraft t-shirt), but when pressed Routh remained a little coy:

  You know, you might get a little action, a little sword-fighting. That'd be a lot of fun.

  Raimi won't start work on Warcraft until after he's finished Spider-Man 4, which means Routh will have some time to further market himself.

  
  

  Posted 08/06/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Superman Returns

Thursday, July 23

• Sam Raimi to Direct World of Warcraft Movie

  Variety reports that Sam Raimi — director of all the Spiderman movies, including the upcoming Spiderman 4 — has signed to direct Warcraft, the big-screen adaptation of the popular interactive role-playing video game World of Warcraft. The franchise (often abbreviated WoW) was launched 15 years ago and reached world-wide cult status with the advent of the Internet. (When you're lampooned by South Park, you know you've made it big.)

  Reportedly, Raimi will begin shooting Warcraft once he finishes work on Spiderman 4, which goes into production early next year. IMDB currently lists Warcraft's release year as 2011.

  We're not sure how we feel about this one. Spiderman 3 was a disappointment because it attempted to please too many people at once, resulting in a narrative mess and a lack of character development. But he's still Sam Raimi, mastermind behind the legendary campiness of the Evil Dead trilogy. And he returned to top form with this summer's Drag Me to Hell. We can only hope that he brings his fun sensibility to something like the WoW universe.

  
  

  Posted 07/23/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Sam Raimi | Drag Me to Hell | Spider-Man 4

Wednesday, July 22

• The Top 10 Spider-Man 4 Villain Candidates

  

  There are a lot of superhero movies out there, but the hero is only half the story — the boring half, in fact. However much you love a hero, it takes a great villain to really bring a movie over the top. There needs to be a foil to the hero's strengths: a Joker for the Batman, a Red Skull for Captain America, a Michael Bay for the American public.

  Without a villain, all you’ve got is someone prancing around in tights for a couple hours ... a terrible idea unless Sony unexpectedly takes our suggestion and casts Jessica Alba in the title role. Since sadly that seems unlikely to happen, we have a few suggestions for who the still unannounced villain of Spider-Man 4 should be. While popular favorites (the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, and emo haircuts) have already been used up, Spider-Man has been around for nearly 50 years. The series offers a wide variety of possibilities, each sillier than the last. We count down the Top 10 Spider-Man 4 Villain Candidates here.

  
  

  Posted 07/22/2009 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4

Friday, July 10

• Spider-Man 4 Script Needs Re-Writes

  Sam Raimi has said that Sony will announce the villains for Spider-Man 4 once screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire delivers the script. Looks like fans will have to wait even longer for an announcement.

  Variety reports that Lindsay-Abaire already did turn in a script but it was put immediately into the hands of writer/director Gary Ross for a re-write. Ross has a history working with Spider-Man, or more accurately Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire, who starred in both Pleasantville and Seabiscuit for Ross.

  So fans dying to know what villains may turn up in Spider-Man 4, get comfortable. It likely will be a while before Sony talks.

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 07/10/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | David Lindsay-Abaire | Spider-Man 4

Monday, June 22

• Uncle Ben's Killer Returns in Spider-Man 4

  It's not quite the announcement fans were waiting for, but actor Michael Papajohn, who played the criminal with a fatal need for Uncle Ben's car in Spider-Man, announced at a Philadelphia comic book convention that he will be reprising his role in Spider-Man 4. Papajohn gave no other information, saying that he could not reveal what his role entailed or he would have to kill everyone in the audience.

  Fans are still anxiously waiting to find out who the villains will be in Spider-Man 4, so Papajohn's news will have to suffice in the meantime. Director Sam Raimi has said that Sony will reveal the villains when they receive the script from screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire at the end of the summer.

  
  

  Posted 06/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Michael Papajohn | Spider-Man | Spider-Man 4

Monday, June 8

• Kirsten Dunst Will Be in Spider-Man 4

  While talking to the New York Post, Spider-Man 4 producer Todd Black confirmed Kirsten Dunst's involvement in the upcoming sequel after months of speculation led Sam Raimi to personally ask Dunst to join.. Apparently, it worked.

  Black did talk a bit about the villain for Spider-Man 4, first by ending rumors that Morbius the Vampire would appear in the movie, and then saying:

  We're just coming up with who the villain's going to be now. We'll be shooting in New York again. Trust me, people will appreciate who we pick, because it'll be a big part of New York.

  Black also mentioned that the villain will be from the comics and not someone invented for the movie. So, if the villain is from the comics and is "a big part of New York," that likely rules out rumored villains Electro and Carnage, Peter Parker's professor-turned-reptile the Lizard, or other villainous possibilities Kraven the Hunter, the Vulture and Man-Wolf.

