Public Enemies - What Did You Think?
Spider-Man 4 To Feature New York City Centric Villain
Posted on Saturday, June 6th, 2009 by Brendon Connelly
New York Post blogger Reed Tucker has been speaking to producer Todd Black. Their chat was ostensibly about Tony Scott’s The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 rehash though Tucker valiantly swung in with a few Spider-Man 4 questions too. Black gamely discussed the involvement of Kirsten Dunst, the villain they have in mind for the movie (what? only one?), and the rumoured wedding between Peter Parker and MJ. But what did he reveal? It’s all coming up, right after this break…
Sam Raimi Has Something to Prove with Spider-Man 4, Hopes to Begin Shooting in February
Posted on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Sam Raimi has been doing press for his new horror film Drag Me To Hell, which means we’ve been getting some small updates on Spider-Man 4. The director says that he’s looking to prove himself after the well criticized Spider-Man 3 mistakes.
Sam Raimi Talks Spider-Man 4 and Evil Dead Remake
Posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Sam Raimi is at SXSW showing off an early cut of his new horror film Drag Me To Hell. While doing press, Raimi gave updates on Spider-Man 4 and the future of the Evil Dead franchise.
Pulitzer Prize-Winner David Lindsay-Abaire to Write Spider-Man 4
Posted on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Sony is in final talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire to write Spider-Man 4. It’s unclear if Lindsay is doing an entirely new take on the material, or if he’s rewriting James Vanderbilt’s recent draft. THR claims that director Sam Raimi and stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are all expected the return for the fourth film. As expected, plot details are non existent at this point.
Most of Lindsay-Abaire’s plays center around “outsiders in search of clarity”, a view of life which no doubt formed while being a lower-class student in the prestigious boarding school. Lindsay-Abaire is known for his character work, which might mean that Sony is trying to address the problems of the third film.
The bad news is that Lindsay-Abaire has writing credits on two screenplays, Robots and Inkheart, neither of which would be considered great scripts. Lindsay-Abaire’s 2006 Broadway stage production of Rabbit Hole starred Cynthia Nixon and Tyne Daly. David also recently wrote the lyrics for Shrek The Musical. The hire of a pulitzer prize-winning writer is nothing new for the Spdier-Man series, as one of the writers on Spider-Man 2 was Michael Chabon, another Pulitzer winner.
Sam Raimi Knows Nothing About Spider-Man 4; But Talks About It Anyway
Posted on Friday, October 17th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
A couple weeks ago, Kirsten Dunst told MTV she’s “in” for Spider-Man 4. That was only two split seconds before she denied her casting confirmation (“I’m not saying anything, I know there’s rumors…”). So which is it? Will Dunst be reprising her role as Mary Jane in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel double shoot? Director Sam Raimi tells Splashpage, “I’d love to work with her again. I hope she’ll be written into it. I couldn’t imagine making one without her, and I think she’s an important part of the movies.” If Dunst has signed a contract, nobody has told Raimi.
And for the villain? Raimi teases that “one day The Lizard’s story will be told,” but is unsure of “if it will be this [film] of not.”
And wasn’t the script supposed to be done a month or two ago? Sam sounds like he hasn’t even glanced at it. Raimi claims that he “doesn’t have a script yet” but if he were to return as a director, production would probably star “by March of 2010″. I can maybe believe that Raimi has yet to red a draft of a script, but his claim that “I just don’t know who the villain is yet” is almost beyond unbelievable. Raimi previously admitted to having gone over a story outline for the fourth film with screenwriter James Vanderbilt. Sure, things could always change, but I’m sure a villain is pretty much decided.
Kirsten Dunst Says She’s “In” For Spider-Man 4
Posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
When MTV asked Kirsten Dunst if she would be returning for Spider-Man 4, the actress responded “I’m in.” Which sounds like a done deal if you ask me. But when pressed if she officially signed on to return, the actress changed her tone, “I’m not saying anything, I know there’s rumors…”
This is certainly a change in tone from last year when Dunst was expressing disinterest in returning for more sequels, insisting she wouldn’t even consider the possibility if Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire weren’t involved. “Audiences aren’t stupid. It’d be a big flop without me, Tobey, or Sam,” Dunst told EW. But I guess its now sounding more and more like both Tobey and Sam will also return, and that two sequels will be shot back to back. If I were Raimi, I would kill Mary Jane off in a Empire Strikes Back type cliffhanger.
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.”
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?
Rumor: Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 to Film Back-to-Back
Posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
Today, a scoop is circulating via Cinematical that possibly spells the fate of the lucrative Spider-Man franchise. It was already known that screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Rundown) was working on the script for Spider-Man 4, but apparently he’s turned in a draft to Sony/Columbia that allows a Spider-Man 5 to be shot simultaneously. According to the “super delegate Hollywood insider” tipster…
“[Vanderbilt's] story arc has encompassed two films, making Spider-Man 5 shootable at the same time. The studio saw dollar signs and is in the process of reworking his deal to snatch up the story arc.”
