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Sam Raimi going ‘back to basics’ with Spider-Man 4, talks 5 & 6

Liam — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:14:43 +0000

Sam Raimi has been interviewed quite a lot recently and earlier this week he was talking about possible villains for Spider-Man 4. Today Coventry Blog have a quote from him saying that he agrees that there were too many villains in Spider-Man 3, and that he learned ‘limitations’ while filming Drag Me To Hell which he hopes to bring to Spider-Man 4:

Asked about complaints that there were too many villains in Spider-Man 3, he said: “I think having so many villains detracted from the experience. I would agree with the criticism.”
Raimi added that he had learned some new lessons and storytelling tricks from his last film, Drag Me to Hell. “I think I’ve learned about the importance of getting to the point and the importance of having limitations, and I’m hoping to take that into a production where I’m actually allowed to explore with more of the tools to pull it off with a little more splendor.
“I hope I don’t lose that edge that I’ve just found. That would be my approach to ‘Spider-Man 4′: to get back to the basics.”

Raimi was also asked by MTV whether he would return to direct Spider-Man 5 and 6 which are currently being written by James Vanderbilt:

“Every time I make one of the ‘Spider-Man’ movies, I have to ask myself, is the character still intriguing to me?” Raimi told MTV News. “Do I love the character? Am I dying to tell the next story of Peter Parker and Spider-Man?”
“And so far the answer has been yes,” he said.
“If ever I feel sated, like I’ve got no more to say or I’m not really super-excited about it,” Raimi continued, “because I know I’ll also love it, but I’ve got to be super-excited about it. If I can’t reach that level of commitment and excitement, I think then there’d be somebody else better to do justice to the story.”
“You have to ask me in two-and-half years,” he laughed.

If Raimi decides to return in a few years there is always the question of whether Tobey Maguire will. Does he want to make 6 Spider-Man movies? If not there has been talk that 5 and 6 would reboot the franchise and another actor would come on-board as Peter Parker. They’ll have to wait a few years though as I don’t think the audience will be willing to accept a new Spider-Man that quickly.

James Vanderbilt to write Spider-Man 5 & 6

Liam — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:27:24 +0000

Sony haven’t got a Spider-Man 4 script worthy of shooting yet, but that hasn’t stopped them from hiring James Vanderbilt to write the scripts for Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6. Vanderbilt wrote the first draft for Spider-Man 4, and then David Lindsay-Abaire was brought on board to do a rewrite, and now Gary Ross doing a rewriting of that.

From Variety:

Raimi didn’t embrace all of Vanderbilt’s ideas, but execs at Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios have. Vanderbilt has been hired to pen the fifth and sixth movies, which have an interconnected storyline. That’s what was originally discussed when Vanderbilt signed on to write “Spider-Man 4,” but the idea of shooting a fourth and fifth film back to back with the original cast was scrapped.
Sources said it was unclear whether Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will be back. If they aren’t, Vanderbilt’s script would be the blueprint for a franchise reboot. After committing to his fourth “Spider-Man” film, Raimi signed on to direct a new franchise based on the massively multiplayer role-playing online computer game “World of Warcraft” for Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Maguire and Dunst were locked into the first three pictures and made a new deal for “Spider-Man 4.” It’s unclear how long they want to continue with the series.

Spider-Man 4 starts filming next year for a May 2011 release, and if it ends up as good as Spider-Man 2 and makes gazillions like the previous films then why the hell not make a Spider-Man 5? However, if 5 is a reboot they’ll have to wait a few years before giving it too us. We accepted Hulk because the first one wasn’t all that, but Spider-Man is a tad more popular and rebooting that universe won’t be as easy.

Sam Raimi Talks Kirsten Dunst, The Lizard And Back To Back Filming

Liam — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:44:53 +0000

Spider-Man trilogy director Sam Raimi recently spoke to MTV and gave us an update on where Spider-Man 4 is, who will be back and where they are headed.

On Kirsten Dunst returning:

“Kirsten, I’d love to work with her again,” Raimi explained to us this week, making it sound as if current plans to include Dunst for “Spider-Man 4” and “Spider-Man 5” are still up in the air, despite recent statements that she wants to remain with the franchise. “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.”