  Could it be the Kingpin, leader of the New York's organized crime, already portrayed by Michael Clarke Duncan in Daredevil? Considering Fox owns the rights to the character, that seems unlikely. With little else to go on, speculation will have to suffice until Sony announces the villains, which may happen once the script is delivered at the end of summer.

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 06/08/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Todd Black | Kirsten Dunst | Michael Clarke Duncan | Spider-Man 4 | Daredevil

Tuesday, May 26

• Drag Me to Hell Is a "Morality Tale"

  

  The plot to Sam Raimi's return to horror, Drag Me to Hell, may seem tailor-made for our current economic crisis -- a loan officer angers a demon by rejecting an elderly woman's request for an extension on her mortgage -- but Raimi actually wrote the script for the film years ago with his brother, Ivan Raimi. In a recent interview, Raimi said:

  It's just a coincidence. It wasn't written to reflect anything about our society or to paint banks as villains.

  While debuting the film at Cannes, Raimi summed up the film's core concept:

  It's a simple morality tale about how greed leads to destruction.

  Drag Me to Hell stars Alison Lohman as loan officer Christine Brown; Justin Long as Projessor Dalton, Christine's boyfriend; and Lorna Raver as Mrs. Ganush, an elderly gypsy in league with the devil.

  
  
  

  Drag Me to Hell - Trailer

  Alison Lohman Stars - Releasing May 29, 2009

  Posted 05/26/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Sam Raimi | Ivan Raimi | Alison Lohman

• New TV Spot for Drag Me to Hell, Raimi and Cast Take the Horror Personally in Featurette

  Although the new TV spot for Drag Me to Hell is mostly review-quote driven, it does open with a nice extended version of the seance sequence from the trailer in which those assembled chant, "I welcome the dead into my soul." A fair enough omen for all sorts of horrific invasions to come.

  The cast and director dig deeper into the horror in a featurette over at Shock Till You Drop. Alison Lohman confesses that, like her character in the movie, she really would kill a kitten to survive. Justin Long professes his love for the performance director Sam Raimi managed to tease out of the maggots and the fly. And Raimi, himself, explains how he tried to incorporate what he has learned about characterization in his work outside the genre to make his return to horror that much more personal.

  
  

  Posted 05/26/2009 by Bill

  Related: Justin Long | Sam Raimi | Alison Lohman | Drag Me to Hell

• Morbius May Be Villain in Spider-Man 4

  While doing press for his current horror flick Drag Me To Hell, director Sam Raimi may have allowed his enthusiasm for vampires to cement recent rumors that Michael Morbius -- the Marvel character given vampiric abilities via scientific means -- may be the antagonist in the fourth Spider-Man flick.

  Morbius is a well-known foe of Spidey in the comic books, and has been brought up as the potential baddie for the fourth film for several months now. While Raimi plays it coy with the interviewer, check out how he waxes poetic about blood-suckers.

  
  

  Posted 05/26/2009 by Jim

  Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4

Monday, May 25

• Sam Raimi Defends Drag Me to Hell's PG-13 Rating

  

  Today's generation of moviegoers is likely only familiar with the films of Sam Raimi that deal with a certain wall-crawling hero named Spider-Man. However, Raimi's origins in film are somewhat ... darker than the adventures of Peter Parker. Raimi dropped out of college in 1981 to film The Evil Dead, which effectively launched his career.

  It's been seventeen years since Raimi took a turn at the genre that began it all, but many of his fans are disappointed by the PG-13 rating on his latest contribution to horror, Drag Me to Hell. Raimi defended the rating in a recent interview, saying:

  ...those are just letters that people have prejudices about. It's not about the rating; it's about the intent of the film. If people want to see a blood-and-guts picture, this will not satisfy them and they should see an R. In fact, why not an X-rated or unrated film? R is for wussies if you're talking about blood and guts.

  Drag Me to Hell stars Alison Lohman as Christine Brown, a loan officer who angers a hell-dwelling demon by refusing to grant an elderly woman a mortgage extension.

  
  
  

  Reelz Clip

  Alison Lohman Stars - Releasing May 29, 2009

  Posted 05/25/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Sam Raimi | Alison Lohman | The Evil Dead | Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn | Army of Darkness: Evil Dead 3

Tuesday, May 19

• Raimi Promises Better for Spider-Man 4

  Asked about whether he takes criticisms of Spider-Man 3 to heart, director Sam Raimi responds, "Yeah, absolutely." For Spider-Man 4 he says he is working with a new writer, David Lindsay-Abaire, a New York playwright he was really impressed with. He can't talk details because he hasn't seen the script yet, but predicts that it will be done in about four weeks, a bit sooner than he had suggested earlier.