Not much else was dished at this time, but if true, this is obviously a major development for the series. Would Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Raimi be up to shooting two Spidey flicks back to back? Only their bank accounts can probably answer that one, but in the meantime, what do you think the future holds as far as talent and continuation with the prior three flicks? More on this as it develops…
Discuss: After the busy and dizzying kitchen sink that was Spider-Man 3, is a juggling act with Spider-Man 4 and 5 the way to go?Â
Kirsten Dunst in Talks to Star in All Good Things With Ryan Gosling
Posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
Ready for some Dunst? Rocker-doting actress Kirsten Dunst is in serious talks to star alongside Ryan Gosling in All Good Things, the feature film debut from Capturing the Friedmans director Andrew Jarecki. Variety reports that Dunst would play a waif from the fable-staple “wrong side of the tracks,” with Gosling as a “scion of a New York real estate dynasty.” They fall for each other, but then Dunst goes missing. Conspiracies! A loner detective (yet to be cast)! Rising political stakes. It starts raining dead people! Oh, and it takes place during the ’80s. [air horn]
Raise your hand if you think this is a comedy. You must not have caught Capturing the Friedmans, which is the only aspect of this movie that glimmers around my short attention span like Bo Derek’s water particles in 10, only more macabrely. Maybe if Dunst was the Big Apple scion and Gosling reverted back to his non-Communist habits in Half Nelson…that might work. She could still go missing. Would he look for her, or call a prolonged T.O. and enjoy multiple condotels? All Good Things starts shooting in April.
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People Movie Trailer
Posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 by Peter Sciretta
Based on the bestselling memoir by Toby Young, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People follows a disillusioned British intellectual named Sidney Young (Simon Pegg) who both adores and despises the world of celebrity, fame and glamour. Young is offered a job at the diametrically opposed conservative New York City based Sharps magazine, and he soon becomes the talk of the town. Thus begins Sidney’s descent into success - his gradual move from derided outsider to confidante of starlet Sophie Maes (Megan Fox) - and a love affair with colleague Alison Olsen (Kirsten Dunst), that will either make him or break him.
At 48 seconds in length, the trailer is more of a teaser than anything else. I think I’ll need to see a full theatrical trailer before making any judgements. However, I plan on seeing any movie starring Simon Pegg. Plus his supporting cast is hot… I mean, also good.
The title of the book (and movie) is an obvious parody of Dale Carnegie’s bestseller, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Directed by Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm), the movie also stars Jeff Bridges and Gillian Anderson.
Check out the movie trailer below.
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People hits theaters on October 3rd 2008.
source: TheSun
Kirsten Dunst Needs to Learn that EVERYONE is Replaceable
Posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 by Peter Sciretta
It’s a lesson that everyone learns when they enter the job world. They usually learn the lesson at their first retail job, like I did.
Everyone is replaceable. Someone else is very capable of doing your job.
People refuse to believe this is still true when you get up to the top. But look at what’s going on at Viacom recently. There is always someone waiting in the wing to be promoted. And yet it’s still a reality when you get up to the level of a Peter Jackson. Months ago everyone was up in arms over Robert Shaye’s decision to go ahead with The Hobbit without Jackson, due to a financial feud. Fans signed petitions, and everyone wanted blood. Jackson was the only guy to do it! He did the Lord of the Rings Films. He needed to do The Hobbit. It’s funny how time changes everything. A few months later Sam Raimi makes a comment about how he’d love to helm the project, and all the fanboys go nuts. I’m sure if Raimi were to make The Hobbit, it would make just as much money as it would under Jackson’s direction. Even Jackson is replaceable.
But Kirsten Dunst must think really highly of herself.
“Audiences aren’t stupid. It’d be a big flop without me, Tobey, or Sam,” Dunst told EW.
Is she insane? She above everyone else is very replaceable. Did you know that Jake Gyllenhaal was lined up to play Spider-Man in the second film. Tobey Maguire’s participation was in doubt at one point because he was suffering severe back pains, and the film had already begun preparation with Jake. Tobey is replaceable. I love Sam Raimi. I love his work, his style. I’m not saying that someone would be able to out do him. But I’m sure if for some reason he does not sign on for another three years of his life for a Spider-Man 4, someone else will. And that director will most likely be capible of turning out a good movie. Most audience members would not even notice the change.
I’m also not claiming that it would be an easy task. Audiences already relate the character of Mary Jane with Kirsten Dunst. But look at the case of Richard Harris, who played Dumbledore in the first Harry Potter films before he passed away. Harris will be missed indeed. But if there is money to be made in Hollywood, the production must go on. They hired Michael Gambon to take over the role, and I double much of the audience even noticed.
So the lesson of the day is:
Everyone is replaceable. Someone else is very capable of doing your job.
Kirsten, we love you, but please learn this. You obviously bypassed this important life lesson due to your acting career. You probably never had to work the typical teenage retail job that everyone else had to.
