Raimi and Maguire re-team for Spider-Man sequels

You need only click here for a brief reminder (or here for a much longer one) of how bad Spider-Man 3 was. Overlong, overstuffed and overcrowded with no less than three villains, Spider-Man 3 was a let-down in nearly every department.

In fact, the whole thing was such a mess that many had begun to speculate whether the franchise would be rebooted without the help of director Sam Raimi, who said he needed a break from the arachnid wonder. While Raimi went off to write and direct Drag Me to Hell, rumors swirled that Jake Gyllenhaal would replace Tobey Maguire, and Mandy Moore would step in for Kirsten Dunst (among the plentitude of names mentioned).

But for better or worse, it's been announced Raimi will be back in the director's chair, and Maguire will return as Peter Parker for two more sequels, to be possibly filmed back-to-back. (Maguire will apparently earn an astronomical $50 million plus for his efforts). No word on whether Dunst will return as of yet (or any other of the franchise's supporting actors, though Bryce Dallas Howard says she's game).

James Vanderbilt, screenwriter of the critically-lauded film Zodiac, has been tapped to pen Spider-Man 4's screenplay. Speculation has inevitably turned to who will become the series' next villain. Fans are quick to point out Curt Connors, the one-armed college professor played by Dylan Baker, eventually turns into the Lizard in the comics. And Spider-Man 2's introduction of John Jameson, Mary Jane's astronaut ex-fiance, later transforms into the villain Man-Wolf, but the character's absence from Spider-Man 3 points to that plotline being dropped. Cinematical recently cast its wish list of possible villains, and Ed Harris as Carnage sounds too good to be true.

Whichever villain Raimi chooses, let's hope he takes a cue from The Dark Knight and drops the need to rationalize every villain with some touchingly human back story (like the Sandman, Green Goblin..and, well, every Spider-Man villain thus far). Spider-Man 4 (and possibly 5) will start shooting in the fall of 2009, with a May 2011 release date in its sights.

Related links:
Review: Spider-Man 3
News: New Spider-Man movie slated for 2010-ish
Cinematical: Discuss Villains You Want to See in 'Spidey' 4 & 5

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