Writer already signed on to SPIDER-MAN 5 and 6
With SPIDER-MAN 4 not even in production yet, Sony is already getting a head start on its subsequent sequels, making them the 5th and 6th installment in the franchise.
The studio has brought on James Vanderbilt (ZODIAC) to write the next two tales of your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man, which are said to have an interwoven storyline. If that name sounds familiar, that’s because it is one that has been kicked around in this franchise before. Vanderbilt was hired to write the first draft of SPIDER-MAN 4, yet was later replaced after director Sam Raimi was hesitant to some of his ideas. Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire took over to do rewrites on Vanderbilt’s script, only to be replaced with Gary Ross (SEABISCUIT), the screenwriter who is currently writing the proposed final draft of the film that is set for a 2010 production date and an ensuing release date of May 6th, 2011.
So what does this mean for Raimi, who has also signed on to direct the video game-to-film adaptation of WORLD OF WARCRAFT? At this point, it is unclear if Raimi, or any of the cast, would in fact return for a 5 and/or 6. It would appear that Sony does not seem to be concerned with this minor detail, focusing more heavily on getting their most profitable and popular franchise swinging back into action, versus patiently waiting around to accommodate Raimi’s schedule, or anyone else for that matter.
Let’s break it down. SPIDER-MAN 1 (2002) grossed $403,706,375 with SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004) grossing $373,585,825 and SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007) at $336,530,303. That’s enough to make anyone’s spider sense tingle. Yet, if you notice, the gap in between the film’s releases grows more and more each time. Once SPIDER-MAN 4 hits theaters, it will have been 4 years since we last saw the wall crawler in action. My spider sense tells me that Sony doesn’t want a hold-up of this time length to occur in the future. If that means going forward without Raimi, Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, or anyone else, then so be it.
And, to this, I give my support. I welcome change with open arms. Vanderbilt is a nice change of pace as a writer and can hopefully inject some darkness into the story that was oh-so-vacant from SPIDER-MAN 3. The real challenge will be to find a director that can take the films in a new direction, while bringing both something old and something new to the table in terms of style. It has to be rooted in the Spidey mythos everyone knows and loves, yet it needs to chart some new territory as a SPIDER-MAN film. I think most people would not want to see a Raimi imitator, or worse, someone that lacks style and flavor all together. In other words, avoiding a Singer/Ratner situation at all costs would be the best thing for a transitional phase in this franchise.
So let’s have some film fantasy fun for a moment. Who would be your ideal director to take over the SPIDER-MAN franchise? Would you chose someone to keep in line with Raimi’s light and fun sensibility, or would you want to see someone who could really take it to a different, more serious level? Better yet, who would you want to don the red, black, and blue tights or the firecracker red hair and matching personality if Maguire and Dunst were out? Let’s hear it, people!
Source Variety
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