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Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire Will Return For Spider-Man 4. Sony Wants Spider-Man 5 Shot Back-to-Back. Venom Spin-Off News.

Posted on Friday, September 5th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson

Nikki Finke reports that Sony has locked in both Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire for Spider-Man 4. Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane character is said to be included in the sequel(s), so the actress is rumored to be returning as well. And in the execs’ best case scenario, Raimi and Maguire would shoot Spider-Man 5 back-to-back. This would confirm what we reported this May: Screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Rundown) turned in a script for the third sequel that, much to Sony’s liking, segued smoothly into an arc for a fifth film. Specific details on what it took to bring back the original star and director are not yet available. Spider-Man 4 remains set for a May 2011 release.

Per villains for a fourth film, Finke’s source hints, “once you find out who the villain is, you’ll know who’s playing it,” leading everyone to speculate that actor Dylan Baker, who played Dr. Curt Connors in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, will fight Spidey as The Lizard. Last year, Slashfilm gave 95% odds that The Lizard would be the main villain in the third sequel. Next time, call your bookie and send us 20% of the Euros.

Our reasoning was the dynamic relationship involved a la Harry Osbourne’s Goblin: “Connors developed an experimental serum taken from reptilian DNA, which he tested on himself and was subsequently transformed into a reptilian humanoid monster. Peter Parker worked as a teaching assistant to Dr. Connors at Empire State University, although Connors had no idea that Peter was actually Spider-Man.”

Included in Finke’s report is an update on the status of the Venom spin-off, a project that has divided fans and our readers, just like the jock-like character, for years. In what would be Marvel’s first feature headlined by a villain, Finke’s sources say that Topher Grace, who played the character in the much maligned Spider-Man 3, is still the front-runner due to, and I paraphrase, a sympathetic boy-next-door appearance. ;)

Discuss: Good news? Personally, I think Spider-Man should fight a new villain made out of hundred dollar bills. Do you think speculation about The Lizard is correct? Venom or bust? Where does this leave Raimi’s Evil Dead sequel and Maguire’s RoboTech?

Wow, Calm Down, Ha: Early word is that they are not going in a “gloomy Dark Knight direction.”

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  • This is a surprise. And a pleasant one, I might add. Kirsten Dunst had better come back, she's perfect for the role.
  • mikeq
    Give it a rest. Im spideyd out
  • Guest
    Thank goodness it WON'T be like The Dark Knight.
  • Eric
    What if it crossed over into batman's world and the joker or riddler or scarecrow were the villians.
  • Dylan
    I hope The Joker puts a pencil through Kristen Dunst's fucking eye.
    Also, very bad news.
  • B33
    Bruce Campbell as Mysterio, perhaps? That would earn the official seal of "epic" in my book, at least.
  • canadianturd
    If it crossed over into Batman's world... ladies and gentlemen, the stupidest question of the year goes to... ERIC!
  • orange cinema
    YES YES YES!!!! best news i've heard since heath was anounced as mr. j! Holy crap every detail announced is best case scenario, and i don't care that a lot of people hate dunst, it won't be the same without her and i hope she's back too. i was petrified that tobey & sam wouldn't come back for another, but two?!?! my hands are shaking as i type!!! ahhhh, i'm a spider-nut!

    now, if only they could capture the macfarlayne spider-man 'look', that would be SICK!
  • orange cinema
    oh, the lizard rumor sounds legit, and would be an excellent return to SM2 form.

    the venom idea is just terrible, especially with grace. that was just about as bad as mis-casting can get.
  • Antibodies
    I don't think there is anything they could say or do to make me interested in watching anymore Spider-man movies.
  • Zinc
    It's pretty obvious Sony is pushing this movie purely for the cash. Hell, I bet they're going to take a "Dark Knight" approach to it as well... Seems like every movie is saying they're going to after the FUCKWIN the film was. Too bad they're missing one of the main ingredients: Nolan.
  • B33
    @Zinc

    Raimi did a fairly good job with the first two films. The third would have been acceptable had they not made so many terrible decisions, story wise.
  • Ehhhhh the third one was so badddddd...

    I agree with zinc, the only thing that could bring these guys back would be cash. These guys are obviously not interested in making another one, almost every one of them has said as much, right?

    That said, this one would have to be so over-the-top dark that it'd be messed up. Clone saga anyone?
  • krackajap
    I hated Spiderman. I hated Spiderman 2. And to my surprise, I hated Spiderman 3. The third just crossed the line when they just randomly threw in Gwen Stacy, not as a character that was instrumental in the shaping of Peter/Spiderman, but as a retarded love interesting for a triangle.
  • krackajap is an uber fag
    lol your a fag if you hate spiderman so much why do you keep post... asswipe!
  • I may welcome more Spiderman if it will erase the terrible taste left in my mouth by Spiderman 3. I've pretty much pretended 3 doesn't exist.
  • Why....bring back....Tobey?
    why..........why?
  • Darrell
    Let's hope they dial down the terrible CG.
    I had a feeling while watching Spiderman 3 that if I turned around in the theatre I would see an 11 year old boy with a gaming controller providing the action sequences... his 13 year old sister may have co-wrote the screenplay while at camp.
  • Aaron
    I honestly would love to see the villian, Carnage. Either in the 5th film, since it is pretty clear that The Lizard is going to be the 4th film main villian, or in the Venom spin-off. But I would like to see someone else play Venom. Topher Grace is not a good actor at all.
  • jimbo stewart
    I'm into it. I think this could be decent if they take some chances and focus on a good story rather than satisfying stupid fan boys.