On when things may get started:

“I’m really excited about Spider-Man, and I’m hoping to direct it,” he cautioned. “I don’t have a script yet, but production would start probably by March of 2010, I’m guessing. It sounds like a long time away, but we need a script first, and a lot of pre-production has to take place.”

On the possibility of filming Spider-Man 4 and 5 back to back:

“It would be a real endurance test, probably only Peter Jackson knows how hard something like that would be,” he marveled, hinting that “4” and “5” would be very closely linked in storyline. “If Tobey and me, and all the producers, like the story for two pictures and wanted to do it, then we would do it. It just hasn’t been written yet.”

And finally, on the possibility of Dylan Baker becoming The Lizard and the next villain:

“He’s a great actor, and I think one day The Lizard’s story will be told,” he teased, referring to Baker’s Curt Connors character. “I don’t know if it will be this one or not. I just don’t know. I’m definitely hoping to work with Dylan in the picture. I just don’t know who the villain is yet.”

Tobey Maguire Is Currently Webjeculating Everywhere

Liam — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:50:58 +0000

According to The Sunday Times Tobey Maguire is expected to earn a record $50 million to shoot Spider-Man 4 and 5 back-to-back over six months next year. Not only that, he will also get profit shares from the two films and will take early mornings and evenings off so he can take care of his 22 months old daughter.

If this turns out to be true Maguire will be getting paid a heck of a lot for putting in half-days at work, which is probably the best job in the world. Wake up, play with your daughter. Go off and be Spider-Man for a couple of hours and then come back to see your daughter again. All the while money can’t slide into your bank account fast enough.

The Sunday Times also say:

In the next few days Sony is expected to reveal whether Maguire’s ex-girlfriend Kirsten Dunst will be returning as his on-screen love interest, Mary Jane Watson. Dunst, 26, has recently talked about a struggle with clinical depression.

It seems Sony are busy at work getting the returning cast sorted. If everyone does come back I would be happy, as I am quite excited for more Spider-Man films. Why stick at a trilogy when there are more stories to be told and lots more money to be made?

Sam Raimi And Tobey Maguire Officially Back For Spider-Man 4?

Liam — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:25:14 +0000

According to Deadline Hollywood both Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire will be back for Spider-Man 4.

I’m told that both star Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi will be returning to make Zodiac screenwriter Jamie Vanderbilt’s script of Spider-Man 4.
There’s no deal yet for Kirsten Dunst but Mary Jane Watson will be in the movie again. I’m told Sony “would never recast her” despite her rehab problems.

They also say that Sony are trying to figure out whether they can shoot Spider-Man 4 and 5 back to back, and we also have our first hint at which villain may be appearing.

I’m also told that, right now, the studio is trying to figure out if it can feasibly shoot Spider-Man 4 and 5 at the same time because doing that is so cost effective and “it wasn’t so easy to get everybody back together”.
I am told that “once you find out who the villain is, you’ll know who’s playing it.” That should lead to speculation that Dylan Baker’s character of Dr. Curt Connors will ultimately turn into The Lizard as he did in the comic books.

Even though Spider-Man 3 didn’t live up to expectations, I am glad more movies are in the works. If Deadline Hollywood are right and Raimi and Tobey are returning then that is a good thing in my book. I’m not sure I couldn’t image someone else playing Spider-Man at this point in time.

Would you prefer Tobey and friends to return or would you prefer a total recast?

Spider-Man 4 and 5 Shooting At The Same Time?

Liam — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:51:00 +0000

Cinematical got a rather interesting scoop from a source who says that Spiderman 4 and 5 may end up being filmed at the same time.

Apparently, in the last few weeks, James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) has turned in a working draft of Spider-Man 4 to the studio. However, according to our source, “his 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.” Don’t expect anything immediately, though, since we’ve been told both sides are still trying to negotiate the deal.

This is quite exciting if true. No word on whether the fabulous three will return, Tobey, Kirsten and director Sam Raimi. Having completed the trilogy they may want to move on, however at this point in time I can’t image anyone else playing Spiderman.

What are your thoughts on this?