Due to Script Issues SPIDER-MAN 4 Officially Has No Start Date
Last month we reported on a little note posted on the IMDB message boards about Spider-Man 4 being delayed indefinitely. The reason given was because Sony Pictures and Sam Raimi couldn’t agree on the villain for the film and I believe that's definitely a part of it. The movie was originally supposed to start shooting in February, then it was moved to March/April, but now who knows when it’s going to happen.
Here is the letter that was sent out:
Hey there--
We were just notified that our schedule is pushing. We will NOT be starting as planned. I’m terribly sorry for this news, and I hope this email reaches you in time to find other options. We do not know how long we are pushing, and we will not know until mid-January. By mid-January, we will be told how long the push is, whether it be 2 weeks, 2 months, or something else. The studio has every intention of making the movie, but we no longer have a confirmed start date.
Again, I’m terribly sorry, but Sam Raimi has story issues [that] need to be resolved before we are ready to shoot.
Feel free to call me if you have any questions.
VFX Team
There were rumors that started circulating about Sony Pictures having the film put on hold due to the Holidays, but today it’s been confirmed that that’s not the case at all. As of today Spider-Man 4 has no official start date.
Apparently Sam Raimi absolutely hated the script that has gone through the hands of screenwriters Jamie Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross. As of right now the studio and Raimi are waiting for a new script to come in from Alvin Sargent who wrote Spider-Man 2 and 3. The film was scheduled to come out May 11th 2011, but it looks like that date isn’t going to happen according to Sony insiders.
It depends on how quickly the script can get in.
But the film will most likely be pushed back in that same summer time frame, so between June and August we may be able to see Spider-Man 4. Insiders at Sony say,
Some decisions have been made over the holiday about Spider-Man 4. We will be extending the production hiatus on the film. The studio is firmly committed to this franchise but, for us, the script must come first. We intend to notify members of the crew immediately. As you know, Alvin Sargent is currently working on the screenplay. When we have more news, we will keep you posted.
They just want to make sure the script is solid before they begin, which is totally understandable! We don’t want another Spider-Man 3! They are doing everything they can to get it out in May, but at this point who knows what will happen.
Raimi is also still insisting that John Malkovich is set to play the villain in the movie as The Vulture. I assume when it’s all said and done that that's the guy that will be cast. Which is awesome! You can’t go wrong with Malkovich. As for Anne Hathaway being cast in the movie, it doesn’t look like they are going to go in that direction because she is too expensive for the studio, they say they don’t need a big star in that role.
So there’s your latest Spider-Man 4 drama movie update! I don’t know about you, but it sounds like there are a lot of people butting heads on the Sony studio lot. If the film ends up better because of it, then it’s a win for the fans. But it could also be hurting the production as well. I just hope we end up getting to see a great Spider-man movie.
What do you all think?