    And to the guy who said Dunst deserves a pencil through her eye... you must have some serious women issues.
  • Dan
    Personally, I wouldn't want to see Carnage in the movie at all...not after what they did with Venom. Venom is one of the main characters in the entire Spidey universe, one of the most pivitol nemesis'....and they used him horribly. No, its not Topher Grace's fault...it was the story. Venom should be a character that plays a role throughout the films, a constant threat to Spidey. Here you can do more stuff about him, you need to keep him connected somehow, so do a side-plot with venom to keep him active, etc.

    Carnage comes along with Venom and Venom only...would be horrible to see Carnage in there without Venom...
  • michael keaton
    They should have done with Venom what they did with Dr. Connors, been throughtout all three movies and at some point become Venom. The story was messing up. Eddie Brock should have been in all three and Tofu Grace shouldn't have been in any of them.
  • Sam Raimi can do better. I know he can.
  • Henry Jones Jr
    Great news! IMO, Spider-Man is still the best comic-book to movie translation, regardless of how well Dark Knight has done. Not to knock DK, I loved it, but I think the Spidey movies are more fun to watch and are more faithful to the books.

    I think Tobey and Kirsten are perfect for the roles, have done a great job, and I wouldn't want to see a new Spidey without either of them so long as Raimi is the one doing the directing.

    As for the Lizard, I think I'd prefer the costume/make-up route for him, like what Guillermo Del Toro does (Pan's, Hellboy), rather than going the CG route. I doubt Raimi will go that route, but I hope so. I didn't care much for Raimi's take on Venom.
  • Danny
    Call me crazy but I'd love to see a Werewolf by Night/Morbius arc for 4 and 5. They have introduced John Jameson into the mix...Lizard would be good too...just keep it to one villain per movie though...for the love of Peter Parker...
  • Pill
    I'm pretty sure every autistic, 6 year old Spider-man fan managed to predict Lizard showing up at some point. A female villain would be a nice change of pace, might as well throw Black Cat into the mix.

    I'd avoid Carnage considering how much a mess Venom ended up being. Plot-wise the Spider-man films have been pretty flimsy, you might as well stick with the more human and relatable characters.
  • erik
    @BB3 I like the way you think. Bruce as Mysterio would in fact be EPIC.
  • Brandon
    I'm let down. #3 was devastatingly awful. I really wish they would start anew. They also really need to pursue a real effects company. The first one was obviously CG, the 2nd was a little better, but the 3rd seemed to regress (except for sandman's birth).

    They need a real Venom storyline. Carnage would be a bonus.
  • Christopher Marc
    I hope they kill Dunst's MJ off...and have a new actress play the clone...by the way, I was under the impression MJ was a model turned actress...Dunst either gets her teeth fixed or cast a good looking girl that doesn't look like a haggard aging hippie...sorry but she's not cute anymore

    does anyone else think the studio is going to be watching Raimi to make sure he sticks to the script? and doesn't make changes adding more singing and dancing gayness

    I was excited about the news of a fresh lead cast, too bad I guess...
  • Hunter Stephenson
    @ Pill

    FYI: My little six year old brother is autistic and he predicted Darkwing Duck for the villain in Spider-Man 4.
  • Christopher Marc
    Bruce as Mysterio makes more sense than the mechanic from "Wings" as Sandman who is the lamest villain ever..lol
  • edog
    I love the idea of Bruce Campbell as a villain. If not Mysterio, then perhaps Kraven the Hunter? Or Bencio Del Toro as Kraven? He was always one of my favorites Spidey villains.

    Or how about John Malkovich as the Vulture? He was shortlisted as the original Green Goblin. They could get pretty sick with the visuals.
  • jj gonzo
    I would like to see bruce be ...
    THE SHOCKER or THE SCORPION!!
    how about JESSICA BIEL as THE BLACK CAT???
    good move by SONY shooting back
    to back and bringing in sam and tobey!
    the only thing I ask is not to
    make spidey into a "DARK"
    hero ala DARK KNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • shelley
    personally i'll wait until someone from Sony makes an official announcment about this. a few months back it was rumored that names were being bounced around to replace maguire. then a rep for sony says NO WAY JOSE'! as far as whether they'll take a cue from the dark knight? it's really unfair to make that kind of comparison. i really can't say what the case was with that movie's popularity.

