Spider-Man 4 Script Changes Hands Once Again

In terms of Marvel superheroes, we’re probably all anticipating Iron Man 2 (2010) just a bit more than Spider-Man 4 after the web-slinger’s last cinematic adventure two years ago disappointed pretty much everyone in the known universe (or at least anyone who’s ever picked up a comic book). But, Variety reports, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios are preparing to redeem this franchise in the hearts and minds of movie fans with the next installment in the blockbuster series, which is slated to begin production early next year. Sam Raimi will return to direct with Tobey Maguire reprising the title role.

The Spider-Man 4 script was originally penned by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and later turned over to David Lindsay-Abaire (Robots, Inkheart) for rewrites. According to Variety, the script will be rewritten again by Gary Ross, who directed Maguire in Pleasantville (1998) and Seabiscuit (2003).

We still have zero idea who Spidey will be squaring off against in the next installment, but I think everyone is in agreement that when it comes to villains in these movies, less is more. Shoehorning Venom—one of Spider-Man’s most popular villains in the 1990s—into Spider-Man 3 wasn’t fan service: It was insulting, and the already crowded film (introducing Sandman, Green Goblin II and Gwen Stacy) suffered as a result. After the phenomenal Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004), this series deserves far more than what it got last time around. Let’s hope this apparent attention to the script pays off.

Spider-Man 4 is scheduled for release in 2011.

Ice Age 3 Ties Transformers 2 Over Holiday Weekend

Over the Fourth of July weekend, box office newcomer Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs tied for first place with blockbuster smash Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, with both films earning $42.5 million domestically since Friday, July 3, according to studio estimates and reported on by the Los Angeles Times. Dawn of the Dinosaurs grossed $67.5 million since its Wednesday opening, with Revenge of the Fallen raking in $65 million during that same time period. Overall, the Michael Bay-helmed Transformers sequel has earned $293.5 million in U.S. theaters since its June 24 release.

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies—starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale—came in third with $26.2 million for the weekend and $41 million since opening Wednesday.

Worldwide, Revenge of the Fallen has earned a staggering $591.4 million, making it the biggest movie of the year in domestic and foreign markets. I think Bay just bought a new country: Explodistan.

7/6 Update: Actual studio figures released on Monday morning showed that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen narrowly beat Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs for the top spot at the box office, earning $42.4 million compared to the latter film's $41.6 million (via The New York Times).

Okay, Now They’re Doing a View-Master Movie

It’s been a surreal Fourth of July weekend thus far. On Friday, my 1999 Subaru Legacy finally kicked the proverbial bucket (busted transmission, I’m sure). It’s pretty sad that I’m losing my first “real” car (not counting my dad’s Toyota Corolla that I learned to drive on), but the incident has finally given me the push I needed to go out there and get a new vehicle. The search begins on Monday, and I’ll keep you posted on my quest for the Wortwagon Mark II. Yep, I just called it that.

While my much-needed four-day weekend has allowed me to indulge in my dual love for barbecues and exploding stuff (thankfully not the aforementioned car), there was a news item that caught my eye late last week that I can’t seem to shake. I didn’t want to blog, write or do anything work related over the long weekend in an attempt to preserve my sanity, but the fact that someone out there is actually considering making a full-length movie about the friggin’ View-Master has only served to drive me further into the depths of madness.

Coming Soon reports that Fringe co-writer/producer Brad Caleb Cane wrote on his Twitter page that a film based on the iconic toy is in the works. Star Trek/Transformers scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman will be involved. Kane describes the film as being “like the old Amblin movies: Goonies, Young Sherlock…in that vein.”

And I thought an Asteroids movie was a bad idea. At this rate, someone’s going to fast-track Slinky: The Movie to capitalize on this trend of idiocy. I can hear the trailer now.

“Alone or in pairs…this summer…one metal coil springs into action.”