SPIDER-MAN 4: CONFIRMED!!! FILMING ON THE 4TH INSTALLMENT DELAYED!!!!

Word on the street is that Spider-Man 4 could lose its coveted May 11, 2011 opening! The rumors are true! This is due to script problems and in house fighting between director Sam Raimi and Sony. Raimi has yet to settle on a script, which has already gone through the hands of screenwriters James Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross. The latest writer to tackle the script is none other than Alvin Sargant, who wrote Spider-Man 2 and 3! Sony is still planning on a Summer 2011 release but studio sources are saying, “It is unlikely that May 11, 2011, date will be made.” Originally set to start filming in February, production was pushed back to early March then late March or early April.  Currently there is no official start date.  While Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal assured fans they were still working toward the original date saying, “I’m going to do everything I can to make May,” she acknowledged the importance of having a completed script, “…I’m not going to start a movie where the script isn’t right yet. Not unless I want my career to be over.”

While there was not much talk about Spider-Man 4 being shot in 3D, the success of Avatar could change that.  Both Pascal and Michael Lynton spoke to Forbes about this possibility.  Pascal was vague in her response saying only, “Could be.” Lynton, on the other hand, was far more promising with his remarks, “People are paying a premium to see movies in 3-D and that’s a very big deal. It’s never been done before that someone says you have to pay more to see Spider-Man than a romantic comedy.”  At this point I can’t imagine a film of this status being released without some kind of 3D component.

As for casting, Sony has locked in Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man again, and Raimi is insisting that John Malkovich play the villain.  However, one potential casting casualty could be Anne Hathaway.  Sony had been interested in Hathaway but a studio insider stated, “I’m not so sure we’re going in that direction.” Adding to this was the potential for Hathaway to cost too much in a role that did not need “such a big star.”

Even if Sony could get production on track the damage may already be done.  May is a big month for movie releases and this news could have studios racing to fill the void.  That being said, there’s little doubt in my mind that people will flock to Spider-Man 4 no matter what weekend it gets released.

Another source states: 

A holiday hiatus has turned into an indefinite vacation for "Spider-Man 4."

A Sony source confirmed that the studio is postponing production on the fourth installment of its superhero franchise, which was scheduled to begin lensing in February. Word began circulating among fanboys in mid-December that pre-production had ground to a halt on "Spidey 4" due to script problems with the Sam Raimi-helmed tentpole. At the time, the studio insisted that crew members were merely taking a two-week Christmas break.

Move echoes that of another Sony tentpole that was postponed due to script problems. In November 2007, Sony put "Angels & Demons" on ice until screenplay issues could be resolved. That film was originally slotted for a Christmas 2008 bow. Instead, it opened May 15, 2009.

In the case of "Angels & Demons," the script was rushed because of the looming WGA strike. With "Spider-Man 4," the studio has been fielding drafts of the script for years, with everyone from David Koepp to James Vanderbilt taking a crack at it. Alvin Sargent is currently retooling the story.

Sony still has "Spidey 4" skedded for May 6, 2011, though that date has become highly unlikely. The postponement would leave the first big weekend of next summer up for grabs by other studios.

We'll try, but I think making May is a real question," the source said. "We will not start until we have it right. The feeling is we are not going to rush it to make the date." 

Thanks to Collider.com Via Deadline.com and Latinoreview.com