  He also talks about his commitment to the franchise, and his respect for the character of Peter Parker:

  I love Peter Parker. I've always loved the Spider-Man comics, and I feel like I still know more about the character that I think I can bring to the screen -- and perhaps make it great if I do it right. It's the same reason I keep reading the Spider-Man comic books. I'm really enamored with the character and now I feel like I have a history with him. I'd like to really make a great picture with him and bring the character to life at a level of detail that I've never realized before. It's almost like I have a desire to do something I've been trying to do right and haven't yet been able to. Not exactly,

  No doubt fans everywhere are hoping Raimi manages to live up to his own ambitions.

  
  

  Posted 05/19/2009 by Bill

  Related: Sam Raimi | David Lindsay-Abaire | Spider-Man 4

Thursday, May 14

• Shadows and a Fly in New Clips from Drag Me to Hell

  Most of the terror is in the build up and anticipation in two new clips for Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell. But when the horror finally does materialize, it packs a pretty good punch too.

  In the first clip, fear is in the wind for Christine Brown (Alison Lohman). Doors slam, windows blow open and the innocent shadows of branches coalesce into a demonic face on the wall. Then things start to get a little more physical.

  In the second, we get an agonizingly extended look at how thoroughly a peaceful sleep can get disrupted by one persistent fly with no sense of boundaries. A glimpse of this was featured in the TV spots released earlier. This is one case though where appreciation of the horror really is enhanced by dragging it out a bit.

  
  

  Posted 05/14/2009 by Bill

  Related: Sam Raimi | Alison Lohman | Drag Me to Hell

Wednesday, May 13

• Sam Raimi on Dragging Alison Lohman to Hell

  Legendary curse or urban legend? Neither, says director Sam Raimi in an interview with Movies Online. The details of Drag Me to Hell are, he confesses, "complete fabrication." But the story behind it is a classic morality play:

  What we really have at the core here is a timeless story concept ... the idea of a character that commits a sin of greed and has to pay the terrible price for it.

  In this case, it's a bank loan officer who is willing to throw an old woman out of her home. Certainly a familiar enough theme nowadays. But to make the movie really resonate with audiences, he wanted to create a morally bankrupt character that he could, nonetheless, get the audience to identify with. Enter Alison Lohman. Raimi thinks she did a brilliant job, but he has qualms of his own about what he had to do to her along the way.

  I had to do some pretty awful things to her. I mean, I choked her all the time with that old lady character played by Lorna Raver, grabbing her by the throat. I threw her out of a car, threw fake candy-glass at her, put her in a harness and whipped her around a room for hours on end, buried her alive under 800 pounds of mud. And that was just the first week.

  He explains that he wanted to tell her in advance what she would be facing, but he couldn't tell her everything because he was afraid she wouldn't take the part.

  
  
  

  Drag Me to Hell - Trailer

  Alison Lohman Stars - Releasing May 29, 2009

  Posted 05/13/2009 by Bill

  Related: Sam Raimi | Alison Lohman | Drag Me to Hell

Thursday, May 7

• Venom Could Return in Spider-Man 4

  Sam Raimi has been clear that the villains of Spider-Man 4 will be revealed by Sony at the end of the summer when the script is delivered. However, that hasn't stopped former Spider-Man artist and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane from speculating about a Spider-Man 4 return of Venom, Spider-Man's evil counterpart (played by Topher Grace in Spider-Man 3). McFarlane told MTV:

  I co-created Venom. He was in the last Spider-Man movie. And I think he might make an appearance here in the next one, too.

  If Venom does return, McFarlane would like to see some changes:

  I would've done a few things different [in Spider-Man 3]. I would've done something more dramatic. When I first created him, I made him huge. That would've been the first thing for me; I would've wanted somebody who looked like he was three times the size of Spider-Man, so it was almost like Spider-Man going against the Hulk. [I also would've increased] the nastiness. I think one of the reasons why Wolverine is so popular is because he did stuff that Captain America or Batman would never do. Today's generation, they can handle that stuff.

  Sony sure wouldn't mind a little of Wolverine's recent success.

  
  

  Posted 05/07/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Topher Grace | Todd McFarlane | Spider-Man 3 | Spider-Man 4 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wednesday, May 6

• New TV Spots for Drag Me to Hell Play Havoc with the Digestion

  When your day starts out with a fly crawling up your nose, it's not a good omen. And indeed the horrors keep coming for the cast of Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell.

  A pair of fast-paced TV spots have been released, carrying the tagline "Even Nice People Can Go to Hell." Here's the first one, which offers a montage of some of the very unsettling experiences visited upon the unfortunate young loan officer (Alison Lohman) who ends up foreclosing on the home of the wrong old gypsy woman (Lorna Raver).

