Marc Webb Reels in Martin Sheen, Sally Field to Look After "Spider-Man"

Anyone who doubted how good the new "Spider-Man" reboot would be ought to start changing their minds. As the cast for Marc Webb's new franchise-starter grows, so does the confidence that it will be a success.

Legendary actors Martin Sheen and Sally Field are in talks to play Uncle Ben and Aunt May, respectively, in the upcoming reboot at Sony Pictures, according to Heat Vision. While Sheen is in final negotiations, Field still is in early talks for the part.

Nevertheless, I honestly can’t think of two actors who could be better than these two to play Uncle Ben and Aunt May. In the first three films, actress Rosemary Harris took on the role, and while I know she's a legend in her own right (and also looks a lot like Aunt May), I hated her. There was something that never seemed quite right to me about her in the part, so its welcoming news to see Oscar-winner Field in talks for the role.

Even better is the addition of Sheen. Uncle Ben is supposed to epitomize what Peter Parker is fighting for and I can already see him spewing the line, "With great power comes great responsibility."

The characters are, of course, the parental figures who look after Peter (Garfield)--and Ben's death has a major impact on his decision to slip on the webbed spandex.

The pair will join Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans, who have previously been announced as playing Gwen Stacey and The Lizard, respectively. As I said, this cast is starting to round out nicely.

While Garfield might not be the most recognizable name to the masses, to the better-informed, he is one of the best young actors out there right now. Have you seen "The Social Network" yet? Go, because he's one of the best in it. Have you seen "Never Let Me Go" yet? His performance is wonderful.

Shooting on the reboot kicks off next month, so keep your eyes open for more casting news and hopefully some set photos in the coming weeks.

Slattery Up For Jameson In "Spider-Man"

What's Playing reports that "Mad Men" actor John Slattery is apparently first in line for the role of The Daily Bugle's gruff newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson for Marc Webb's upcoming "Spider-Man" reboot.

Sam Elliott is also apparently in contention for the role. Both Slattery and Elliott have previously worked with Marvel on other projects - namely "Iron Man 2" and "Ghost Rider" respectively.

The choices sound like the character will be a much more serious and possibly darker take on the character than J.K. Simmons' brilliant manic take on the character in the three previous Sam Raimi-directed films.

Considering how obsessed I am with "Mad Men" and Roger Sterling I pray Slattery gets the role, although Sam Elliot is a fine actor too. Either way the role of JJ should be very fitting for both of these men. But I'd love to see Slattery slide into the offices of the Daily Bugle.

Come on Rog!

Andrew Garfield Spins His Web Finally on New Role: Movie News

British actor Andrew Garfield has finally spoken about scoring the role of Peter Parker in the planned "Spider-Man" reboot for Sony Pictures. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend, the star of "Never Let Me Go" said the following:

"I have been waiting for this phone call for 24 years, for someone to call me up and say, "Hey, we want you to pretend to be a character that you’ve always wanted to be all your life and we’re going to do it with cool cameras and cool effects, and you’re going to feel like you’re swinging through New York City. Do you want to do that?

“'Let me just consult with my seven-year old self and see what he thinks...' So, my seven-year-old self started screaming in my soul and saying, This is what we’ve been waiting for. Like every young boy who feels stronger on the inside than they look on the outside, any skinny boy basically who wishes their muscles matched their sense of injustice, God, it’s just the stuff that dreams are made of, for sure.

It’s a true f*cking honor to be part of this symbol that I actually think is a very important symbol and it’s meant a great deal to me, and it continues to mean something to people. So yeah, I feel like I’ve been preparing for it for a while. Ever since Halloween, when I was four years old and I wore my first Spider-Man costume."

Garfield adds that he's begun training for the role with the focus being on flexibility. However, things are still early so he doesn't really have much to say about it. Filming on the Marc Webb-directed project kicks off in December.

It's a few quotes, but the point being is that this is an actor to watch. Just check out the trailer of the film "Boy A" from overseas. You only need to see a few minutes to see how good he is.

