Will Marc Webb return?

[Picard Sisko]

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2012/06/26...er-man-sequel/

Wow... I kinda feel sad about this. Who will take over if he leaves?

[awesome232]

I don't know...Marc Webb talks about the sequels at time as though he is directing. But I don't know...maybe Josh Trank would be a good choice. He did excellent with Chronicle!

[Picard Sisko]

I feel like it would be a bad decision career wise. Then again, its probably so much stress for him to make these big budget movies, he may not be able to handle it, and could end up making another Spider-Man 3 or Green Lantern.

[El Payaso]

Isn't this what every single superhero movie director says after wrapping their first movie in a superhero franchise? Before they start making the sequel I mean?

[Silvermoth]

Only lately to be honest. I suppose as more and more companies get lesser known, more arthouse directors, some people find they can't cope with that responsibility.

I hope Marc comes back though. I want to see him develop in confidence.

[Picard Sisko]

I feel like when a director stays, he starts to get to know the cast a lot better, and everyone gets more comfortable. You know that this one person has had a say for all the movies and it feels a bit more personal (like with Nolan). With a new director, the franchise could go in a totally different direction, which can be either good or bad.

[Da Games Elite]

He seems to be invested in telling this multi-film story arc about the parents and what have you. If he isn't directing, he'll be involved creatively in some way. I think he'll direct, but I don't want to say he WILL direct.

[Gabe99]

From The Playlist:
Is Director Marc Webb Going To Return For 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2?'

Originally Posted by Oliver Lyttelton

As of today, "The Amazing Spider-Man" is in theaters, ending the two-and-a-half-year build up to one of the more controversial superhero films in history. Plans for a "Spider-Man 4" were well underway at the end of 2009, with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire both returning for a script (by "Rabbit Hole" writer David Lindsay-Abaire) which saw your friendly neighborhood web-slinger come against classic villain The Vulture (John Malkovich) and his daughter The Vultress (Anne Hathaway). But wary of spiraling costs, bad reviews for the third-installment, and an aging lead (Maguire would have been 36 by the time of the film's summer 2011 release, for a character normally portrayed at half that age), Sony pulled the plug and decided to start all over again, to no little protestations from fans.

"(500) Days Of Summer" helmer Marc Webb was brought on board with a script from "Zodiac" writer James Vanderbilt, and Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans were cast as the leads. "The Amazing Spider-Man" finally makes it to theaters today, and the controversy shows no sign of abating: the film's had both highly positive reviews and deeply scathing ones, with our own falling somewhere in the middle. However the film does (and it's tracking to take about $125 million over the next six days, a decent number by any standard, but significantly down from the $150 million that "Spider-Man 3" made on opening weekend five years ago), a sequel is already firmly on the cards: "Transformers" writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have been reworking Vanderbilt's screenplay, and the studio has already nabbed a May 2, 2014 release date.

But will Webb be back in the director's chair? The music video veteran was hand-picked to make the film after the success of his debut "(500) Days Of Summer," but no announcements have been made regarding his presence for the follow-up. And the Webb has been non-commital about returning in interviews. When we talked to the director in the lead-up to release, he said that "I've had conversations," but that "It's like asking a woman who's just given birth if they want to get pregnant again. I'm still nursing the baby!"

And to the Huffington Post, he was a little more telling: "I want to finish this up and go to a beach and think about the future. People ask about the sequel and I'm like, 'Well, you know, I don't know if I want to do that, but I love the process.' " The director certainly isn't wanting for potential follow-ups; he seems to be high on post-apocalyptic adventure "Age of Rage," and is also still theoretically attached to thriller remake "Just Another Love Story" and musical "Jesus Christ Superstar," and the timeframe on the sequel would mean he'd be unable to take another project on in the meantime, realistically.

But if what we've heard is correct, the decision may not be up to Webb. Based on the whispers we picked up over the last few months (not from first-hand sources, it should be said, but others seem to have heard similar things), Sony executives pretty much hated the film that Webb initially delivered, ordering some extensive reshoots. And while these are simply rumors, the finished film certainly bears the scars of significant reshoots and recutting. **Spoilers in the next paragraph**

From B.A.D.:
TRANSFORMERS Writers To Pen AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Sequel

Originally Posted by Devin Faraci

I'm back from Vegas! All that travel means I'm a bit behind on some news, so while this happened yesterday I wanted to bring it up today...

Sony is looking at The Amazing Spider-Man as an investment. I've heard some really mixed things about the movie - much of which originates from INSIDE Sony - but no matter how the film does (unless the film is an unmitigated disaster, and that won't happen with a property like this), they're coming back for a sequel. Sony is so sure of the sequel that they've hired Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman to write it.

Note that hiring writers to work on sequels before a movie is released is common, and not always a guarantee of that sequel going anywhere. But Kurtzman and Orci are Big Deal Writers, since their movies - despite rarely being any good - have made a lot of money. I imagine their quote is pretty high, so Sony went ahead and dumped a bunch of cash on Spider-Man 2 because they fully intend to get that movie made. And they're hiring Orci and Kurtzman because they want Spider-Man 2 to be as straight down the center as possible - you're not hiring these guys to bring you a nuanced look at anything.

We'll see if The Amazing Spider-Man is as troubled as I've heard (the stories that come to me are that the execs hate it, and you can never tell when the execs are right or when they're stupid, stupid suits). This hiring could be the sign of a major change in direction for the franchise. If you follow Orci's twitter you'll wonder if Spidey will finally investigate 9/11 as an inside job.

[PSYLENTGuardian]

We've heard about the involvement of Orci and Kurtzman for a while. I'm hoping they bring it like they did for Star Trek and not like Transformers 2.

[psylockolussus]

He should return but if not, I wouldn't be so disappointed. I love (500) Days of Summer but I wasn't impressed with The Amazing Spider-Man.

