John Malkovich is the latest name to get dropped into the boiling cauldron of bizarre innuendo and wishful thinking that is the Spider-Man 4 rumor mill. These stories just get wackier and wackier to a point where I'm sure we'll soon be thinking that Spidey will be taking on a team of Carnage, Hydro-Man, The Kangaroo, and the bitter ghost of Uncle Ben in an epic four-on-one battle on the tip of the Empire State Building.

Movieline is reporting that none other than respected actor, Malkovich is in negotiations to play top tier Spider-Man villain, The Vulture. (Okay, maybe the lamest of the top tier, but top tier, nonetheless.) He would be taking on the role of Adrian Toomes, an aged businessman who develops a flight harness and suit which not only allows him to fly, but gives him enhanced strength, and supposedly enhances his lifespan. (Not too sure about that last one, though.)

Oh wait, that's not even the best part! Remember the rumor about Anne Hathaway being in negotiations for a role in the film? (Which everyone assumed would be The Black Cat.) Well, according to this rumor, she is still on board to play Spidey's romance/nemesis, Felicia Hardy (Black Cat's alias.) However, Felicia's alter-ego will be a NEW character altogether. Enter The Vulturess! Not even the slightest detail about the character has been revealed, but apparently, this is the character Anne Hathaway will portray.

I suppose we could speculate that, similar to The Black Cat's origin where her father was a famous cat burglar whose footsteps she followed, the same might apply in this scenario. Malkovich's Toomes may be Felicia's father who influences her to become a female version of...whatever the hell he was supposed to have been.

Oh, but what about The Lizard? He's been teased for a few films at this point. Dylan Baker who played Curt Connors/The Lizard has indeed signed on to the film and it should be a lock, right? "Sorry, maybe next time." Apparently the studio bigwigs are not comfortable with villains lacking a "human face." Also, the idea of not having another big name to go up on that marquee next to Tobey Maguire could also not be to their liking. I'm sure fans will totally understand, right? Who needs GOOD villains anyway? /sarcasm

Even if the odd concept about Hathaway as "Vulturess" is false, this still just seems wrong. While the character of The Vulture would likely have a reinvention in looks and origin from the "Frank Perdue in green S&M gear" of the original comic look, it just comes across as pretty lame that The Vulture would seriously be the best they could conjure.

Whatever. It's a Spider-Man 4 rumor, so I wouldn't put too much into its validity.

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