Columbia Pictures announced it is moving back the planned release of the next Spider-Man film after parting ways with director Sam Raimi over script issues and actor Tobey Maguire.
The next film in the series will be a reboot, with a new director, cast and a story that puts Peter Parker back in high school. The studio is aiming to have the film out in 2012, a year later than the original release date planned for what would have been the fourth outing for Raimi and Maguire.
The split with Raimi came amid issues concerning budget and the script. Raimi had sought to use as the villain a character named The Vulture with John Malkovich in the role. The studio had other ideas, including wanting a subplot involving a romance between Spider-Man and the sexy sometimes-villain The Black Cat.
Staying on the project are producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad.
‘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,’ said Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures co-chairman. ‘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.’
‘Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me,’ said Raimi. ‘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.’
