Production was expected to begin next month on Spider-Man 4, but the studio had already pushed back the film's release from its scheduled May 5, 2011 date (a date Thor then snagged). Now Spider-Man 4 is a thing of the past, and the studio's instead going to move ahead on a reboot of the series, taking Peter Parker back to his teen years in high school.
James Vanderbilt has written a script which finds Peter dealing with problems associated with just being a teenager as well as the changes he's going through becoming a web-slinging superhero.
In a press release issued by Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal said, "A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning."
Raimi, who reportedly hated the scripts he'd received from a variety of writers, was quoted as saying, "Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. 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."
Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, stated, "We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen."
The Spider-Man reboot, with a completely new cast and new director, will hit theaters in the summer of 2012.
