Marc Webb will direct the next installment of the “Spider-Man” franchise, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced.
Webb, who made his directorial debut with this year’s critically acclaimed “(500) Days of Summer,” earned high praise from Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures.
“At its core, Spider-Man is a small, intimate human story about an everyday teenager that takes place in an epic super-human world,” they said in a statement. “The key for us as we sought a new director was to identify filmmakers who could give sharp focus to Peter Parker’s life. We wanted someone who could capture the awe of being in Peter’s shoes so the audience could experience his sense of discovery while giving real heart to the emotion, anxiety, and recklessness of that age and coupling all of that with the adrenaline of Spider-Man’s adventure. We believe Marc Webb is the perfect choice to bring us on that journey.”
For his part, Webb called the nod “a dream come true.”
“Sam Raimi’s virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason,” he said in a statement. “But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to ‘take over’ from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man.”
The next Spider-Man film, which will return Peter Parker to high school, is due in summer 2012 and will feature a new cast as well as a new director. Sam Raimi previously directed three “Spider-Man” films before splitting with Sony, reportedly over creative differences. Series star Tobey Maguire has also cut ties with the film franchise. No word yet as to who may step into Spidey’s shoes.
New York Magazine’s Vulture blog was the first to report the news, but additionally reported that Webb would be offering the directing job on not one, but three new “Spider-Man” movies. Sony’s announcement did not address the subject of future films.
However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Webb does indeed have options for two sequels. The trade further reported that the film will start a cast of unknowns and take inspiration on the “Ultimate Spider-Man” comic book series — itself a recent reboot, by writer Brian Michael Bendis — rather than the character’s original, 1960s continuity.
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