Peter Parker is going back to school but not with star Tobey Maguire or director Sam Raimi. Sony Pictures has revealed Spider-Man 4 will soon go into production but with a brand new cast.
"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.""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.
The script for Spider-Man 4 was written by James Vanderbilt, who also wrote the screenplay for the lesser known films ‘Zodiac’, ‘Basic’ and ‘Darkness Falls’.
Vanderbilt has been signed for the next three Spider-Man movies.
At this stage there is no word who will play Spider-Man. Rumours have it John Malkovich may be the villains and that Anne Hathaway is also being lined up for a role.
Sony expects to make a further statement in coming weeks. Spider-Man 4 will be released sometime in 2011.
