‘Spider-Man 5′ and ’6′ Bring Back Screenwriter James Vanderbilt

from AceShowBiz.com

The fourth “Spider-Man” film is yet to kick off its production, but Sony Pictures Entertainment has moved on with “Spider-Man 5″ and “Spider-Man 6″ by hiring screenwriter James Vanderbilt. According to Variety, the studio “has quietly engaged” the writer for the original “Spider-Man 4″ screenplay to start work on the next two films for the web-slinging superhero.

Screenwriter James Vanderbilt

Words are, Vanderbilt is being brought back because the executives at Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios like his ideas. The scribe for “Zodiac” is expected to pen an interconnected storyline that will extend from the fifth movie into the sixth with a possibility of back-to-back shooting, like what had been planned for the fourth and fifth films before the idea was scrapped.

The writer of the upcoming “The Losers” was originally hired by Sony to write the screenplay for the fourth film. However, when the first three “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi came into the fourth project and allegedly didn’t embrace all of Vanderbilt’s ideas, “Rabbit Hole” playwright David Lindsay-Abaire was brought in to re-write Vanderbilt’s script.

It is still unclear whether Raimi and lead actor Tobey Maguire will be involved in the fifth and sixth films once again. There is speculation that if the key people of the “Spider-Man” franchise do not return, Vanderbilt’s script would be the blueprint for a franchise reboot.

As for “Spider-Man 4″, it is being prepped to begin production early 2010. While this fourth installment of the series has secured Raimi and Maguire, the questions circulating the potential villains are yet to meet a satisfying answer. Lindsay-Abaire’s script is being re-written by Gary Ross. Produced by Avi Arad, Grant Curtis and Laura Ziskin, the superhero movie will be opened in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2011.

Who’s Going to Be in ‘The Avengers’

 

From AceShowBiz.com 

   On day three of San Diego Comic Con 2009, July 25, Marvel didn’t only present visitors with “Iron Man 2″ panel, but also an update to “The Avengers” in term of which superhero characters will be making an appearance in the film. After the presentation of the “Iron Man” sequel, Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios’ President of Production revealed to Io9 the potential line-up of the super team.
   “I think we know. I think it’s going to be Iron Man and Thor, Captain America and Nick Fury,” he gushed on the matter. “I think it’s safe to assume that there will be some members of the Hulk universe in the film as well. In terms of the additional I think Black Widow, sure. The SHIELD organization for sure. What’s exciting, for me, about The  Avengers movie is seeing those four characters interact with each other.”
   “I think anywhere from the first issues of The Avengers to Civil War the dynamic between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark is just awesome, it’s fascinating. It brings out sides in others that won’t be brought out in the other franchises. Going forward with the mix is a whole other thing, I think it will be cool. So to pile on another 15 or 10, frankly more than four would be too many.” Asked whether Hulk himself will be making an appearance, the studio topper stated that scribe Zak Penn “is outlining it as we speak, so we’ll see.” As for whether Thor depicter Chris Hemsworth has met with “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr., Feige responded, “Oh yes, that was the first meeting of Thor and Tony Stark, it was pretty cool.”

   “The Avengers” will pick up the story when the Earth’s mightiest heroes will have to work together to battle the biggest foe they’ve ever faced. Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson have all been confirmed to star in this film which is now set for May 4, 2012 U.S. release. Director Jon Favreau has been rumored to take the helming part, but he has stated to Movies Online recently that his involvement on the project “has yet to be determined”.
  “Remember, you have to take into account what Thor is and you don’t know that until the film’s locked,” he elaborated more. “You’re not going to know about Thor for two years, what that really means. And [The First Avenger] Captain America, they haven’t even started prepping yet. So there’s a lot of discovery that has to take place before you can understand what Avengers really is.”

Natalie Portman joins the cast of `Thor’

AP – “Star Wars” co-star Natalie Portman is storming back into action films with a role in the comic-book adaptation “Thor.”

The 28-year-old Portman has been cast as Jane Foster, who was a nurse and first love of the title character in the Marvel Comics. According to Marvel Studios, the character is being updated for the movie version of “Thor,” in which the Norse warrior is cast down to Earth to live among humans.

Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor in the movie, which begins shooting early next year. It is due in theaters May 20, 2011. Kenneth Branagh (BRAN’-nah) is directing “Thor.”

The movie is part of an ambitious schedule for Marvel Studios, including “Iron Man 2,” “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers.”

Bo Welch (Men in Black, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns) is the Production Designer

Diana Giorgiutti (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions) is the visual effects producer
Wesley Sewell (Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Iron Man) is the visual effects supervisor 

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