Sony Kills ‘Spider-Man 4′, Reboots Franchise
Posted on: January 11, 201023 comments so far (is that a lot?)
Wow. Wasn’t expecting that. Nikki Finke and Mike Fleming are reporting that Sam Raimi and Sony had a big meeting today that ended with Raimi saying he couldn’t meet the release date and move forward creatively. So Sony said screw it and decided to start over from scratch, effectively ending Spider-Man 4. Here’s the official press release:
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.”
Be careful what you wish for? At least we won’t have to suffer through that whole Vulture nonsense. Here’s hoping a new director can steer clear of the studio politics and breathe new life into a dying franchise. I’m also hoping we don’t have to sit through another origin story. In fact, let’s just pretend the third movie didn’t happen and give that one a do-over. The script is being handled by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Losers) who worked on Spidey 4 before Gary Ross and Alvin Sargent took a pass at the project. Sony is still committing themselves to a June/July 2012 release.
Who would you like to see reboot the franchise, perhaps as The Amazing Spider-Man? Who would you like to see as the villain?
-Brian
Source: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43595
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January 12th, 2010 at 12:30 AM
I see it as both. Good news in that Raimi now has pick of what projects he can do without major studio interference (Spider-Man 3). Bad in that the Spider-Man franchise could end up becoming the new Terminator-franchise.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:49 AM
You take Venom out (the 10 or so minutes he's actually in it) and Spider-Man 3 is still a bad movie. His arc doesn't drastically change the film's focus or anything. Venom's involvement was the equivalent of Bryce Dallas Howard's role — if you cut it out of the movie, you wouldn't be missing a single thing. Raimi is an overrated director living on his cult status.
Brian
January 12th, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Well, that's true but it wasn't just the Venom thing which the studio interfered on. It was just the most glaring bit since, like you said, he was in it for what could be more like a cameo. Raimi had the wedding arc from the second film he wanted to continue onto the third, but many rewrites ended up changing that.
As for Raimi being overrated (a word hard to like since its too subjective) he has made some very quality films outside of the genre pictures. A Simple Plan was one of the least appreaciated films of the 90's. If he hadn't been picked to do Spider-Man I have a feeling he would've continued on a similar path.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:15 AM
I just don't like his style of directing. I didn't like Drag Me To Hell at all. Thought it was overkill.
Brian
January 12th, 2010 at 1:32 AM
I totally agree. Drag Me To Hell should've dragged itself to hell.
As far as the Spider-Man I think a fresh start is exactly what it needs, though I do agree with @ThinkHero…that we don't need to see the story start from scratch again.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:44 AM
A Simple Plan was an amazing movie.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:55 AM
Raimi's style is an acquired taste. But then I grew up on his earlier films and the slapstick gore
January 12th, 2010 at 2:02 AM
While I agree with not starting from scratch, that was actually Brian AKA @Fuelbot that wrote the article.
Dennis
January 12th, 2010 at 2:10 AM
omg how did i miss that. HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO says it right at the end. Sorry Brian! #readingfail
January 12th, 2010 at 2:22 AM
I love Evil Dead. Never saw Evil Dead 2. Can't stand Army Of Darkness. The first two Spider-Man films are great for what they are, but I think he's still aiming his films at kids from an older generation of Spider-Man comics he loves while the audience has grown up and wants something a little more intense.
January 12th, 2010 at 3:06 AM
In spite of the tremendous dissapointment that was "Spiderman 3," it would have been nice to see Raimi have another go at the franchise. He must have learned his mistakes from the third one, but the studio clearly has not. It sounds like it will all be dumbed down when they make the next one now. Shame.
January 12th, 2010 at 3:50 AM
I'm not sure that the films are geared towards kids. I do think he prefers the classic stories which I also believe to be better than the more modern take on Spider-Man. I mean the Silver Age and 70's stories don't include constant retcons (one thing I didn't like about the third film was the Sandman retcon) of characters thought to be dead. Or even creating characters out of the blue to explain cloning, time travel etc…
January 12th, 2010 at 3:51 AM
It's really all about Sony trying to keep the license to the franchise now than anything else. If they don't make Spider-Man 4 within a specific time frame the rights revert back to Marvel/Disney. I'm sure the parent company would love getting their signiture franchise chracter back into the fold.
January 12th, 2010 at 4:21 AM
I'm not saying he has to include all the fantastical stuff, but it'd be nice to see a villain that's not in his fifties.
