Spider-Man 4 Already Slated for IMAX in 2011

With the film barely announced, the anticipated Spider-Man 4 has already been booked for IMAX showings to run concurrently with its regular theater release. In fact, it's been booked in even more IMAX theaters than its two predecessors.

Director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4 is now slated for IMAX release before it has even fully been cast (officially, Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire are attached but few others). Still, production company and domestic distributor Columbia Pictures is justified in their confidence in the film. Raimi's Spider-Man franchise has grossed a total of more than $2.5 billion in worldwide revenues to date.

In an IMAX press release, the company's CEO Richard Gelfond claims that the Spider-Man series "continues to be the world's most popular motion picture franchise." Thus, Columbia has booked the IMAX appearances in an even "wider IMAX theater network [than the previous two films]," says Rory Bruer, President, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing (international distributor for the film).

As summer popcorn movies go, the Spider-Man franchise is a watchable one. And if popularity can be judged by the number of fan-made teaser trailers already up on YouTube, IMAX is wise to nab the film well in advance.

Related links:
News: Sam Raimi to Direct World of Warcraft Film
Review: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
Ctrl-V: Spider-Man 3 - The Great IM Chat

Got a news tip for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.