  
  

  Posted 05/06/2009 by Bill

  Related: Sam Raimi | Alison Lohman | Lorna Raver | Drag Me to Hell

Thursday, April 23

• Sam Raimi to Talk Kirsten Dunst into Spider-Man 4

  When it comes to the fourth installment of the Spider-Man series, Kirsten Dunst has been the sole hold-out. Tobey Maguire is back. Sam Raimi is going to direct. Even Bruce Campbell is likely to do another cameo, however Dunst has yet to join in on the web-slinging fun. Raimi is hoping to change that. Raimi told SciFiWire that he's planning on meeting with Dunst soon:

  I'm hoping that she is going to come aboard, and I've got a meeting coming up with her. I think she would like to. But I don't want to speak on behalf of her.

  Why not join Spider-Man 4? There's a script from a Pulitzer-Prize winner arriving at the end of summer, Raimi has more control over the movie, plus Dunst will be able to yet again dye her natural blonde hair to an unnatural-looking red! (Not to mention, those Spider-Man movies are kinda successful.) Jump on board, Kirsten!

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 04/23/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4

Thursday, April 2

• Spider-Man 4 Script Should be Finished Soon

  Just weeks ago, Spider-Man 4 director Sam Raimi was "working with the writer [David Lindsay-Abaire]" to "work out a story" and were "closing in on Spider-Man's adversary or adversaries." Raimi told SciFiWire that Lindsay-Abaire is "hard at work, and hopefully we'll see something in about three months."

  So with the story worked out, surely Raimi must know the villain(s) by now, right? Said Raimi:

  I'm not at liberty to discuss the villains yet. I think I have to wait till the finished screenplay, and then it'd really be up to Sony Pictures and the producers to determine when they want to release that information. To them, it's usually a big, a big, big thing, a big moment where they want to present the villain with the proper respect or fear that he or she deserves.

  Oh, ok. No problem. Fans just have to wait for three months for Sony to hopefully approve the script and feel comfortable enough to make that announcement. If the Wolverine workprint Internet leak proves anything, with more than 75,000 downloads in just a couple days, its that fanboys have zero patience.

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 04/02/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | David Lindsay-Abaire | Spider-Man 4 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wednesday, April 1

• Robert Pattinson Replaces Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 4

  The news dropped like a bombshell early this morning that Sony Pictures has signed Robert Pattinson (Twilight) to replace Tobey Maguire in the titular role in Spider-Man 4.

  In the official press release, Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures and Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, announced that Pattinson would not only be assuming the role of Peter Parker and his alter-ego, Spider-Man, in Spider-Man 4, but also in Spider-Man 5 and in a spin-off film to be announced at a later date.

  It is no secret that Pascal has been shopping around for an actor to fill the red-and-blue tights for some time. Only a few months ago, negotiations between Sony and Maguire nearly broke down because of the actor's reluctance to return to what he described as a "worn-out concept."

  Sam Raimi, the cult film director and mastermind behind the multi-billion dollar Spider-Man franchise, recently blamed the failure of Spider-Man 3 to meet expectations on corporate control interfering with his creative process. Is the Sony Pictures press release another example of the type of control Raimi was referring to or a step toward realizing the director's vision for the franchise?

  When asked to comment on the press release, Raimi said:

  Decisions like these are always difficult. I know the fans liked Tobey -- and I greatly enjoyed working with him -- but Robert is the future of the franchise.

  The press release did not indicate what the spin-off film might be, but recent speculation has focused on Morbius, a mainstay in the Spider-Man comic book mythology. In the comics, Morbius is a "living vampire," a victim of an ill-fated experimental treatment involving vampire bats and shock therapy.

  There has been no word from Tobey Maguire's representatives.

  Happy April Fool's Day!

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 is currently scheduled for a 2011 release

  Posted 04/01/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Robert Pattinson | Spider-Man 3 | Spider-Man 4 | Spider-Man | Spider-Man 2

Tuesday, March 31

• Raimi Wants More Control for Spider-Man 4

  Despite its massive box office, $336,530,303 in the U.S. alone, Spider-Man 3 was arguably the biggest let down of the Sam Raimi directed trilogy, with too many villains and new characters for Raimi to handle. Raimi has an explanation for this, which he shared with Empire Magazine in its latest issue:

  They really gave me a tremendous amount of control on the first two films, actually. But then there were different opinions on the third film and I didn’t really have creative control, so to speak.

  Raimi goes on to say that this trend won't continue in Spider-Man 4:

  The best way for me to move forward on films, I realize…and this was a lesson I had to learn for myself…is that I’ve gotta be the singular voice that makes the creative choices on the film.

