I have to assume actors love working with Sam Raimi and that Sony has made the production of the first three Spider-Man movies an enjoyable experience. I base this only on the latest ups and downs around the X-Men universe as Bryan Singer left X3 to go helm Superman Returns for Warner Bros. and Halle Berry caused such a stir when she wanted money and more screentime. I am not saying Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are making Spider-Man 3 for no money, I am just saying that we haven’t heard much in the way of casting problems regarding the Spider-Man franchise so when I read an article at MTV in which Marvel’s Kevin Feige, the new president of production for Marvel Studios, tells us more Spider-Man movies are definitely going to be made I don’t greet it with as much skepticism as I would if I heard that an X4 would definitely be made.
Feige addressed rumors that Spider-Man 3 would be the final film in the franchise by clearing things up, “There will be many more Spider-Man films to come,” he promised. “We already have stacks of ideas for the next one because of the wealth of stories in the comics. We could be making Spider-Man movies for the next 20 years, based on the 50 years of Spider-Man history we have.”
Great, so SM3 isn’t the final film, but is it the final film for Tobey Maguire? Yeah, Kirsten Dunst has said she won’t do anymore, either way, if she does or doesn’t it doesn’t matter, what really matters is whether or not the man playing the web slinger is returning. The replacement of the lead character is what separates a movie from a theatrical release and a direct-to-video release. Feige doesn’t really touch on that topic, the only quote we are left from MTV is that, “When you’re concentrating on one movie at a time, there’s a beginning and a middle and an end to that process… We’ve been topping each one as they go, [and if that happens again], that’s the time for those discussions.”
I would say it is time for those discussions now, and considering Sam Raimi seems to have a stronghold on the hearts of the fans I would think his involvement is imperative, either way, this is a growing story that is sure to get bigger and bigger as May 4, 2007 approaches.
Click here for the full story, which includes several other Marvel superheroes.
