The Amazing Spider-Man "SPIDER-MAN 4 Production on Indefinite Hold "....NOT!...or Maybe?

[chaseter]

All of these movies have been around 2 hours or longer. It will not be 100 minutes.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

All of these movies have been around 2 hours or longer. It will not be 100 minutes.

Agreed.

 

[Spider-Fan]

SM1 had a runtime of 2 hours. SM2 had a runtime of around 2 hours and 10 mins. SM3 had 2 hours and 20 mins for a runtime. Why would they all of a sudden cut it down to 100 mins?

Are people really against Raimi and Sony to the point that they ignore prior history in the runtime of the films and try and add a new point to panic on just to panic?

 

[©KAW]

No, but some are against Raimi/Sony because of prior horrible creative decisions that they've made about the films themselves--and the running time is not the problem. I personally wouldn't care if the film was 1hr/50mins., as long as it's great film making, based on a great character like Spidey.

 

[Spider-Fan]

It's one thing to argue creative decisions in the series, and an entirely other matter to just make up things to be scared about. How does it make any sense to start predicting a short runtime in a series that has been historically 2 hours or more in runtime, and being done by virtually the same people that made those runtimes? It doesn't make any sense to me.

I don't mind arguing over creative decisions in the series. We all have different opinions on the films and how the series should continue. But, concerns like the runtime make me roll my eyes.

 

[Chewy]

Hey, look what Nikki Finke is confirming

This is a story I've been working on ever since I saw this December 11th email that went out to the Spider-Man 4 special effects crew that day:

Hey there--
We were just notified that our schedule is pushing. We will NOT be starting as planned. I’m terribly sorry for this news, and I hope this email reaches you in time to find other options. We do not know how long we are pushing, and we will not know until mid-January. By mid-January, we will be told how long the push is, whether it be 2 weeks, 2 months, or something else. The studio has every intention of making the movie, but we no longer have a confirmed start date.
Again, I’m terribly sorry, but Sam Raimi has story issues [that] need to be resolved before we are ready to shoot.
Feel free to call me if you have any questions.
VFX Team
​

At that point, it wasn't well known that the Spider-Man franchise director who also is helming the 4th installment had huge problems with the script that has run through screenwriters Jamie Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross. I'm even told Sam Raimi had been very vocal inside Sony that he "hated" it. Now Raimi and Sony are anxiously waiting for still another version from screenwriter Alvin Sargent, who wrote Spidey 2 & 3 and is married to Spidey franchise producer Laura Ziskind. "It is unlikely that May 11, 2011, date will be made," a Sony insider just told me today. "It depends on how quickly the script can get in." However, agents have told clients in the movie to already expect the film to be pushed back.

My sources say Sony still intends to release that summer, even if the new date is July 2011. But Spider-Man has always owned that coveted early May date. Even as far back as September 2008 when I reported my exclusive that Sony Locks In Sam Raimi & Tobey Maguire in 'Spider-Man 4'. And now this is a giant opportunity for other studios planning their 2011 schedules to grab this big opening.

Spider-Man 4 was supposed to start filming in February, and star Tobey Maguire echoed that repeatedly in publicity appearances for Brothers. Then it pushed to March. Then late March/early April. And now there's no date at all, according to my Sony insiders who emailed me: "Some decisions have been made over the holiday about Spider-Man 4. We will be extending the production hiatus on the film. The studio is firmly committed to this franchise but, for us, the script must come first. We intend to notify members of the crew immediately. As you know, Alvin Sargent is currently working on the screenplay. When we have more news, we will keep you posted."

I do know that Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal, who has shepherded the Spider-Man franchise from Day One, has been wrestling with this script problem for months. "I'm going to do everything I can to make May," she has repeatedly told Hollywood types involved with the movie. "But I'm not going to start a movie where the script isn't right yet. Not unless I want my career to be over."

Fortunately for Pascal, Sony is not yet "pay or play" on some of the talent negotiations which were still only at the tail end. Raimi is insisting that John Malkovich play the villain, so that won't change. But I do hear that it's now unlikely Anne Hathaway will be cast. "I'm not so sure we're going in that direction," an insider told me recently. Sony had been hot for her until bigwigs realized she'd cost too much and they probably don't need "such a big star" for the pic, I'm told. (See my previous, Anne Hathaway Wanted For 'Spider-Man 4')
More as I get it...

SOURCE

 

[MadVillainy]

oh boy....

 

[kbrooksgohan]

Good news....i want them to take the time to get it right...

 

[omid17]

im cool with it, the black cat/vultress **** was killing me, take your time and come up with something good

 

[Slusho]

That Article states that they still want to release it 2011, maybe in July.

That would only be a 2 month delay, in no way enough to fix a script that Raimi "hated" and from the sound of it needs a major overhaul.

Also interesting is that they don't want Anne Hathaway anymore.

Does this mean they write the character she would have played out of the script or that they just want another actress for the same role?

 

[craigdbfan]

Geez this is starting to sound like SM3 all over again or worst.

Really hope they get their act together.

Maybe its time for an entirely different take on SM (without retelling the origin story) and for Sam Raimi to just leave this project and begin working on WoW.

I'd prefer that over another SM3 or something possibly far more atrocious.

 

[MadVillainy]

Geez this is starting to sound like SM3 all over again or worst.

Really hope they get their act together.

Maybe its time for an entirely different take on SM (without retelling the origin story) and for Sam Raimi to just leave this project and begin working on WoW.

I'd prefer that over another SM3 or something possibly far more atrocious.

I wouldnt mind that, but I would prefer for Raimi to redeem himself in SM4

 

[craigdbfan]

I wouldnt mind that, but I would prefer for Raimi to redeem himself in SM4

Same here.

But I also don't want a studio vs director mess of a movie to unfold. If they can't agree and the studio ends up forcing plot points or characters in the film that well spell disaster for the movie.

Raimi already had studio interference issues last time, I think he'll back out if it starts going down a similar route or worse.

Raimi hates the script and Sony doesn't like the villains Raimi wants to use. Even if this other screenwriter ends up writing a script that Raimi likes the studio will still have a problem with the villain.

These seem like serious disputes. Hopefully everything just gets straightened out positively.

 

[DarthDaveBanner]

Taking time to get the right script can't be a bad thing.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I'm happy that Raimi Still wants Malkovich for Vulture, but i am upset about the delays. I just hope Sam and the studios can work things out.

 

[Scarlet Spider]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013340.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=vertfilm

Sony postpones 'Spider-Man 4'
Script problems push back Sam-Raimi helmed pic
By TATIANA SIEGEL

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 within the fanboy blogosphere 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.

Though 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.

"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."

 

[Marvel Spider]

I just hope Sam and the studios can work things out.

Agreed.

 

[Sam Fisher]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013340.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=vertfilm

 

[Spider-Ranger]

I still got the feeling that this film will be postponed and that its running time will be a little over 100 mins... if not less than 100 mins...

If this source is telling the truth then:

 

[pptss]

Confirmed here.

 

[webhead731]

Sorry, but are these sources really...reliable?

 

[Scarlet Spider]

Sorry, but are these sources really...reliable?

100% reliable.

Variety is the top industry trade. They get their information straight from the studios.

It's confirmed. This movie has been postponed indefinitely, sadly...

 

[VenomVsSpidey]

sometimes it saddens me to know just how gullible people really are.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

100% reliable.

Variety is the top industry trade. They get their information straight from the studios.

It's confirmed. This movie has been postponed indefinitely, sadly...

Indeed. I hope we get more info on this situation.

 

[webhead731]

We better get something at Comic-Con because I'm going for the sole purpose of seeing it.