I like a studio that learns from it’s mistakes. SPIDEY 4 & 5 back-to-back?
Spider-Man 3 wasn’t so far terrible that the series involving our web slinging superhero is not unsalvagable just yet and if today’s news scoop from Cinematical is anything to go by then it’s early signs that Sony/Columbia have learnt from their mistakes.
After over-indulging at least two or maybe three films worth of story and plot in the last Spidey flick, the new series screenwriter James Vanderbilit (Zodiac, Basic) has wisely last week turned in a two film storyline arc to the studio for Spider-Man 4 which can be shot back to back with Spider-Man 5. It’s a move that has no doubt delighted Sony and Columbia because of course it means one extra movie and twice the cash for the small work of shooting back to back.
And when Spider-Man 3 made $890 million worldwide - you are talking about a move which will eventually see you earn nearly another $1 billion.
There’s of course another big factor which is beneficial by this move. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst aren’t getting any younger, Peter Parker is not quite like Bruce Wayne… there’s only so long that Maguire can go around convincing us he’s still a young man. Shooting these films back to back mean you have two more movies whilst Maguire is still young.
Of course we should point out that at this stage it’s all just in the negotiations stage. As is the involvement of director Sam Raimi, who won’t commit until he has read the script and is assured of 100% full control this time.
Any ideas on what the story arc could be? I would think we have to see The Lizard this time around and Dr. Curt Connors slow transformation could be something that slowly explored could work out well (think Two-Face). I’ve already put my hat in the ring believing the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline would be pretty spectacular on film.
Another idea I’ve quite liked is using Bruce Campbell for Mysterio and possibly incorporating the Sinister Six somehow - though at this point I will settle for a film that doesn’t go heavy handed on the Peter Parker/Mary Jane Watson relationship.
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This is fabulous news! (Waits for inevitable carping on Spidey 3) Whatever. It’s still one of the best superhero trilogies ever made and I can’t wait for it. Shooting back-to-back saves a lot of money, but still leaves the films looking as polished and expensive as stand alones.
Comment by Hellen | May 16, 2008
Is this Marvel’s doing perhaps? After Iron Man are they flexing their muscles? Sure hope so. Spidey is the ONLY thing Columbia has oging for it. Pretty sad, actually. Let’s face it, without Spider-Man Columbia would probably have shut down, –or had to sell itself–years ago.
Somebody there must realize they’d better get their act together or Marvel will snatch Spidey back — Good for them.
Comment by JaySmack | May 17, 2008
Now that the James Franco character is was killed, that means there’s a good chance to give the next villain some space to develop … something that didn’t happened in Spidey 3. The Lizard is a most … and what about Carnage?
Comment by JAM | May 17, 2008
No more villains kidnapping the love of Peter’s life anymore, please.
And no Venom solo film too, please.
Comment by Lencho | May 17, 2008
As much as I wanted to see Venom get a lot of screen time, they really should have stretched Eddie’s hated more than just a few scenes, like introduce him in spider-man 2? It’s not the number of villains that’s the big problem here, its the way they present them.
For instance, have conners transform into the lizard like once and run a little muck and have Venom go Ape Shit on the town. Then Kraven sees this as a good Hunt. Peter helps conners with his lizard problem. Venom and Kraven go at it, SPider-man interferes pissing off Kraven. Now there’s a three for all! Last battle, Lizard COmes back = FOur for all! (but not like the 2 on 2 in the last movie) Kraven HUrts or kills Lizard, Venom is BLown away by spidey and Kraven, Kraven is hurt and retreats. At the end we see Venom spawn out Carnage.
Umm some cool shit happens in the next one , Kraven Burries SPidey alive like the comics, But in a battle between Kraven and Venom, Venom tries to tell kraven and Carnage and Carnage kills Kraven, Lizard unburries pete, And Lizard and Venom go at it, and liazrd dies herioc death.
See right off the top of my head.
Comment by madhatt3r | May 18, 2008