  There's still no word yet on who the villain might be, though rumors have mentioned both Carnage and Electro together, and Morbius the Vampire separately. Carnage would be an interesting choice, considering his character's origin being so close to Venom's, the Topher Grace character that Raimi was forced to use in Spider-Man 3. Regarding Venom, Raimi said:

  I don’t even want to comment on Venom, because I know he’s a great character and all the fans love him. I never want to say anything bad about a much-beloved character because usually it turns out that I’m the one that doesn’t understand what makes it great.

  
  

  Posted 03/31/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Topher Grace | Spider-Man 4 | Spider-Man 3

Thursday, March 26

• Raimi Talks Evil Dead 4

  Last summer, at the San Diego Comic-Con, Sam Raimi joked around that another Evil Dead was in the works and he would start writing a draft soon. Considering Raimi is already at work on the upcoming Drag Me to Hell with Spider-Man 4 waiting next in line, and with Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell telling the Onion A.V. Club that he'd "rather disappoint with a brand new original movie" than do another Evil Dead, it sure seems like Raimi was just enjoying some wishful thinking.

  However, Raimi told MTV he's not worried when Campbell says things like "I think there should be an end to everything" in regards to Evil Dead 4:

  He can dream all he wants. He’s trying to get out of getting back in shape. I’m going to kick his butt in shape. I’m gonna say ‘get back in the chainsaw!’

  That does sound committed, and rabid Evil Dead fans may hold Raimi to it, however, as Raimi also points out, "I would really like to do [another Evil Dead]. I’ve just got a commitment to make Spider-Man 4 right now though." That means Raimi can start to work on a new Evil Dead in, oh, 2011.

  Looks like it's back to wishful thinking.

  
  

  Posted 03/26/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4 | The Evil Dead | Drag Me to Hell

Tuesday, March 24

• Spider-Man 4 Villains Leaked?

  Mania has revealed a link to Hoyts Cinemas, an Australian movie theater chain, that has possibly leaked the plot and villains for Spider-Man 4. The synopsis for the movie reads as this:

  Peter Parker now faces a more greater threat. After a man is accidentally killed in an electrical power outage; a mass murderer has bonded with a symbiote. Thus wreaking havoc as Peter faces this red rampage, as well as an electrifying madman.

  Fans of the Spider-Man comic book will recognize those villains clearly as Electro and Carnage.

  Director Sam Raimi almost let the news slip as well when he was asked about a possible Venom movie spin-off (the villain Topher Grace played in Spider-Man 3) by MTV:

  I guess I don’t know about that. Do you mean Carnage? Maybe you’re referring to a separate movie?

  Separate from what, Sam? Time will tell.

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 03/24/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4

Monday, March 23

• Sam Raimi Unaware of Possible Spider-Man 4 Casting

  When Mickey Rourke officially signed on for Iron Man 2, there were reports that Rourke was also being considered for Spider-Man 4. According to MTV, Spider-Man 4 director Sam Raimi was not aware of it. Said Raimi:

  Other people [involved in the film] could have been considering Mickey Rourke for a villain, talking about the Spider-Man films, and maybe they didn't tell me. That could be true. Maybe they asked an agent for availability and hadn't yet come to me and said, ‘Sam, this guy's available, would you like to work with him?' I love Mickey Rourke, by the way, but they hadn't yet come to me about that.

  So those of you writing Raimi hate mail, you can stop now.

  
  

  Posted 03/23/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Mickey Rourke | Spider-Man 4 | Iron Man 2

Tuesday, March 17

• Sam Raimi Spills Spider-Man 4 Updates

  At the SXSW festival, director Sam Raimi was showing versions of his upcoming Drag Me to Hell but dropped some info on 2011's summer-headliner, Spider-Man 4 to MTV:

  I can't imagine making a Spider-Man movie without Kirsten [Dunst]. Of course it can be done because Spider Man has existed without the character of Mary-Jane, but she's one of my favorite parts and it would be a shame not to have her in the picture. I'm hoping she'll be in it and I'm planning on having a story with her in it.

  As for whether Raimi and company will shoot Spider-Man 4 and 5 at the same time, Raimi said:

  The writers, producers and I are working out what the story will be, but we haven't been talking in terms of Part 4 and 5. I've read that [about Spider-Man 5] also, but right now we're just working on the story for Spider-Man 4, just that one film.

  Raimi did not confirm whether Morbius the Vampire would be the villain in Spider-Man 4. Raimi told IGN:

  I'm in the earliest stages of working with the writer, trying to work out a story. We're closing in on Spider-Man's adversary or adversaries... but I think Sony is going to want to release the Spider-Man announcements themselves.

  The "writer" Raimi mentioned is Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, who is set to write the screenplay.

