Spider-Man 4? You’re Gonna Have to Wait
Looks like everyone’s favorite web-slinging superhero is slowly weaving his way back to the box office. Very slowly.
Laura Ziskin, producer of the blockbuster movie franchise starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, told theater owners from California and Nevada on Thursday that Spider-Man 4 won’t hit theaters until at least 2011.
She said there is no script yet and neither Maguire nor director Sam Raimi have signed on.
Spider-Man 3 opened in 2007 to mixed reviews, although that didn’t stop the film from grossing a record $59 million its first day out of the gate.
The first three Spidey flicks combined have grossed a whopping $2.5 billion worldwide.
Sony to Release Spider-Man 4 in 2010?
Will the original squad be back, or will Sony recruit new talent? A week ago we reported on the rumor that Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 will be filmed back-to-back, Back to the Future styles. Today, a quote from Marvel’s Vice Chairman, Peter Cuneo, hit the Net via IESB regarding Sony’s stirring plans for a third sequel…
“As far as Spider-man 4, it’s really up to Sony, it’s up to them, most likely scenario is 2010 or 2011 but we can’t speak for them and I think, that we don’t know. They have given us their re-up payment for that film so you know they’re going to make it within a reasonable time frame. Sony may be looking at some issues with the cast and so on, I think they have to make some decisions.”
Maybe it’s me, but all of these recent quotes from Marvel honchos have a newfound tone of “We’re kicking ass and taking names, and, of course, we have outside properties as well. No big deal.” So, screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) has apparently turned in a script for Spidey 4 that inherently ties to a fifth film; if this is how the franchise plays out, I’d imagine (rather predictably, yes) that an unprecedented bag of cash the size of a Dubai island would need to be exchanged to bring back Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. And if I had to place a blind bet, I’d say a new A-list director (and, if so, probably a new star) is in store to bring Peter Parker into the next decade. Dunst is the cigarettes to the keys and wallet, here. What does your Magic 8ball tell you?
Sam Raimi Still Interested in Spider-Man 4
Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst have always said they would only return for a Spider-Man 4 if director Sam Raimi also returned. Until now Sam has been very uncommitted when asked if he wanted to make another in the series. And with The Hobbit rumors starting to escalate, I thought the band breaking up for the fourth film was inevitable (remember however, Sony has said they are making a fourth film with or without the returnees). Well it now seems like Sam is starting to change his tune. ComingSoon asked the Evil Dead director if he would return for a fourth film. This is what he said:
“Absolutely,” said Raimi. “Yes, I just don’t know what the future holds right now because it’s so fresh and just having finished this film like a week ago. It’s taken so many years to put together. My mind is an empty blank right now.”
That’s a lot more positive than the “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know”’s that we’ve been accustomed to.