Breaking News: Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire are out of Spider-Man 4! Sony moving forward with Franchise reboot.
Well, I kind of saw this coming. Spider-Man 4 with its issues over villains, Sony vs. Raimi disputes and delays is now confirmed dead.
Many of our readers agreed with what I said in our last post on the confirmed delay of Spider-Man 4 in that perhaps Raimi and Sony should simply part ways and they can take the franchise in another direction or start from scratch.
Now it is confirmed from Nikki Finke and Mike Fleming at Deadline Hollywood that the cast and director have pulled out entirely and Sony will instead go the route of the reboot with Jamie Vanderbilt’s script.
According to Finke and Fleming’s sources, Raimi told Sony that he cannot make their scheduled release date and in response, the heads of Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures were not fond of the idea of replacing the director or waiting, so they will instead do what many fans want and reboot the franchise all together.
When Marvel Studios moved Thor into Spider-Man 4′s key release date at the opening weekend of summer 2011, we knew Spider-Man 4 was officially on the move but it’s a little surprising to see that turn into a full blown cleansing of the slate so to speak.
I guess John Malkovich won’t be getting that final script treatment for his role as the Vulture after all…
The good news is that this ties into my theory of Spider-Man 5 & 6 being reboots anyway, interconnected with the Venom movie.
Does this news break your heart or make you cry for joy? What do you want to see from the reboot?
[Update 1: Sony Pictures Tweeted that the reboot will see Peter Parker back in High School and that the film will come in 2012 as opposed to Spider-Man 4's May 2011 planned release date]
[Update 2: Sony put put their official press release on the matter - See below]
Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) — Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.
The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.
“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,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. 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,” said Sam Raimi.
“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade.This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”
“Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen.”
The studio will have more news about Spider-Man in 2012 in the coming weeks as it prepares for production of the film.
Spider-Man Movie Reboot: Good Idea or Bad?
- Terrible idea, keep the current cast (58%)
- Good idea, it's time for fresh blood (42%)
Total Votes: 1,237
Loading ...Source: Deadline Hollywood
I'm glad Sam Raimi's version finally died. It certainly wasn't the definitive Spiderman from the “Amazing Spider-man” comic books. The film had great aesthetics and a wonderful support cast, but that's as good as it got.
I guess we will now tolerate this “Ultimate Spider-teen” version.
Eventually back in the hands of it's rightful owners, MARVEL – we will see a proper mature treatment of Peter Parker the MAN and his alter ego Spider-MAN.
@the_old_man
It's a nice dream. The reality seems so far away.
Yeah, really X I guess that sums it up.
reboot Hollywood!!!
Agreed! If we all do that, old_man, I think they (the studios) will finally listen to the fans and then we all will be pleased.
At X Guest and old_man…
Cheer up, guys, we may get a real adult treatment of our characters yet. I'm believing it.
At X Guest and old_man…
Cheer up, guys, we may get a real adult treatment of our characters yet. I'm believing it.
reboot Hollywood!!!
Agreed! If we all do that, old_man, I think they (the studios) will finally listen to the fans and then we all will be pleased.
At X Guest and old_man…
Cheer up, guys, we may get a real adult treatment of our characters yet. I'm believing it.
At X Guest and old_man…
Cheer up, guys, we may get a real adult treatment of our characters yet. I'm believing it.
This hurts me. bad. i really liked the cast for spiderman and i just wntd them to keep making movies. I mean heck the hulk got rebooted like 3 times and lol each time they advertised the same products those dumb hulk gloves. well anyway, i just wantd to see what would happen to peter next. i mean i wish they would atleast make an ending movie where we kan know what happens to peter mj n every else. id just wana see.
I completely agree. Although the third installment was more than a bit disappointing, I loved the cast and am really quite sad not to at least have a concluding movie, I mean after all the status of the continuing love story between Peter and MJ was vague at best by the end of Spidermen 3. I do think the fans are deserving of at least a conclusion to that story. I’m not really all that sure I will see or enjoy the reboot. I think someone dropped the ball here.
You Know, I was one of the fans that could not wait to see spider man 4 this just made me mad. As seen in the Comic books the characters where well put together (also the movies). Making another movie can be a smart idea but also a dumb idea so why take a risk of messing up the story line. So when the new spider-man movie comes out I’m gonna be watching it on the computer. (they not getting my money!)
I’ll do so much better in the box office than this teenage Spiderman thing.
spiderman and daredevil team up . a daredevil cameo in the reboot.
Start from scratch? Are you kidding me?
These three films were one of the best movies I’ve seen. Why start from scratch, when it almost took a decade to get half way?
I recommend making Spiderman 4, 5 and 6, and then you can begin with the new version.
Tobey Maguire is born for this cast as Spider-man – so is Kristen Dunst as Mary Jane.
Only cartoon nerds wants a reboot, so the movies can follow the real story..
But what about the rest of the fans?.. think about it..
What if you are wrong about the Spiderman reboot? Then it will be late for continuing to make Spiderman 4, 5 and 6.
The Spiderman reboot can always wait, but not this series that has been going in a decade.
I just can’t understand that when a movie company has a winner going for themselves with unlimited sequels that would be hits could commit suicide by changing the scheme and momentem with something different. Go to Vegas if you want to gamble, there they like it when you lose!
What the?? reboot? I’ve always waited for spiderman 4.. and now got cancelled… awe..
what!!!!!! I’ve wanted to see this movie this movie would have been a big hit and all because you guys cant think of a stupid mortal enemy. I don’t know what you guys was thinking. I am 14 and I bet I can think of a bad guy that is better than sand man you guys really just needed to think harder. I am sure if you’s think harder you can make a new bad guy that is better then all of them. I am sure it doesn’t need to be cancelled you guys should be cancelled keep spider man going!!!!!
don’t cancel it because you cant think of a bad guy we all want to see mj marry Pete