  
  

  Posted 03/17/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Kirsten Dunst | David Lindsay-Abaire | Spider-Man 4 | Drag Me to Hell | Spider-Man

Friday, March 13

• Spider-Man 4 Villain Could Have Been Mickey Rourke

  While it's now official that Mickey Rourke will play the villain Whiplash in Iron Man 2, Deadline Hollywood reports that Rourke's agent was also talking to Spider-Man 4 director Sam Raimi to get Rourke cast as a villain in the movie.

  While the next Spidey villain is unconfirmed, Raimi has hinted that it could be Morbius the Vampire, which if true, might have been played by Rourke. Oh, what could have been!

  
  
  Next Showing: Spider-Man 4 opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 03/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Mickey Rourke | Iron Man 2 | Spider-Man 4

Thursday, March 12

• Drag Me To Hell Trailer Puts a New Spin on Foreclosure

  The long-awaited trailer for Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell is finally out, and it could hardly be more timely. In it we see an ambitious young loan officer (Alison Lohman) refusing an old gypsy woman (Lorna Raver) an extension on her mortgage. Then the tables turn and the bank worker is the one desperately trying to avoid being, rather literally, hounded to hell. Wait a minute ... given recent headlines, this is starting to more look more like fantasy than horror. Speaking of fantasy, those lucky enough to be attending South by Southwest will be able to get an even closer look as Raimi introduces a midnight showing of this work in progress, which has already drawn a number of rave reviews.

  
  
  Next Showing: Drag Me to Hell opens May 29

  Posted 03/12/2009 by Bill

  Related: Sam Raimi | Drag Me to Hell

Monday, February 2

• Spider-Man 4 Shooting in Michigan?

  Well, some background shots maybe. But, hey, we're in the middle of a depression, the American auto industry is tanking, so you take what you can get, right? And give whatever it takes. Right now, Michigan is offering filmmakers the highest tax rebates in the country to shoot there. And apparently a potential 42% tax rebate is enough to convince Hollywood bigwigs that Detroit really does look more like New York (where they would be shooting if it wasn't so expensive to shoot in New York) than Cleveland or Vancouver. The latest to express interest in the Wolverine state is Michigan native Sam Raimi, who tells a local newspaper that some second-unit photography may be shot there as he takes Spider-Man IV, which is scheduled for a 2010 shoot. Raimi is also planning to shoot a low-budget horror movie, Room 205, entirely in Michigan this summer.

  
  

  Posted 02/02/2009 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4 | Room 205

Thursday, January 29

• Early Reviews of Drag Me to Hell, But Still No Official Trailer

  Sam Raimi's long-awaited return to horror, Drag Me to Hell, has been subject to some reviews, based on an early Los Angeles screening of the movie in unfinished form, and many found the Spider-Man director's return inspired. One review hailed it as "quite simply the most PERFECT horror film I've seen in a long, long while," and another claims that "Raimi has returned to true form."

  The movie, written by Raimi and his brother Ivan, follows a loan officer (Alison Lohman) that is cursed by an evil, elderly gypsy and finds her life turned into a living, um, hell. For even more opinions of the movie, head here.

  No trailer exists yet for the movie, so keep checking ReelzChannel for more updates.

  
  
  Next Showing: Drag Me to Hell opens May 29

  Posted 01/29/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Ivan Raimi | Alison Lohman | Drag Me to Hell

Friday, January 9

• A New Spider-Man 4 Villain?

  It's been awhile since Sam Raimi spoke up about Spider-Man 4, back when Raimi didn't want to confirm that Dylan Baker as Lizard would be the next villain to fight Spidey. Now MTV reports Raimi told Empire Magazine: "I like it in the Marvel comics when Spider-Man fights Morbius. He's really cool. A vampire! I like that combination of superhero plus supernatural."

  Morbius the Vampire instead of the Lizard? Considering Raimi's horror roots, and some Spider-Man comic book history -- a 1971 issue of Amazing Spider-Man had the Lizard and Spidey team up against Morbius -- and Morbius seems like a very plausible choice.

  
  

  Posted 01/09/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Dylan Baker | Spider-Man 4

Monday, December 22

• Paramount Hires Writer for New Jack Ryan Adventure

  Paramount has hired writer Hossein Amini (Killshot, The Four Feathers) to pen the latest Jack Ryan flick. The Clancy series has featured a rotating cast of Ryans including Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Affleck starred in the last film, The Sum of All Fears, in 2002. No word yet on who the next Ryan will be.

  Sam Raimi had been in talks to direct the next film, but now that he's added at least two more Spider-Man movies to his agenda, his available time could be in question.

  Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  
  

  Posted 12/22/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | The Sum of All Fears

• New Jack Ryan Loses a Director, Gains a Screenwriter

  With Sam Raimi being too busy with the upcoming Drag Me to Hell and Spider-Man 4 to continue working on the new Jack Ryan movie, Paramount is still moving forward with the Tom Clancy franchise. Screenwriter Hossein Amini, known for period pieces Wings of the Dove and 2009's Shanghai is set to write an original story, not an adaptation of a Clancy novel.

  No casting decision on who will play Ryan has been announced. With Ben Affleck being the last to play Ryan, who do you think should be next?

  
  

  Posted 12/22/2008 by Ryan

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tom Clancy | Hossein Amini | Untitled Jack Ryan Movie

Wednesday, November 5

• Fanboy Favorite Bruce Campbell Talks Evil Dead IV

  It will happen some day, he tells IFC, but not anytime soon. "I don't think there's even a doubt that we won't one day," he tells IFC, but since Sam Raimi just signed on to do Spider-Man 4, Campbell will have plenty of time for his Old Spice ads and other projects for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, there's My Name is Bruce, the story of a fan who kidnaps a B-list actor in the hope that the actor can save the fan's town from a resurrected Chinese warlord. Campbell stars and directs, and is making personal appearances at every showing of the movie as it plays around the country.

  
  

  Posted 11/05/2008 by reelz

  Related: Bruce Campbell | Sam Raimi | My Name Is Bruce | Spider-Man 4

Friday, October 31

• Pulitzer Prize Winner to Pen Spider-Man 4

  Spider-Man 4 is finally coming together. Director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire have signed on and rumors are building that Spidey's gal, Kirsten Dunst, will return as well.

  Looking to rebound from the disappointing Spider-Man 3, Sony has brought in Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Lindsay-Abaire to write the script. The author won the 2007 Pulitzer for his Broadway play Rabbit Hole. He's also working on a Broadway musical adaptation of Shrek and his first feature, Inkheart, opens in January and stars Brendan Fraser.

  Still no official word on plot details or who the villains will be, but we'll bring that news to you as soon as we hear more.

  Source: Empire Movies
  

  
  

  Posted 10/31/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4

Thursday, October 16

• Raimi Gives Spider-Man 4 Update

  Our friends over at MTV Movies recently spoke with the notoriously dodgy Sam Raimi about the many rumors surrounding plans for the upcoming Spider-Man sequels.

  Raimi says that he'd "love to work with [Kirsten Dunst] again" but seems to leave the prospect of replacing the actress very open.
  

  As to the rumors that Spider-Man 4 and 5 will be shot back-to-back, Raimi says it has been "talked about" and will ultimately be up to Sony head honcho Amy Pascal. "Production would likely start by March of 2010," adds Raimi.

  Although Raimi remained cagey on who the villain might be, he did admit that Dylan Baker's beloved Lizard story "will be told" one day, adding that he didn't know whether it would be for the next one or not. Fans might remember Raimi's response to the Venom speculation before Spider-Man 3 was quite similar.

  You can read the full MTV interview with Raimi on MTV's Splashpage.

  
  

  Posted 10/16/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Spider-Man 4

Saturday, September 13

• Which Villain Will Spider-Man Face Next?

  Last week Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire both signed on for Spider-Man 4, agreeing to return to a franchise left very much in a state of flux after 2007's bloated Spider-Man 3.

  The comic book movie landscape has changed considerably since the last time Maguire donned the signature red-and-blue tights, thanks to this summer's game-changing blockbusters Iron Man and The Dark Knight. How will the Web-Slinger respond? Will Spider-Man 4 follow the genre's shift toward darker themes, or will it buck the trend and go in a different direction? And which villain -- or villains -- will Spidey face?

  Spider-Man 4 isn't scheduled to begin shooting until next fall, but it's never too early to start speculating. Check out our look at the future of Spider-Man.

  
  

  Posted 09/13/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Spider-Man 3 | Spider-Man 4

Friday, September 5

• Raimi and Maguire Returning for Spider-Man 4; Dunst Uncertain

  Deadline Hollywood Daily’s lovably caustic Nikki Finke has emerged with a scoop that should have fanboys doing cartwheels all weekend: director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire will indeed be returning for Spider-Man 4. What’s more, Sony is seriously considering shooting the fourth and fifth Spidey flicks back-to-back because the strategy is “so cost effective.” Shooting will likely begin next fall.

  Interestingly, Finke notes that while Sony is committed to bringing back the Mary Jane Watson character for the upcoming sequels, they’ve yet to sign a deal with troubled star Kirsten Dunst, who portrayed the character in the first three Spider-Man flicks. If producers do indeed decide to replace her, we hear Maggie Gyllenhaal might be available...
  

