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The new film, which does not yet have a title, will enter production at the end of the year under the direction of Marc Webb and based on a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin are producing the Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios film, Sony Pictures Releasing explains.
“Spider-Man is the ultimate summer cinema experience, and we are delighted that the filmmakers will present the next instalment in 3D. Spider-Man is one of the world’s most popular characters, and we know audiences are already very excited and looking forward to discovering Marc’s fantastic vision for Peter Parker and the franchise,” Blake commented on the announcement.
Peter Parker returns to high school when the next Spider-Man film arrives in cinemas in July 2012. The film concerns a teenager who must deal with both contemporary human problems and an astonishing superhuman crisis.
A new team will work in front of and behind the camera on the new chapter of the Spider-Man franchise. “A decade ago, we embarked on this journey together with director Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire, and together we made three Spider-Man films that redefined the benchmark for the genre. When we started, nobody expected that we would make box-office history. And now we have the rare opportunity to do exactly that with this franchise again. The fact that Peter Parker is an ordinary boy struggling with extraordinary abilities has always been the main reason this timeless character has been so appealing to generations of fans. We are tremendously excited about the creative possibilities offered by returning to Peter’s roots, and about working again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Working on the Spider-Man films was the experience of a lifetime for me. Although we had already been looking forward to making a fourth film together, the studio and Marvel now have the unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction. And I know they will do a great job,” said Sam Raimi.
“Sam and Tobey gave us the kind of collaboration and friendship that is possible only once in a lifetime. Over the past ten years, both have given us their very best. This is therefore a bittersweet moment for us. Although it is difficult for us to imagine Spider-Man in someone else’s hands, I know this day was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, President of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s Chief Production Executive since the franchise began. “Now everything starts again from the beginning. And that is precisely what already makes all of us so excited about what happens next. Under the continued leadership of Avi and Laura, we have a clear idea of what Spider-Man’s future will look like. We cannot wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”
“Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures. And a fresh restart like this is a responsibility we all take very seriously,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “We have always firmly believed that a good story is the most important thing. The story determines the direction of these films. As we now turn to the next chapter, we remain true to this principle. We have the greatest respect for the source material. Fans and cinemagoers deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen.”
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