FROM SPLASH PAGE: In the days since Marc Webb become the directorial heir to Sam Raimi's big screen "Spider-Man" franchise, online speculation has suggested Webb could turn to some familiar talent to fill the shoes—and the spandex—of Peter Parker: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whom he directed in "(500) Days of Summer."
On that particular rumor, Gordon-Levitt didn't have much to say when he stopped by MTV News' Sundance suite. Literally. The 28-year-old actor would only offer a series of shrugs and sly grins when the topic of taking over the role of Parker came up (hit play on the video and make of that body language what you will).
Continue reading "Joseph Gordon-Levitt Has Talked Spider-Man With Marc Webb, But Will He Suit Up?" at SplashPage.MTV.com.
FROM MTV.COM: Spider-Man is caught up in a whole new kind of web — this one with an extra "B" — which could signify that his über-successful superhero franchise is back on track.
Marc Webb, the 34-year-old music-video director who recently made his feature-film debut with "(500) Days of Summer," was officially announced Tuesday (January 19) as the new name behind one of Hollywood's biggest franchises. Webb takes over for Sam Raimi, who recently abandoned plans to return with stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst for a fourth film about the web-slinger.
Continue reading 'Spider-Man' Reboot To Be Directed By Marc Webb
In mid-December, a rumor surfaced that (now ex-)"Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire would play Bilbo Baggins in the coming, Guillermo del Toro-directed adaptation of "The Hobbit." It seemed like a preposterous idea on multiple levels, but the source -- Latino Review -- has a better track record than most of the rumor-mongers out there.
Over the weekend it came out that the rumor was, in fact, just that. Producer Peter Jackson shot off a message to Ain't It Cool News saying that, while he and del Toro are fans of Maguire, it's just not true. The "Hobbit" team is "currently auditioning for Bilbo" he said, and they're "a month or two away from any announcements." Del Toro wrote in as well, with a simple, one-sentence statement: "It's not true." Read more...
FROM MTV.COM: Well before a rebooted "Spider-Man" hits theaters in 2012, we'll get a chance to meet a brand-new Peter Parker — some lucky actor plucked to replace Tobey Maguire now that the 34-year-old and director Sam Raimi have been jettisoned from the franchise. As MTV News plays its own game of Cast That Arachnid — Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Jesse Eisenberg? — we took a look back at the time when we first met Maguire in his Spidey world.
It was January 2001, and production on Sam Raimi's film was about to begin in Culver City, California. MTV was there to chat with the cast and the director at a moment when comic book movies were beginning to return to their fanboy roots after years of schlocky "Batman" and "Superman" flicks.
Continue reading Tobey Maguire, Sam Raimi Talk 'Spider-Man' In Vintage Interviews
FROM MTV.COM: Spider-Man hasn't faced this much adversity since he battled Sandman, Venom and James Franco in his last movie. Now, the web-head's week from hell is getting worse — and it's only Tuesday.
Barely 24 hours after news broke that Sony and Marvel were putting the brakes on "Spider-Man 4" and saying goodbye to Sam Raimi's team, producers of a long-gestating Broadway musical about our friendly neighborhood web-slinger are being forced to offer refunds and pushing back their show's debut.
According to The Associated Press, producers of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" are offering to return the money to theatergoers who purchased advance tickets for the show, which had been expected to open February 25. Although they are quick to point out that "the production is moving forward" and a new schedule should be announced shortly, it is the latest in a long line of troubles for the show.
Continue reading 'Spider-Man' Musical Will Refund Ticket-Buyers
FROM MTV.COM: Monday's shocking announcement that one of the decade's most successful film franchises has thrown in the towel on a fourth installment hit fans as hard as a Sandman punch to the face. Now, Raimi and Tobey and Kirsten and everyone else are going to move on to other projects, and all we can do is miss them — and, of course, look back on the better days.
Remembering back to the 2001 press conference in a wrestling ring that started it all — yep, I was there! — all the way up to Monday's sad goodbye, it somehow seems like "Spider-Man 4" was the most dramatic movie in the series, simply through its production twists and turns. And so, it is with great affection that we look back on the roller-coaster ride of the Spidey movie we'll never see.
Continue reading 'Spider-Man 4': What A Tangled Web It Wove
FROM SPLASH PAGE: Now that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire have officially departed the "Spider-Man" franchise, it's well worth pondering who the next director and lead actor to join the property are going to be.
While "Spider-Man 3" certainly suffered its fair share of criticism, the combination of Raimi and Maguire won over the majority of fans in the initial two installments. Finding adequate replacements isn't good enough — Sony needs to find the best of the best.
For now, let's focus on the director's chair. Raimi's shoes are big ones to fill — he brought the indie sensibilities of his "Evil Dead" days to "Spider-Man," offering a unique take on the character and his world that no other director could replicate. Given that, a drastically different approach is a must, but not one lacking in the same kind of quality. These five directors could go a long way towards taking the "Spider-Man" franchise in a bold new direction.
Continue reading Who Should Direct The New 'Spider-Man' Movie?
FROM MTV.COM: Now that Sam Raimi has left the "Spider-Man" franchise over creative differences, it's time for the filmmaker to find a new phase in his career. Will he follow his last film "Drag Me to Hell" with further returns to the horror genre he's well known for? Or will he move on to other big Hollywood blockbusters? Here are some of the projects Raimi has lined up, either as director, producer or both:
"Warcraft" - Certain to be Raimi's next directorial effort, this adaptation of the enormously popular video game franchise could be an even bigger deal than the "Spider-Man" series. With an expected budget of more than $220 million ("Spider-Man 3" cost $258 million), Raimi told MTV News last October that the movie will be as faithful as possible to the mythology of the game. "Saving Private Ryan" screenwriter Robert Rodat is currently crafting an original story based on the "World of Warcraft" universe. Raimi was set to helm this after wrapping on "Spider-Man 4," but perhaps production on "Warcraft" will be moved up now that Raimi has left the superhero sequel.
Continue reading What's Next For 'Spider-Man' Director Sam Raimi?
FROM SPLASH PAGE: "Spider-Man 4" is no longer. The franchise that was defined by star Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi is in for a dramatic overhaul now that the two creative forces are no longer involved in the Marvel Comics property.
Some fans might point towards continuity deviations, an overabundance of villains and excessive dance sequences as reasons to look forward to the new direction of "Spider-Man." But if we're being honest with each other — was it really all bad?
I have a lot of fondness for the original "Spider-Man" trilogy, and I doubt that I'm alone. While I'm certainly curious about the franchise's future, I can't help feeling some nostalgia for the old movies as they're on their way out. Here are a few of the things that I'll miss the most.
Continue reading Five Things We'll Miss About Sam Raimi & Tobey Maguire's 'Spider-Man' Franchise
FROM SPLASH PAGE: Face it, Tiger — your franchise just hit a wall.
Sony has curtailed plans for "Spider-Man 4" and opted to reboot Peter Parker's big-screen adventures without director Sam Raimi, star Tobey Maguire or the rest of the film's cast, according to a report that first broke on Deadline Hollywood Daily earlier today. The site reported that Raimi and the studio parted ways after script disagreements proved so insurmountable that the planned summer 2012 release date was in danger.
The studio later confirmed the report in an official announcement (posted in full below) that, along with outlining plans to start over with a teenage Peter Parker, indicated that a new "Spider-Man" movie was still planned for 2012.
Continue reading 'Spider-Man 4' Dropped, Reboot Planned For 2012 With New Director And Cast
