Sequels David Lindsay-Abaire writing Spider-Man 4

[Chewy]

'Spider-Man 4' lands Pulitzer pen

Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire swings to sequel

By Borys Kit
Oct 31, 2008, 01:00 AM ET


Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire got out of a rabbit hole, only to be ensnared by a spider's web.

Lindsay-Abaire, who won a Pulitzer in 2007 for his drama "Rabbit Hole," is in final negotiations to write "Spider-Man 4" for Columbia.

Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire are back as director and star, respectively, as are series producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad. Kirsten Dunst also is expected to return for the latest movie featuring the Marvel Comics character.

Plot details are under lock and key.

Columbia always has gone off the beaten path during the development process when hiring writers for the "Spider-Man" movies. Alvin Sargent, a veteran scribe best known for 1973's "Paper Moon" and 1980's "Ordinary People," served as a writer on the second and third films. Michael Chabon, another Pulitzer winner, also worked on "Spider-Man 2."

James Vanderbilt previously wrote a draft of "Spider-Man 4."

Lindsay-Abaire's "Rabbit Hole," which starred Cynthia Nixon and Tyne Daly, hit the Broadway stage in 2006 and won four Tonys, including best play. The writer also is known for the play "Fuddy Meers."

Lindsay-Abaire has said in interviews that his plays tend to be "peopled with outsiders in search of clarity," which would put his work on sympathetic terms with Peter Parker, who in his classic incarnation is the perpetual outsider.

The choice of scribe also signals that that filmmakers are intent to focus on character, something that critics said got lost in the third installment.

Gersh-repped Lindsay-Abaire, now writing the book and lyrics for the Broadway musical adaptation of "Shrek," has dipped his toe in Tinseltown before, with his adaptation of "Inkheart" due in January. He is also adapting "Rabbit" for 20th Century Fox and Nicole Kidman.

Columbia had no comment.

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[chaseter]

Say what??? Did they just toss out Vanderbilt's work?

 

[Venom 1988]

Well this certainly is a big WTF for me

 

[bapi]

Well, it reminds me when they hired Michael Chabon to wite Spider-Man 2... But the final draft did Alvin Sargent... GOD NO!!!

 

[Spider-Ranger]

What the hell is going on???
What about James Vanderbilt?
Are they going to write the script together? I don't think so...

 

[Casius--J]

Say what??? Did they just toss out Vanderbilt's work?

That was my first thought too, but I think this guy is to tidy up the script and produce the final version. I'm not sure.

But to be honest I'm happy with sony's approach on this, at least they know what didnt work for the third movie and are trying to fix that. Where as a studio like fox hear the bad reviews and just decide to exactly same thing but with more or cooler characters!!

 

[hatebox]

No idea what's going on, but if I were optimistic I'd say this guy is just the 'polisher' of the draft.

 

[[A]]

yeah--wtf of the night t:

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

It is strange news, maybe Vanderbilt didnt take it in the direction Sony/Raimi wanted. This new guy has plenty of time on his hands to write something, so I doubt he is just doing a polish.

 

[[A]]

So, wait.. it's a complete rewrite..?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^Sorry, not saying that, just saying it could be, the movie isnt out until 2011 remember, so he has time to re-write if he wants to.

 

[[A]]

No, I meant--they just get rid of Straczynski's script..?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^You mean Vanderbilt?

Well I dont know, was just guessing their intent really.

 

[[A]]

Heh, Vanderbilt--yeah. Why did I say the other name..? That means I should leave the room

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

Well, that confirmed my hunch that Vanderbilt was off the project.

It's literally been a year since he was hired for Spider-Man 4, and we never heard a word (officially, at least) regarding the status of his script(s).

 

[Paradyme]

I don't care anymore, I just hope it ends up better then 3. 3 wasn't terrible but it was just lacking quite a bit.

 

[Blader5489]

Well, that confirmed my hunch that Vanderbilt was off the project.

It's literally been a year since he was hired for Spider-Man 4, and we never heard a word (officially, at least) regarding the status of his script(s).

Uh, how many movies give official updates on the script? It's done when it's done, the studio has no control over that (aside from setting a deadline).

Not sure what to make of this news, but I assume he's being hired for a rewrite. I doubt Vanderbilt's script is completely thrown out since that was being used as the basis for the back-to-back filming. In any case, hiring a Pulitzer-winning writer is never bad news.

 

[smoothbody]

just goes to show,that these people have no idea of what to do with the character any more!! told you people, the s-m3 story ruined it for even trying to continue the franchise!!!! no sense of direction for spidey,same old tired director,tired actor,tired exec producer,it's over!!

by the time this movie get's in preproduction t.m. will be like what 33 years old?whatever,it's over!!!!!

 

[Symbiote666]

How exactly does it show that?

Come on, explain to us why hiring an award winning writer, with a line of work that is focused on one of the core elements of this character shows they have no idea what to do with him anymore.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

Uh, how many movies give official updates on the script? It's done when it's done, the studio has no control over that (aside from setting a deadline).

When the news hit that Sony was aiming for a May 2011 release, they could have added a li'l tag like, "And James Vanderbilt is currently typing away on his second draft" and/or "The studio loved his script and Vanderbilt is already working on rewrites" blah blah blah. Not a word from them.

Even the most recent Sam Raimi interview (from 2 weeks back) acknowledged that he still hadn't received any script.

 

[Symbiotic]

Ugh. I see Avi Arad's coming back.

 

[SymbioteKal-El]

^Hopefully Arad keeps his nose out this time, and doesnt suggest any villains to make a 10 minute cameo.

But yeah, this is surprising news, everything seemed to be moving along with Vanderbilt up until recently. Now they hire someone with not a word why. Ah well, as long as the movie is good, I dont really care who writes it.

 

[mclay18]

I mean, S-M 2 had like five writers on board (Chabon, Koepp, Gough, Millar and Sargent), yet that movie was extremely coherent and enjoyable. That said, that could also be due to Raimi and Sargent picking out things they liked from those drafts.

I wouldn't be surprised if Lindsay-Abaire was taken off and Alvin Sargent was brought back in to polish and work in elements of Vanderbilt's and Abaire's drafts for S-M 4 and S-M 5. He does have an option to write a fourth Spidey flick after all.

 

[FaT_tONle]

You wonder if this changes filming parts 4/5 back to back... and don't think it will change though.

 

[Blader5489]

When the news hit that Sony was aiming for a May 2011 release, they could have added a li'l tag like, "And James Vanderbilt is currently typing away on his second draft" and/or "The studio loved his script and Vanderbilt is already working on rewrites" blah blah blah. Not a word from them.

And when does a studio ever release updates like that? Especially for Spider-Man, a franchise that Sony has historically been secretive about?