    *whether it was ppl's curiousity about heath ledger's performance,
    *they flocked to it because he died
    *audiences had a taste for something very dark and edgy,
    *or the film was really just that good.

    there are plenty of people who thought the dark knight was a bad film and a waste of their money. a lot of ppl thought it was TOO dark. who is to say that a "darker" spider-man is what EVERYONE wants to see? what may have worked for one film may not be what is needed in another. peter parker and bruce wayne are very different characters. since so many ppl bitch that the spider-man films strayed from the comics (and in some ways i don't know what comics these ppl are referring to) what sense would it make to make a spider-man film like the most recent batman film?
  • Mikey
    I'm excited because this is redemption for Sam Raimi.

    Sam knows fans didn't like Spider-Man 3, he's not an idiot and he's in touch with the fans.

    He absolutely loves the character and I feel like a long absence from the series will help him tremendously.
  • Guest
    I hope Tobey cries again.
  • starscream9289
    ii say

    HOBGOBLIN!!!!!!!!
  • charles
    I'll be quite funny to see if Batman 3 comes out the same summer. I wonder who would win.
  • A Better Class of Criminal
    Great.
    Let's hope Raimi learned his lesson from Spidey 3 and give him a chance.
    If he screws up the fourth one I'm giving up. But let's not forget how cool Spiderman 1 and 2 are.

    By the Way... Batman and Spiderman don't mix in any way or form.
  • John
    Venom is one of the worst Spider Man villains ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    the lizard would be a great villan both visually and storywise.
  • J Buuutlerr
    Safe to say this goes into the space in Raimi's schedule that he was holding open for The Hobbit?

    Heh
  • Bob
    I am glad. I have a feeling that raimi, maguire, and dunst learned from the epic failure (not moneywise, but fan wise) that was spider-man 3. I hope that this is good because even though I loved The Dark Knight, the original Spider-Man will always be the best superhero movie ever in my opinion.
  • Wall•E Plays Pong
    I loved Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, but 3 was surprisingly disappointing. Here's hoping that 4 will be everything I hoped 3 was going to be. I have faith that Raimi and crew can deliver another great film after doing so twice.

    Go Web Go!
  • Captain Awesome
    SM2 was the only decent film out of the lot. As for any new ones, eh.

    Raimi is too bubblegum sometimes even for something like this.
  • orange cinema
    @ henry jones jr

    holy shit man, i feel the EXACT same way as you about every single point you brought up. i totally agree that the magic between raimi, maguire, and dunst has carved a special place out within these films. it wouldn't be the same without all them together.

    as for all these 'calls for darkness'...spider-man is not batman, the way raimi is not nolan: this film should not and will not be 'ala TDK'. it'd be absurd and insulting to ask raimi to emulate nolan's directing or storytelling style just because this new take on batman is so awesome. raimi knows better, internet fanboys should know better, and lets hope sony knows better.

    one bonus is that vanderbilt tunred in the script long before TDK even came out, so that's the story that sold everyone - not an influenced cliched wannabe TDK story.
  • Matt
    whoa Captain Awesome time out! spider-man 1 and 2 were critically praised and they are beyond decent! sorry that this movie is not the dark knight but that doesn't mean its a shit franchise. at least spider-man is not rebooting like superman and hulk. it was just one bad sequel it doesn't mean the franchise is dead. one last thing, raimi is not bubblegum at all. clearly you have not seen any evil dead movies, look it up sometime
  • This should be very interesting. I loved Spider-Man 1 and 2 but didn't care for 3. I'm excited that they got Tobey to come back as well as Raimi, thank goodness for continuity in this franchise. At least they can close out the series like they should, with their main stars attached to the roles they started.
  • evilanimator
    Didn't Dr. Connors have an aquarium full of lizards or snakes in the background of one of the scenes in Spider-Man 3? I think it was when Peter was having that one girl make him cookies while he was on the phone with Dr. Connors who was going over what he learned about the symbiote.
  • Chris
    I will WATCH THEM ALL.

    Cuz I like part 3 anyway. If Dunst doesn't return, it wouldn't really bother me. I could go both ways.
  • Christopher Marc
    @Matt

    Cap has a point, Raimi has a habit of being cornball or even too goofy with his projects...when the man runs out of ideas he tends to mix comedy/add scenes that are filler (singing and dancing)...when this happens to often the film looses it's reality and characters aren't taken seriously...example "Brock/Venom": Brock was characterized as a weasel always laughing and cracking bad jokes...the comedy ruined the darkness of the villain and made him feel like Screech more than the character fans had grown up with...it also didn't help that Raimi went along with the studio on a villain he hated so it shows in the movie and then kind of pisses off fans.. then pretty much ruins the movie because the character felt like if he had been taken out of the script the movie would have worked fine..along with other edits

    I also have to agree with Cap on SM2, it's not like the first movie was bad...it just wasn't as entertaining as the second one...personal taste comes into play as well..
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