Sony overhauls 'Spider-Man' sequel; Raimi, Maguire out

A few days after Sony Pictures said it was postponing production on "Spider-Man 4" because of creative concerns, the studio on Monday said it was sending the entire franchise in for a major overhaul without star Tobey Maguire or director Sam Raimi involved.

Sony said the next Peter Parker film will also be released a year later than originally scheduled, with the fourth installment in its blockbuster franchise (worldwide gross to date: nearly $2.5 billion) now set to premiere in the summer of 2012.

In a backstory twist reminiscent of the evolution of "Superman" into "Smallville," the studio said in a statement that the new web-slinger film will focus "on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises." The movie is being written by James Vanderbilt, whose credits include "Zodiac" and "The Rundown." The new film, which does not yet have an announced star or director, will be produced by "Spider-Man" veterans Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad of Marvel Studios.

"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,” Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, said in a statement.

“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me," Raimi said in a statement. "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."

Added Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment: "We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots."

The last "Spider-Man" movie was released in May 2007. It's not the only setback for the arachnid crime-fighter. A "Spider-Man" Broadway musical (in which Sony is an investor) has been delayed by creative and financial problems, and with a budget in excess of $50 million is the most expensive musical in theater history.

Update (11 PM): For more on why "Spider-Man 4" is being revamped -- including why a proposed $230 million budget wasn't enough for director Sam Raimi -- and what its delay means for Sony Pictures, see the story in tomorrow's Times.

--John Horn

Photo credit: Melissa Moseley for Columbia Pictures

Comments

[coolrepublica]

The people at Sony have officially lost the fracking minds. lol

Yep they have. Spiderman dealing with acne? Who cares?

They had a good thing with Sam Rami and they blew it. I wish the new spiderman nothing but failure.

[Megan]

WHAT!? Seriously BAD idea. Spiderman just died.

[Laren B]

The studio big wigs don't realize that it's the quality of the acting and directing which ultimately translate into huge box office returns. Sam Rami and Toby McGuire were excellent in the Spiderman series. Withous them, Spiderman 4 is going to turn into another mindless action movie with underdeveloped characters and plots. Spiderman was so successful because it appealed to people who love both action and drama. If you remove the drama, you'll lose a significant portion of the audience.

[whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???]

You have got to be kidding.

[ruff]

u got to b kidding me big mistake $ony raimi and maguire were the best thing that happened to spidey the movie they even made that stinker of SP3 watchable new one will suck

[unclesam328]

I can see it now: NEW COKE..... LENO ON PRIMETIME....and SPIDEY MOVIE WITH NO RAMI or TOBY. How much more can we messup a good thing?

[Dave Atkins]

I was at 21st Century Film Corporation when we had this picture.

This is as bad an idea as when, in one production meeting, one of our exec's suggested that Spider-Man needed a dog.

[hector]

Lose Tobey? Fine. But without Sam Raimi, the vision that made these films such a hit will be gone. Sounds like a terrible mistake on Sony's part, and a lame effort to reach the teen audience. I bet they throw a vampire into the mix to try and nab the "Twilight" crowd.

[brian]

I think that they should not call it Spiderman 4 - it should drop the series if they go back to re-work the mythology. The adult Spiderman would have been fine - and it would have provided a good growth of the character and story arch. The current Marvel Universe has Spiderman as a teacher and trying to help his students - so he is a hero in life and a superhero by day. The story arch is good and its a shame that the people at Sony have limited vision. I guess this is what we should expect when people who are not familiar with the content of materials are given the green-light responsability. They must have some research to show that their market is not yet knowledgeable of the story of spiderman and that they can continue to re-hash the myths to expand their over-all market rather than serve a market that has already given them over 2+ billion. Greed over creativity - again.

[Fred]

Ummm, this makes perfect sense since SpiderMan 3 was such garbage it was unwatchabale. Same thing happened with the Batman franchise and look how well that turned out. By the way, you're all losers for even caring.

[Josh]

They are clearly going after the Ultimate Spider-Man story with Peter still being a teenager. I like the move, but also think why not do both. Marvel has both, with Ultimate Spider-Man and the regular series with the Peter Parker who has grown up. I imagine they are concerned about franchise confusion, but if Superman Returns had worked there was no reason not to have the Superman movie franchise and Smallville at the same time. Oh well, now maybe Sam can do an Evil Dead sequel with Bruce Campbell.

[Honchotraker]

Sony's fingerprints are all over Spiderman 3. That time Raimi went along with Sony and what a mess we got. This time, Raimi stood up to Sony to avoid another mess and got booted up.

[Jonathan]

"Ummm, this makes perfect sense since SpiderMan 3 was such garbage it was unwatchabale."

Thank you! Someone with sense in this crowd. Spiderman 3 was so bad, I stopped watching half way through. Spiderman 2 was garbage too! The first one was just ok. This director sucks and their choice of spiderman was terrible too.

That doesn't mean that the next one will be any good, just that it actually has a chance.

[Noelle]

This is utterly ridiculous! To ditch Raimi and Maguire now is asking for a colossal epic failure! Worst idea ever what are they thinking

[patton]

You Morons are out of your minds...this will flop you Morons. Must be the same fools that moved Leno :) haha

[XM]

You might as well replace Kristin Dunst also, who was badly miscast as Mary Jane.

Maks sure to introduce the Kingpin in the next film.

[RelievedandHappy]

I have to admit, I am very happy to hear this news. Tobey Maguire made a terribly unlikely super hero, he will not be missed in the next movie. And I don't think the first 3 movies were so fantastic that the director will be missed. They were nothing special, I think its time for some new directing. Superhero movies have changed since Spiderman first came out, and I look forward to this new direction.

[Amy]

Spider man WITHOUT Toby?!? There is no spider man without Toby. THEY HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS!!

[tubbytee]

looking forward to a new take on spider-man (4). will miss not miss maguire.

[Blitzenn]

Wow. I didn't know Sony did 'Not for Profit' movies.
That's what it will be if they ditch the actors and directors of the first three mega-hits. Thats' like firing Harrison ford from the Indiana Jones franchise or having Macaulay Culkin play Harry Potter.

[Maximillian]

"Sony's fingerprints are all over Spiderman 3. That time Raimi went along with Sony and what a mess we got. This time, Raimi stood up to Sony to avoid another mess and got booted up."

So true. Unfortunately. This is another desperate, corporate mistake by a film studio that think they know better than a filmmaker, when in truth the bulk of these execs are law or business schooled, not filmmakers. The exception however is Amy Pascal. C'mon Amy! You know better. Stand up for Sam and Tobey, who have brought the studio millions (billions?) and can absolutely do it again. Sam has the know-how and creative sense to take Spidey 4 and make something special out of it.

[bob]

Wow
EPIC Fail.

[the hero dude]

i a great idea following actor should be replace by the following

for toby we will use carrot top

and mj

amy winehouse

the films is going to suck anyways without toby or rami

[Motte]

Glad I got the three DVD set of 1 2 and 3 because I won't be buying a 4.

[Slappy]

Probably the dumbest move from Sony yet. Not only are their crappy products "blue blob" destroying their rep, now this. Wrong move. Spidey is all grown up and no need to go back to emotionally imature teeny bopper stories.