Brian
January 12th, 2010 at 4:46 AM
I think Lizard is the one most want to see who are the long-time fans of the title. Other than Lizard then Kraven the Hunter would've been a good back-up.
January 12th, 2010 at 5:22 AM
Everyone keeps saying that. I never liked Kraven.
Brian
January 12th, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Especially one so high profile and one that makes so much money.
Spider-Man along with Superman and Batman are the 3 most recognizable super heroes in the world.
Dennis
January 12th, 2010 at 7:03 PM
Wow, dreams really do come true. I dispiiised Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, and as much as I liked Spider-Man 1, they could have done way better. His origin story is awesome, I always hated how they changed it, and took Gwen out, and changed Ben's death story like 10 times, then made Mary-Jane his only love interest, beside a bit of flirting with Gwen.
That being said, I hope they do it right. And the best way to do things right would be… for Disney to buy back the Spider-Man movie rights. I've been saying it for X-Men too; they keep getting worse and worse, they need to be given back to Marvel. And now that Marvel has deep-Disney-pockets, I hope they're considering it. Spider-Man and X-Men are their like, figure heads. It's cool they're branching out with Iron Man, Cap and Thor, but, I still would like to see their poster boy back, and being done right. That way they can mesh together with the other Marvel movies. \\o_o/ Because.. we need some Osborn villany in the Avengers movie. xD Or Dr.Doom. I miss Doom.
Anyway. This has all probably been said, but above all else, I really hope Marvel is at least considering buying back the franchise. If not, this is still good news. :3 I hope they do Spider-Man proud with the reboot, he's such a wicked character in the comics. In the movies, he's cool, but they really missed out on their whole, witty, one liner personality he's sort of known for in the comics. Like, I love New Avengers and stuff just for Spider-Man. It just sucks how they didn't portray him as the same character. Alas, I'm ranting. I'll stop. xD Good news though!
January 12th, 2010 at 9:06 PM
I would love to see Marvel get the rights back to both Spider Man and X-Men however the chances of that happening anytime soon is highly unlikely. The amount of money Sony and FOX make from both franchises means you have to pry the properties from their cold dead hands. They're willing to release a crappy movie in order to keep up their contract with Marvel just to hold onto the licensing rights.
Dennis
January 12th, 2010 at 9:58 PM
With the now Disney influence there is no guarantee taking it back into the fold would equal a better film. Disney has a pension for control. We have yet to see how Disney handles Marvel and it's properties.
Like others I'm excited to see what the reboot would bring, after the first Spider Man movie it seemed to slowly decline following Batman, cheesy characters and additional "bad guys" with no story.
Sam Rami has made good films in the past, and with the political landscape that Studio's represent I doubt it easy for him to create the film he wishes. For the Studio's it's about milking the cow for every-drop. Regardless, a time limit has been established, lets just hope the rush to get the film made doesn't end in another crappy Spider Man film.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:32 PM
But with Marvel/Disney buying it (IF they buy it. No garentee or even hint that they will, but IF they did), it would almost certainly be a better movie, because it would be in the guys at Marvel's trustworthy hands.
Disney already said they were keeping their hands out of Marvel productions, except to fund it, basically, and they take the profits, but while still funding the heck out of Marvel. xD That's a very dumbed down explanation of the Disney/Marvel relationship, but, still. They always said.. if it isn't broke, don't fix it. So, if the rights for Spider-Man/X-Men went back to Disney/Marvel, it would be a Marvel made movie. So, the people who made Iron Man and Incredible Hulk. They do a really good job because it's like.. their baby. xD FOX and stuff just spit out movies for the money. I mean, Marvel does it for money too, but they care more about the characters. :3
Anyway, that's just my rant on your first comment, Nick. xD
January 12th, 2010 at 11:41 PM
How about instead of another remake/reboot/reimagining/sequel they make something NEW? If they want to base it on something, there is a ton of source material that has not been filmed yet. Thanks to Avatar there isn’t a single SF book that I can’t imagine becoming a movie now! If they want to stick to comics, there is plenty of material there too. Spider-Man is my favorite comic book hero but enough already.
January 14th, 2010 at 3:50 AM
I believe the consensus is that if they do go back to high school, it should simply pick up with him as Spider-Man already. No one wants to sit through an origin story again.
Brian