[bullets]

I'm sure he'll return.

[The Villain]

I hope he returns to see how he handles Mysterio hopefully. The Jackal or Chameleon second hopefulls.

[Silvermoth]

I don't think he really got Spider-man. He needed a bit more energy. To be honest, it wasn't fair setting him up for this. It's way too big a film. It's like getting someone who has run a small general shop in a rural area for three months and making them CEO of News Limited or something.

I almost wonder if they could bury the hatchett with Raimi and ask him back. Even if he was just producing. It would be enough just to give it more energy and have someone who doesn't just want to make Batman but with Spider-man.

[Nathan]

What do you mean he didn't get Spider-Man? He got him more than Raimi throughout 3 Movies.

[©KAW]

What, you don't like a retarded mute playing Spider-Man?

I almost wonder if they could bury the hatchett with Raimi and ask him back.

Hell NO! I will kill a mockingbird before that happens!

[bapi]

I think he won't return.

[SoNicRaDiATioN]

I agree. I would love him to but I think he'll leave. Sony better get a big name if it happens. Just for the optics alone.

[Gabe99]

Columbia Pictures President Says Marc Webb Might not Direct THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Sequel Due to “Obstacles”

[Gabe99]

From THR:
'Amazing Spider-Man' Director Marc Webb Might Not Return for Sequel, Says Columbia Pictures Chief (Q&A)

[Silvermoth]

Originally Posted by ©KAW

What, you don't like a retarded mute playing Spider-Man?

Now, now. No need for name calling.

[SoNicRaDiATioN]

Originally Posted by Gabe99

From THR:
'Amazing Spider-Man' Director Marc Webb Might Not Return for Sequel, Says Columbia Pictures Chief (Q&A)

This is not a surprise. Webb dropped hints in previous interviews and now Belgrad is just laying the groundwork with this Fox smoke screen. The first film started principal photography 19 months prior to it's release. If we do the math and equte that to the sequel, then October 2012 is when you would think shooting will start on the sequel. That's only 3 months from now.

If Webb doesn't return I would be very concerned. My biggest worries are A) That Sony settles for some paint by numbers genre hack instead of going after a major talent. Unless this (potential) turnover was in the works for months, they are on such a tight schedule to find a suitable replacement that they might have to settle for less. And B) That big time talents wouldn't want this job because the only option given by Sony is to pick up the pieces to Webb's vision instead of given the opportunity to fully realize their own.

So the next couple of months will be very interesting and extremely important to say the least.

[Manic4Love]

He MUST EFFING RETURN! Or I do not plan to see the sequel. EFF YOU. It's cause of him the reason why the relationship between Parker and Gwen was so great. GWEN NEEDS TO BE KILLED PERFECTLY.

[Oscorp]

We need a good Spider-Man trilogy and for that, we need Marc Webb right now. I don't know who else would be a good fit for what Webb started.

I don't want mindless films where the only thing that matters is cool looking action scenes.

Unfortunately I have a feeling Marc Webb will leave. And with that, I don't have high hopes for the sequels

[NewYorkSpider]

If Webb can't return, I would like to see David Fincher take the helm.

[Gabe99]

From Deadline:
Andrew Garfield And Marc Webb Sign On For Spidey Sequel

Originally Posted by MIKE FLEMING

BREAKING: Andrew Garfield has signed on will return to the role of Peter Parker and Marc Webb is set to direct as Columbia Pictures prepares to begin production on the next installment of The Amazing Spider-Man. Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of production for the studio made the announcement.

The screenplay is by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner based on a previous draft by James Vanderbilt. The film will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. The new chapter in the Spider-Man saga is set for release in 3D on May 2, 2014. Emma Stone is also in talks to return to the blockbuster franchise and is expected to reprise her role as Gwen Stacy.

The new film will begin production in early 2013. Webb, Garfield and Stone previously teamed on this summer’s blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man, which has taken in more than $751 million worldwide.

“We could not be more confident in the direction we are taking this new Spider-Man storyline and we are tremendously excited to be ramping up production again with Marc at the helm and Andrew continuing on as Peter Parker,” Belgrad said. “We can’t wait to share what we have in store for Peter and Spider-Man with audiences worldwide.”

From Variety:
Marc Webb to direct 'Spider-Man 2' - Sony sequel to start production next year

Originally Posted by Jeff Sneider

After helping Sony relaunch its biggest superhero franchise by guiding "The Amazing Spider-Man" to an impressive $751 million worldwide haul, director Marc Webb is set to return to helm "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," which will swing into theaters in 3D on May 2, 2014.

Production will begin early next year with stars Andrew Garfield set to return as Peter Parker and Emma Stone in talks to reprise her role as love interest Gwen Stacy.

Avi Arad of Arad Prods. will produce with Matt Tolmach.

The sequel's screenplay will be credited to frequent tentpole scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, as well as Jeff Pinkner, based on a previous draft by James Vanderbilt.

In July, Columbia Pictures prexy Doug Belgrad was quoted in the press as wanting Webb to return while acknowledging that "there are obstacles," namely, that Webb owed Fox Searchlight a movie after making his directorial debut with "(500) Days of Summer" for that studio.

"We could not be more confident in the direction we are taking this new Spider-Man storyline and we are tremendously excited to be ramping up production again with Marc at the helm and Andrew continuing on as Peter Parker," said Belgrad, who made the announcement along with production prexy Hannah Minghella. "We can't wait to share what we have in store for Peter and Spider-Man with audiences worldwide."

Webb has been developing Mark Heyman's script "Age of Rage" for Fox Searchlight, as well as Allan Loeb's script "The Only Living Boy in New York," which is set up at Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa's Bona Fide Prods.

Webb is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman.