Sony Reboots Spider-Man Film Series - Drops Maguire, Dunst, Raimi

[Iceman]

Sony has confirmed that it plans to reboot the Spider-Man film franchise, dropping director Sam Raimi and stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Raimi pulled out of the previously announced Spider-Man 4 because he felt he couldn't meet Sony's 2011 release date and deliver the film he wanted. Instead of simply replacing Raimi, the studio is now moving ahead with a new story and cast.

Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios' forthcoming Spider-Man film will reportedly be based on a script by James Vanderbilt, focusing on a teenage Peter Parker grappling with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.

"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," said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

"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."

Marvel's Arad and Ziskin have signed as producers of the new film, to be released in 2012.



What Idiots.............

[Tom4784]

From what I've heard, the cast are staying and so is Sam Raimi and John Malkovich apparently confirmed that he is playing the Vulture. I think a Reboot will be a good idea down the line but they won't revamp the story so suddenly considering contracts would have already been signed off.

[Scarlett.]

It's rebooting deffo

"Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi will not be returning to the Spider-Man franchise next year.

Instead, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced that a new Spider-Man film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on Peter Parker in high school would debut in the summer of 2012 with a new cast and filmmaking team.

"I am so proud of what we accomplished with the 'Spider-Man' franchise over the last decade," 34-year-old Maguire said in a statement.

"Beyond the films themselves, I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story."

The announcement of a reboot comes after reports that Spider-Man 4 production stalled amid script revisions.

The original Spider-Man 4 release date seemed unlikely last week when Paramount Pictures announced that Thor, another big-screen Marvel superhero adaptation, had agreed the same May 6, 2011 release date as the fourth Spidey movie.

"Working on the 'Spider-Man' movies was the experience of a lifetime for me," Raimi, who directed all three Spider-Man films, also said in a statement.

"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."

Maguire said in an interview last week that there was "great stuff in terms of story and script" for the fourth chapter and the plan was to still release the film in 2011.

Sony said it would have more news about the next Spider-Man movie in coming weeks."

MSN News



Glad they are doing this rather than trying to add onto the great trilogy

[setanta]

Great trilogy?!!

[Scarlett.]

Great trilogy?!!

yeah, I have a different opinion than you, that a problem? :s

[setanta]

yeah, I have a different opinion than you, that a problem? :s

Not at all, no. Just don't think it's a great trilogy. First two are enjoyable enough but the third one was rubbish.

[Scarlett.]

Not at all, no. Just don't think it's a great trilogy. First two are enjoyable enough but the third one was rubbish.

Okay, I did prefer the first two most, but the third was okay and tied things up pretty well, a fourth one would have just been crap

[setanta]

Okay, I did prefer the first two most, but the third was okay and tied things up pretty well, a fourth one would have just been crap

Yeah, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to try and jazz it up a bit now.

[Scarlett.]

Indeed, who knows, the reboot could do a better job :D

[Iceman]

I disagree completely.....its stupid to reboot a comercially successful film series....especially when it hasnt been that long since the last one was out....

As a fan i want a story to be told and reach an end...what are they going to do now start from scratch? i call bullshit :):)

[setanta]

I disagree completely.....its stupid to reboot a comercially successful film series....especially when it hasnt been that long since the last one was out....

As a fan i want a story to be told and reach an end...what are they going to do now start from scratch? i call bullshit :):)

But where can they go with the same director and crew? It'll just be them treading water.

[Scarlett.]

It reached its natural end

The Osbourne saga ended, Peter got Mary Jane and found out the truth behind his Uncle's death, it would have been silly to undo all that for another film

[Iceman]

But where can they go with the same director and crew? It'll just be them treading water.

they were in the middle of a huge franchise and film series, its just plai daft to reboot now......the only way i can see it being successful is if they have different enemies for spiderman in the new ones.....

[Scarlett.]

I think they will have new villians in the new one, I dont think it will follow the same story

Think of the Batman films, I imagine it like that

[setanta]

they were in the middle of a huge franchise and film series, its just plai daft to reboot now......the only way i can see it being successful is if they have different enemies for spiderman in the new ones.....

I thought the last one was a disaster though to be honest with you. It was just a very tired and forced movie.

[Tom4784]

Well let's hope it's as good as Batman Begins was then, I've done a bit of a 180 on it but I think it could be good. It would have been hard to recover from Spiderman 3 really and now they've got the chance to do villains like Venom properly. I'm just hoping we don't get Green Goblin again :laugh: but Digital Spy had the Vulture report a few days ago so I'm guessing the Vulture is still the villain.

[Iceman]

Sony has announced a deal with (500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb to helm the new Spider-Man movie.

Webb's forthcoming Spider-Man film will focus on Peter Parker's private life, says Entertainment Weekly. A previous report had Webb signing for a trilogy, but the studio mentioned only one picture in its official announcement.

Sony recently revealed that director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire will be replaced in the superhero's next big screen adventure.

Webb, Michael Bay and Gary Ross had all been linked to the director's chair for the Spider-Man reboot.

The new Spider-Man will open in cinemas in 2012.

[BB_Eye]

I heard about this.

I don't think I'll be rushing to see it. I think part of the reason comic book and sci-fi movies are in such a dire state of affairs (quality wise) is because no matter what the film-makers give them, the fans seem to lap up any old rubbish as long as it's tediously faithful to the source material.

You only need to log onto iMDB to see the army of fanboys who got the Dark Knight into the iMDB top 10 and Avatar into the top 100.

[Tom4784]

I loved (500)DOS so I'm more hopeful for this reboot now.