  
  

  Posted 09/05/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Tobey Maguire | Spider-Man 4

Friday, August 1

• B-List Spider-Man Villain to Get His Own Movie?

  After being forced to split screen time with two other villains (James Franco's Hobgoblin and Thomas Haden Church's Sandman) in Spider-Man 3, the gooey, black alien symbiote known as Venom may be going solo. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony is moving forward with a spinoff based on the parasitic nemesis played by Topher Grace in last summer's mega-blockbuster.

  The question is, if Sony wasn't confident enough that Venom could carry the weight as the lone villain in Spider-Man 3, what makes them think he deserves his own movie? Rumor has it director Sam Raimi didn't even want the character in the third flick, and only added him to the mix late in the game in order to appease former Marvel Czar Avi Arad. Judging from his solid track record, I'd say that Raimi has pretty good instincts on these matters.

  Ultimately, it's the quality of the story that will decide whether Venom's solo career resembles that of post-'N Sync Justin Timberlake or post-98 Degrees Nick Lachey. Sony is already said to be re-tooling a script they commissioned from Jacob Estes and are supposedly considering "going in a different direction." Methinks that direction could be straight to DVD.

  
  

  Posted 08/01/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 3 | Venom

Thursday, July 31

• Sam Raimi Gives Spider-Man 4 Update

  It has been a great summer for superhero and comic book movies and we can't help but be reminded of the series that paved the way for the now popular genre, Spider-Man. Information on the fourth installment has been sparse, but we were given a chance to speak to Sam Raimi about his possible role in the much anticipated Spider-Man 4.

  Right now, I know Columbia Pictures is definitely making a fourth one, and the writer is writing a screenplay, and I'll definitely be involved as a producer, and I'm very excited that they are going to show me the screenplay, I hope, when they're done. I don't want to be presumptuous and I hope [they] consider me as the director for it.

  When asked about the possibility of the cast returning for the film, he had this to say.

  Well, that would be the directors choice. Let me see, first, if the project comes my way before I am presumptuous. But I couldn't imagine... if I was involved I would definitely bring the cast back.

  Will Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst be back? We will have to wait and see.

  
  

  Posted 07/31/2008 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | Spider-Man 4

Wednesday, March 19

• Raimi to re-launch Clancy's Jack Ryan franchise

  After a brief return to his genre roots for the upcoming horror flick Drag Me to Hell, Sam Raimi is set to return to the mainstream once again, this time to take on Tom Clancy's legendary CIA analyst/reluctant hero Jack Ryan. Variety reports that the Spider-Man helmer is in negotiations to relaunch the action franchise that exploded out of the gate with 1990's The Hunt for Red October and ended - rather ignominiously - with 2002's The Sum of All Fears after receiving the Ben Affleck Kiss of Death. According to Variety, Raimi and studio backer Paramount are eyeing a summer 2010 release for the first new Jack Ryan flick.

  The question before us now is: Who should play Jack Ryan? We nominate Ryan Gosling. Discuss.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 03/19/2008 by reelz

  Related: Ben Affleck | Ryan Gosling | Sam Raimi | Drag Me to Hell

Tuesday, March 4

• Lohman taking Page's place in Hell

  Alison Lohman, last seen in Beowulf as the Nordic monster-slayer's jailbait wife, has signed on to star in Drag Me to Hell, the first post-Spider-Man project from director Sam Raimi. According to Variety, Lohman will take the place of Juno's Ellen Page, who departed the supernatural thriller just a few days ago because of those ever-pesky "scheduling issues."

  Drag Me to Hell represents Raimi's return to the genre that made him famous after taking a lengthy detour to make the three Spider-Man movies, which I'm told were somewhat successful. The script was co-written by Sam and his brother Ivan.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 03/04/2008 by reelz

  Related: Ellen Page | Sam Raimi | Alison Lohman | Drag Me to Hell

Wednesday, October 17

• Raimi discusses his vision for Grudge 3

  Though Sam Raimi the director is currently unemployed, having just completed his DVD duties for Spider-Man 3, Sam Raimi the producer is quite the busy man, overseeing several high-profile projects under his Ghost House Pictures banner.

  One such project, The Grudge 3, is currently in the scriptwriting phase. In an exclusive interview yesterday with ReelzChannel.com, Raimi talked about what he'd like to see in a third Grudge movie:

  "I'd like some new mysteries to be created around Kayako and Toshio. I don't think the audience just wants to see them come out and terrorize people. I think we want to know more about the secret dark histories those two had. Who were they as people and what magic were they involved in? I want to get into the good stuff behind their lives and the curse -- the stuff behind the curse."

  
  

  Posted 10/17/2007 by reelz

  Related: Sam Raimi | The Grudge 2 | The Grudge | Spider-Man 3