Or hell, even watch "The Social Network" trailer again to see how talented this kid is. Marc Webb and Garfield together is any true Spider-Man fan's best case scenario. These are two supremely talented individuals.

And please go see "Never Let Me Go," or at least read the book. The movie will be great and the book is heartbreaking and just genius. The film will be released on September 15.

There's been no official word yet on the story of the new Spider-Man flick, but I'm sure rumors will start spreading like wild fire.

Know This Man's Name: Andrew Garfield Speaks About Spider-Man

British actor Andrew Garfield has finally spoken about scoring the role of Peter Parker in the planned "Spider-Man" reboot for Sony Pictures. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend, the star of "Never Let Me Go" actor said the following statement:

"I have been waiting for this phone call for 24 years, for someone to call me up and say, "Hey, we want you to pretend to be a character that you’ve always wanted to be all your life, and we’re going to do it with cool cameras and cool effects and you’re going to feel like you’re swinging through New York City. Do you want to do that?"

“Let me just consult with my seven-year old self and see what he thinks...” So my seven-year-old self started screaming in my soul and saying, This is what we’ve been waiting for. Like every young boy who feels stronger on the inside than they look on the outside, any skinny boy basically who wishes their muscles matched their sense of injustice, God, it’s just the stuff that dreams are made of, for sure.

It’s a true f*cking honor to be part of this symbol that I actually think is a very important symbol and it’s meant a great deal to me, and it continues to mean something to people. So yeah, I feel like I’ve been preparing for it for a while. Ever since Halloween when I was four years old and I wore my first Spider-Man costume."

Garfield adds that he's begun training for the role with the focus being on flexibility, "making sure that I can be as flexible as possible." However things are still early so he doesn't really have much to say about it. Filming on the Marc Webb-directed project kicks off in December.

It's a few quotes, but the point being is that this is an actor to watch. Just check out the trailer of the film Boy A from overseas. You only need to see a few minutes to see how good he is. Or hell, even watch The Social Network trailer again to see how talented this kid is. Marc Webb and Garfield together is any true Spider-Man fan's best case scenario. These are two supremely talented individuals.

And god please go see "Never Let Me Go", or at least read the book. The movie will be great, and the book is heartbreaking and just genius. The film will be released on September 15.

Michael Fassbender Up for "X-Men" & "Spider-Man 4"

German-born, Irish-raised Michael Fassbender ("Inglourious Basterds," "Hunger") is currently being linked to not one but two Marvel comic book film adaptations currently heading towards production.

According to Showbiz 411: "X-Men: First Class" director Matthew Vaughn is pursuing Fassbender to play the younger version of Ian McKellen’s Magneto in Fox's prequel project which already stars James McAvoy as the younger Professor Charles X. Xavier. That film is slated to kick off filming soon in the UK for release next summer.

At the same time, Fassbender is being pursued to play the villain in “Spider-Man 4" at Sony Pictures. As that film isn't scheduled to hit until mid-2012, its production won't kick off until sometime next year.

Fassbender is expected to choose one over the other--the question is which one and how it will fit into his schedule. On top of that, the new “Spider-Man” villain has yet to be revealed, and director Marc Webb has still yet to choose his new Peter Parker. Fassbender was great in “Inglourious Basterds” last summer, and whichever role he chooses, he is likely to be excellent in it.

The actor is currently shooting David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" and will next star in David Jacobson's "A Single Shot."

Logan Lerman as Spider-Man? Not so fast!

Logan Lerman is not in talks to play Peter Parker in the "Spider-Man" reboot, says Heat Vision.

According to Heat Vision: News broke last week that Logan Lerman was one of the actors being considered for Peter Parker in Sony's Spidey reboot. When asked about the news, Lerman was extremely cautious about revealing anything at all, which is understandable knowing the way the Internet has their way with rumors.

Said Lerman: "It's just, you know, conversations are starting. It's a long process with the studio and the producers and everything. But it's definitely a project that I'm really interested in, of course.”

Both Columbia Pictures and the actor’s camp have denied that Lerman, who stars as the title character in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” is the lead candidate for job.

