This is a big shock, certainly for me at least. It would seem that the planned sequel featuring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten and of course the rest of the Spider-Man cast has fallen through and a new reboot of the series has been unveiled.

Sorry “Spider-Man” fans, but we’re about to hit you with some devastating news. While the fourth installment of the film is still scheduled to hit the big screen in 2012, it will be without the two components that have really made it work thus far – it’s director and leading man. Yes, when “Spider-Man 4″ hits theaters, it will be without director Sam Raimi or actor Tobey Maguire in the leading role.

News broke yesterday that Raimi would be leaving the project. The reason? Sony was pushing for a summer 2012 release date that Raimi felt uncomfortable promising to meet due to major script problems. Don’t you hate when a director has integrity about what he puts on screen, and won’t just shut up and deliver? Sony confirmed the news to MTV, explaining, “Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next ‘Spider-Man’ hits theaters in the summer of 2012. The statement continued by explaining that at the center of the film will be, “a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.”

Clearly really trying to sell this, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures added, “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.”

Source

Actress Kirsten Dunst is to be written out of the Spider-Man movie franchise and replaced as leading lady by Anne Hathaway, according to reports.

It is believed that Spider-Man 4 could be the last outing for her character, Mary Jane Watson, who featured as Peter Parker’s love interest in the first three films.

A source told Star magazine: “The plan is for her character to be written out, probably by dying.

“Anne will take over as Peter Parker’s new love interest for this project and for Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6 which are being written now.

“Anne’s in L.A. doing a lot of meetings on the movie because filming is right around the corner.”

Hathaway is rumoured to be playing the part of Felicia Hardy, known as Black Cat in the Marvel comic series but thought to go by the name Vultress in the film adaptation.

Filming on Spider-Man 4, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, is still expected to begin early next year for a May 5, 2011 release date.

Source

If a new casting breakdown is any indicator, we might see some Spidey offspring in the upcoming sequel. Spoiler TV has posted a casting breakdown for Spider-Man 4 that could possibly be for the child of Tobey McGuire’s Peter Parker and Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson.

2 or 3 year old boy to play 2 year old, Caucasian with Red Hair, an adorable toddler with an engaging personality, on set experience preferred. Identical Twins Only

Of course, this could be for a much different character in the film, but the emphasis on the red hair of the child is intriguing. Nothing has been confirmed by the studio, so we’ll be sure to keep you posted on any updates on this new character in Spider-Man 4 as soon as we have more information.

Spider-Man 4 will go before cameras in March of 2010 for a May 5, 2011 release.

Source

I’ve added some HD BluRay captures of Kirsten in her 2007 role as Mary Jane in the third installment of the Spiderman series. We already had some captures of the movie beforehand but I thought it would be nice to add some more and in higher quality. Click the thumbs for the full set.

GALLERY LINK
0442: Spiderman 3 BluRay Captures

Sam Raimi, director of the Spider-Man franchise recently spoke about the harsh reviews of the last Spider-Man movie; Spider-Man 3 and his plans for the 4th installment of the series. I’m glad he’s taking on what the fans and critics thought of the 3rd movie, I have to agree it was the weakest so far. But by the sound of things, Raimi knows exactly what he has to do to make Spider-Man 4 the best yet.

Raimi spoke about the comic book movie franchise in the print edition of DVD Blu-ray Review. Asked about complaints that there were too many bad guys in Spider-Man 3, he responded: “I think having so many villains detracted from the experience. I would agree with the criticism.”

So it sounds like there will be fewer foes in the next instalment. Raimi said he had learned some new lessons and storytelling tricks from his recent horror flick Drag Me to Hell which was a smaller and more intimate production.

He said: “I think I’ve learned about the importance of getting to the point and the importance of having limitations, and I’m hoping to take that into a production where I’m actually allowed to explore with more of the tools to pull it off with a little more splendour.

“I hope I don’t lose that edge that I’ve just found. That would be my approach to Spider-Man 4: to get back to the basics.”

Source

In an interview with MTV, Spider-Man director tells us that they’re hoping to start filming in March next year. Very exciting, isn’t it? Read more below.

Back in March, a little less than two years after “Spider-Man 3″ opened with what was then the biggest first weekend ever, Sony and Marvel Studios announced an official release date for its fourth Spidey flick: May 6, 2011. Still up in the air was the date when production would actually begin.

In an exclusive conversation with MTV News on Friday, franchise director Sam Raimi reveled that if all goes according to plan, shooting will begin early next year.

“We’re hoping that it’s the first week in March,” said Raimi.

At the moment, pre-production is in full swing, even as screenwriter Gary Ross (”great director and a very fine writer,” said Raimi) continues to work on the script.

Source

IMAX has set a big(ger) screen release date for Disney’s Tron Legacy and Sony’s Spider-Man 4.

Disney already announced a December 17, 2010 engagement for the sequel and now its solidifying a massive run for its 3-D pic. The movie is not being shot using IMAX cameras and will be remastered for the digital screens by the end of next year. It’s the third in a five-movie deal between Disney and IMAX.

Sony has also scheduled Spider-Man 4 day-and-date in IMAX on Thursday, May 5, 2011. This gives those screens an extra day before regular theaters go wide on Friday, May 6, the first official day of the summer season. It also won’t be shot using the special IMAX cameras.

Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and director Sam Raimi are returning for the fourth installment. Gary Ross is the third screenwriter to work on the script, which is currently in rewrites. According to frequent Raimi collaborator, the sequel will start shooting in January 2010.
Source

Don’t worry, Spidey fans; there’s still a lot more web to be slung.

Wired magazine reports that Sony has already given screenwriter James Vanderbilt the go-ahead to write the scripts for Spider-Man 5 and 6, based on the script he wrote for Spider-Man 4.

The fourth big-screen installment of the Spidey saga is due to begin production early next year, with Sam Raimi directing, and Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst returning as Peter and Mary Jane.

Added a ton of dvd screen captures from Elizabethtown. Also updated some great images of Kirsten at “Food, Inc.” Screening and walking around NY.

RELATED LINKS
Movies > Elizabethtown > DVD Screen Captures
Public Appereances > 2009 Appearances > “Food, Inc.” Screening
Candids > 2009 Out & About > May 29, 2009
Candids > 2009 Out & About > June 4, 2009
Candids > 2009 Out & About > June 11, 2009

Sony producer Todd Black recently talked to the New York Post about “Spider-Man 4?, slated for release on May 6, 2011. He confirmed a long-running question that Kirsten Dunst would indeed be returning to the franchise as Mary Jane Watson, the webslinger’s longtime love.

He also squashed the rumors that the film’s villain would be Morbius the Living Vampire”. He told the paper;

“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.”

Source