Could Spider-Man 4 be in trouble already?
Besides being the leading source in bat-s**t crazy rumors, the film has also gained a reputation for an apparent lack of direction. Well, that may have already been its undoing. According to an exclusive report from IESB (via an inside source) the production of Spider-Man 4 has been put on hold -- indefinitely. The claim is that on last Thursday (December 10) several department heads were notified of the abrupt halt. The reason? As IESB states:
"(T)here are some major issues director Sam Raimi is dealing with that include an incomplete script. And why is the script incomplete? Looks like Raimi and the studio heads at Sony Pictures can't agree upon a villain for the film.
Raimi is pushing hard for the Vulture to be the big baddie, something he also pushed for in the third film to star alongside the Sandman but didn't get and we all know how that one turned out. Vulture was to do his evil deeds alongside the new Goblin and Sandman. A single concept art sketch can be seen in "The Art of Spider-Man 3" book. Vulture and Flint Marko would have been cellmates who escaped together, with Vulture pressuring the more passive Marko into committing crimes."
While it may be making the proverbial mountain out of a molehill, there's certainly a ring of truth to this rumor. It is also supported, in part, by the recent Vulture rumor, so this one might not be easily dismissed without official word.
It appears that the remnants of the Spider-Man 3 that Sam Raimi WANTED to make has been guiding his direction for Spider-Man 4. IESB also adds that the studio only seems to be interested in casting a villain who is selling comics right now. With that, you can get a pretty good idea as to what has been driving this conflict between Raimi and Paramount. Of course, we know that Raimi would be forced by the studio, kicking and screaming, to place Venom into the previous film. His own lack of enthusiasm or familiarity with the character (and probably a little resentment) resulted in...well, you know. **Wipes tear.**
It seems now that Raimi finds himself in that same position with Spider-Man 4. This time however, he does not want to capitulate, which may be a testament to his not wanting to repeat the same mistake. Regardless, you can bet that the studio is counting-down the days until they won't have to work with him again. In fact, IESB's source claims that the negotiations have become especially heated, as several people within the production are reportedly very "pissed off".
What do you think of this debacle? Is it true? If so, could it have the potential to scrap this would-be blockbuster?
Source: IESB
Comments
Displaying 1–13 of 13
SonicATL
No more Spider-man movies that suck? YES! I got my Christmas early this year.
wilddean
3 wasnt bad but Venom definitely did not live up to his comic book status. I can remember the original intro of Venom in 298 and the run for the next 30 issues. I can understand Raimi's non-commital attitude and lackluster approach but I can't understand the lack of profesionalism. If you he had a prob with Venom then go to McFarlane and get input. As for 4 let Raimi take another stab at it see if he can recapture his passion for the films. We don't need a current villain (most of the current ones anywhoo are revamps of Lee's, Kirby's and Ditko's creations) minus a few. YEah some people will jump on me for that one.
HOwever a relaunch is not needed I am opposed to these as u are throwing away a decent amount of souirce material that fans can go back to and reference and revenue generators as new fans will want to see the old films and figure out what happened. Lucas anyone.
Call Stan, or Todd and let them give an educated input or any other writer who has put more than 2 years into spidey (Bemdis anyone). Raimi is known for Evil Dead he's doing good with Spidey but he's not the end all be all source for the films. I would love to walk up to LUcas and say the same thing. YEah its your creation (ie Star Wars but everybody loved Empire which newsflash-Lucas didn't direct). AS a writer I can say i want no part in directing any movies based on my works-I wouldn't mind being allowed to have input but full control nope. There are things that a director not involved in the creation may see that I don't and he will have a better idea of how to convey that image to the audience.
The point of that sidebar--no clue but hey it got you to read.
Z
tekhead73
this is what i thought......
from comingsoon.net
Spider-Man 4
Release Date: May 5, 2011 (conventional and IMAX theaters)
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Director: Sam Raimi
Screenwriter: Gary Ross, David Lindsay-Abaire, James Vanderbilt
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Dylan Baker
tekhead73
hmm..... wait a minute.....Paramount ??????
I must have been under a rock for the past few months!
Sony done the first Trilogy I mean PS3 font and everything!?
So if Spidey moved from Sony ...Why Oh Why is it at Paramount
instead of Marvel Films or the Mouse House.
BONERJAM
If the studio wont let Raimi do his thing he should just walk away and start doing some more great horror/comedy films, you know the reason we all started to love him to begin with.
babyscottback
Yeah it was pretty bad for having the best villain in it. All the emo drama was annoying and very childish.
The Emperor's Champion
I wish Paramount would STFU and let Raimi do it his way. The man knows what he's doing.
brawler1
part 3 did't suck that bad
brawler1
part 3 didn't suck
Hallowethe
http://www.superherohype.com/n ews/spider-mannews.php?id=8930
The reports in the IESB story are UNTRUE. They're just stopping for the holidays.
And why are so many people SO unbelievably cynical about this franchise? I mean it's absolutely ridiculous. It's getting out-of-hand and genuinely unwarranted. Spider-Man 1 and 2 were fantastic, amazing movies...but no one seems to remember them because Spider-Man 3 was the most recent movie to be released. Negative opinions on that ONE MOVIE by a few influenced others, and that spread like wildfire, and still does. It was ONE MOVIE, and the movie itself wasn't even THAT bad. Sure, it was absolutely, under no circumstances, up-to-par with the previous two, but seriously, it wasn't the worst piece of cinema ever conceived.
Give them a break, please. I'm sorry, rant's over now...the relentless cynicism of some people just makes me angry...
FacePhoenix
They need to give this franchise a rest. No reboot, no sequel let us rest from the disaster that was Spidey 3. I am not saying don't make anymore Spider Man films but let the ground settle and maybe in 5 - 10 years make a new one but for the immediate future give me a chance to yearn or desire a new adventure with Spidey. Spider Man will make it's money but it really needs new direction and Marvel needs to exercise creative control over the license or suffer the fate DC did with their TWO MAJOR ICONS. Batman Begins & The Dark Knight are perfect examples of learning from past mistakes and really trying to make a good movie and not a good superhero movie... A GOOD MOVIE while Superman Returns just rehashed the same material and ideas from the previous franchise with a depressing story. The biggest hurdle to overcome is convincing fans that spending 10.00 to see the movie won't be a mistake. Hulk is proof of this. Ang Lee's was so poorly paced that it was more drama than smash which led to it effecting the 2008's re-boot because ppl became cautious after watching the first adaption to the big screen. Bad Movies are really hard to forget like a really bad date... oh you want to forget but you just can't.
Phategod
Honestly I'm glad after what he did with Pt 3 I Think Spiderman Needs New Direction.
meh_siah
This is great news. The franchise needs a re-boot and with a differnt studio (step in Mickey Mouse). The previously proposed then rejected Spider-Man 3 story sounded much better than that train wreck they produced. Damn, that kind of pisses me off...
Displaying 1–13 of 13
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