While a “wide net” is being cast, according to a studio spokesman, “No offers have been made, nor have any business discussions been made with Lerman.”

The studio has yet to even close a deal with the film’s potential director, Marc Webb, who would helm what promises to be a much more lean and high school-focused movie than the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire predecessors.

Taking a look at his past movies, Lerman certainly looks as if he’s ready to star in a tent-pole action film. He was Christian Bale's son in "3:10 To Yuma," and starred next to Drew Barrymore in "Riding in Cars with Boys," but his break out role was in "The Patriot."

I think the fact that the studio still has yet to close the deal with Webb means that we have to take these Internet rumors with a grain of salt. But in my opinion, I actually think Lerman would be a good Peter Parker. He’s young enough, and he has the look for a high school-age geek-type. Lerman was excellent back when he was on the underrated show “Jack and Bobby” years ago, and this could be a huge break for him.

“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is released February 12, 2010.

Webb The Hot Tip For "Spider-Man 4"

How fitting that one of the rumored names to take over the “Spider-Man” franchise name is Webb.

"(500) Days of Summer" director Marc Webb is still the frontrunner for the director's chair of a fourth "Spider-Man," reports Deadline Hollywood.

According to Deadline Hollywood: Marc Webb, the "(500) Days Of Summer" director, has climbed to the top of the Sony Pictures' list to rebirth the Spider-Man franchise. While the studio has a wish list of star directors like James Cameron, David Fincher and Wes Anderson, the emergence of Webb as director comes as a huge surprise.

Sources say Webb met about the Spidey reboot with the pic's producers and executives looking to get the picture into production later this year for a Summer 2012 release.

The studio reportedly wants to shoot the film in 3D.

Although he’ll fit in with a name like Webb, it’s a curious choice to helm the franchise due to the fact that he has no previous superhero experience. But at the same time, that wasn’t a problem with “Spider-man” director Sam Raimi nor Chris Nolan with the “Batman” films.

Sony must feel that Webb has the right style and mind to depict the way young people think and feel. By bringing Peter Parker back to high school the studio will want a filmmaker who can harness those ideas and bring them to an audience that will be about the same age.

I thought “(500) Days of Summer” was fantastic; Webb turned the clichés of romantic comedy films into something new and unique. It would be awesome to see what someone like James Cameron or David Fincher would do with the character but it would be even more interesting to see what Webb would do with the superhero genre.

Look for "Spider-Man 4" in 2012.

Sony Washes Hands of “Spider-Man” Franchise, Decides Reboot

The “Spider-Man” franchise as we know it is dead. According to Deadline Hollywood, director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire have officially walked away from the project, and it has been all but confirmed that co-stars Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, J.K. Simmons, and Rosemary Harris will follow suit. Columbia Films has said that “Spider-Man 4” will be overhauled and pushed back to a 2012 release.

The break-up can be attributed to creative indifferences. Rumors floated around Hollywood shortly after the May 2007 release of “Spider-Man 3” that Kirsten Dunst would not be participating in the fourth installment and Raimi and Sony were constantly at each other’s throats.

Principal photography on “Spider-Man 4” had already been postponed before the recent announcement due to script-related problems. As it stands, the film’s first draft, written by James Vanderbilt (“Zodiac”), will be the shooting script. David Lindsay-Abaire (“Inkheart”) re-wrote that draft, and Lindsay-Abaire’s draft was then re-written by Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit”). Ultimately, though, it will be Vanderbilt’s words seen on the screen.

Raimi, according to Finke, “hated” the current script, and felt that he would not be able to produce a work of satisfactory quality in the amount of time he had to work with before the initial May 11, 2011 release date. Production was first slated to begin in February and had been bumped back twice already to a mid-April shoot. Raimi told Sony executives, “I can’t make your date. I can’t go forward creatively.”

Does this leave the juggernaut franchise dead in the water? Far from it. Due to the on-set unrest originating during the production of the all-over-the-place “Spider-Man 3”, Sony hired Vanderbilt to not only write “4,” but a fifth and sixth installment as well. The scripts (or, treatments, in the later sequels’ case) overhaul the series. The move is not unlike the facelift the webslinger’s DC Comics rival got in 2005’s “Batman Begins.”

