Get ready for Spider-Man [1] to weave his blockbuster web at least two more times. The talk of more Spidey sequels started right after Spider-Man 3's big opening weekend [2] last Summer, and now there's news that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire are about to commit to two more films [3].
Though The Dark Knight [4] broke Spider-Man's box office records this Summer, the Hollywood Reporter notes that Spider-Man is still the most profitable movie franchise for Sony, with the first three films combining for a total of $2.5 billion worldwide.
There were some rumors a while back that Maguire might not return for another sequel, though a Sony spokesman said, "Tobey was our only choice and the only person we've discussed the role with." He'll have some time off before getting back into the Spidey suit: The current plan is for the first sequel, written by James Vanderbilt of Zodiac [5], to start filming in the Fall of 2009. The movies might film back-to-back, Lord of the Rings-style, with Spider-Man 4 hitting theaters in May 2011.
Still up in the air:
- Whether Kirsten Dunst will be back as Mary Jane.
- Whether any other actors will reprise their roles.
- What villains will appear in the next two films.
Most of you weren't exactly thrilled [6] at the prospect of more Spidey, so I'm wondering: What, if anything, would get you back to the theater for a fourth (and fifth) Spider-Man?
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures [7]