Spider-Man: 4 and 5?

Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 6th, 2008

According to The Hollywood Reporter, we may be seeing the fourth and fifth installments of Sony’s Columbia Picture’s top-grossing Spider-Man franchise sooner than we imagined.  Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi are close to locking in a deal so that production on the next two installments may start.  Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the screenplay penned by Jamie Vanderbilt (Zodiac).

The studio is considering filming both installments back-to-back beginning in fall 2009.  This approach will help contain costs explains the producers who’s modeling their plan similar to that of New Line’s filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which filmed simultaneously for 274 days.  The Spider-Man franchise has grossed $2.5 billion worldwide for Sony, its most successful movie franchise to date.  Ziskin revealed the studio is aiming for a May 2011 release for Spider-Man 4.

Additionally, Columbia has smothered any speculations regarding who will play Peter Parker’s character.  “The studio never considered any other actor.  Tobey was our only choice and the only person we’ve discussed the role with,” said Sony spokesman Steve Elzer.  No word yet on whether Kirsten Dunst will reprise her role as Mary Jane Watson yet though.

In related news, Sony will be developing Venom, a spinoff feature of Spider-Man.  Jacob Estes was first recruited to draft the script and recently Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the scribes of Zombieland was brought in.  Topher Grace played the villian in Spider-Man 3 but casting is still to be determined at this point.