The story will be a reboot with a whole new production team that will use the pre-existing script by Vanderbilt. It will return Parker to being a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

In an official press release from Sony, chief Amy Pascal said: "Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots.”

Nicole Sperling of Entertainment Weekly claims that Sony is seeking a more “gritty, contemporary” varnish for the series. What this means, exactly, is anyone’s guess. This approach may allow for a more down-to-earth take on Spidey. Keep in mind that the budgets for the films jumped from $139 million to $200 million to $258 million (the biggest budget ever for a movie, at the time). Sony may hold on to their purse strings a little more tightly with a reboot, as the talent involved won’t be as much of a guarantee to bring in the masses to the multiplex. Expect a figure somewhere between $150 and $200 million, although that figure could skyrocket if Sony decides to do the film in 3D after the mind-boggling success of “Avatar.”

Afterall, despite "Spider-Man 3" getting poor reviews and costing a whopping $250 million, it still pulled in $890 million worldwide.

One thing the studio is happy about is that now they essentially have full control of the property again and will likely hire a more complicit director. Also, the return to teenage years rather than exploring the life of a 30-something married man holds more appeal to a younger audience.

But the studio is taking a risk since the first two films were critical darlings, all three are box-office titans, and a lot of people have loyalty to Raimi far more than they do the studio and in some cases the character itself.

There are a few big names being circled for the vacant director’s seat. Marc Webber is thought to be a leading candidate after his success with “(500) Days of Summer." He was also in talks to direct a remake of Norman Jewison’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and after Sony’s debacle involving Steven Soderbergh’s departure from the upcoming “Moneyball,” Webb almost came away wit the job (which eventually went to Bennett Miller). Gary Ross has expressed interest. Michael Bay has also said that he would enjoy taking a stab at the series. This would be unlikely because he is set to start production on “Transformers 3” in May and has stated that after the robo-clash franchise he wants to work on something smaller in scope (“Pearl Harbor 2”?). James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and David Fincher were all candidates for the first film, but are all unlikely to want to get in line for this fiasco.

Any directorial or casting developments should happen quickly. Variety alleges that, “Columbia needs to continue actively developing “Spider Man” films or else the property will revert back to Disney/Marvel.” It also claims that the studio plans to hire a new director and cast within the next few weeks.

"Spider-Man 4" Gets Delayed

With Sony Pictures and director Sam Raimi still fighting over the direction to go with the villains for the latest "Spider-Man" installment, not only has the scheduled spring production start been delayed but now there's talk of the film possibly delaying its May 2011 release, reports Deadline Hollywood.

According to Deadline: Director Sam Raimi has been exceedingly vocal about his hatred for the current Spidey script, and it is now being sent back for more rewrites and that, according to a Sony insider, “it is unlikely that May 11, 2011, date will be made. It depends on how quickly the script can get in."

The source admits that the cast is still "firmly" committed to the film, but they are all waiting on this new script, so yet again everything has been put on hold.

Raimi has been pushing for the criminal Vulture as the primary antagonist in the film, while the studio is against it and wants both a different villain and a romantic sub-plot with the Black Cat.

Several writers have tried to deliver a script to appease both parties' wishes without much success. Alvin Sargent is the latest scribe to come onboard and both parties are awaiting his draft. James Vanderbilt (“Zodiac”) and Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit”) both have submitted drafts as well.

Although delays and script trouble are never good signs for a film, especially one of this caliber, I think this is actually a positive move for the web-crawling franchise.

If anyone saw “Spider-Man 3”, they know that things should have turned out a lot better (and that the singing montage should have never seen the light of day). Raimi complained that the studio forced him to include the villain Venom, and that story line dragged down the entire film.

Maybe for once the studio should listen to its director instead of dictate orders. The first two Spider-Man films were some of the best superhero films that have been made, and Raimi is an extremely smart and creative filmmaker.

“Spider-Man 4” is slated for a May 11, 2011 release, which is likely to change in the near future unless the script problems are cleared up.