After a couple of months of speculation that they were looking for a writer, Sony Pictures have given the biggest indication yet that Spider-Man 4 is moving ahead by hiring James Vanderbilt to do the deed.
Vanderbilt – who wrote Zodiac for David Fincher, and who has recently been given an ‘in’ with Marvel Films by polishing their X-Men Origins: Wolverine script – was chosen ahead of a number of different writers for his character-driven approach to the Spidey 4 script.
Plot details are scarce at the moment, but it’s believed that the film will focus on no more than two villains – and we’d lay good money that one of them will be The Lizard, the rampaging alter-ego of Peter Parker’s mentor, Dr. Curt Connors (played in the previous three films by Dylan Baker).
Vanderbilt’s appointment – ahead of the likes of Alvin Sargent and David Koepp, who worked on the trilogy – is further proof that Sony and Marvel are taking the series in a different direction after Spider-Man 3 was poorly received by critics (although it became the most successful film in the series to date; go figure).
At present, Sam Raimi is not confirmed as director, nor are Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst scheduled to return as Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson. Perhaps, if Vanderbilt delivers a kick-ass script, they might be tempted to sign on. Producer Laura Ziskin is back on board, though.
Watch this space for further developments over the coming weeks.