The Playlist is reporting that Kathryn Bigelow, fresh off her Oscar-winning night for The Hurt Locker, was actually in talks to reboot the Spiderman franchise, but declined to direct her upcoming film Triple Frontier. She is currently signed on to shoot The Miraculous Year sometime in late spring or early summer. This HBO feature was penned by Oscar-nominated scribe John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator) and, as of right now, these two films are the only projects on Bigelow’s plate.

In addition, the report informs us that Mark Boal, the Oscar-winning writer of The Hurt Locker, will write the script for Triple Frontier. The film is being described as some type of action/adventure story located in the border area between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. We’re still not entirely sure what the film’s language will be, but the report suggests that it could be a “multi-lingual effort.” Producers currently attached to Triple Frontier include Charles Roven (The Dark Knight), Alex Gartner (Get Smart) and Steve Alexander.

I for one find the developing collaboration between Bigelow and Boal to be quite promising; they seem to have a mutual feel for this type of gritty action drama. I also find it reassuring that Bigelow turned down the Spiderman gig for this film, clearly indicating that this is a project she has a lot of confidence in.

Is there any reason to be skeptical about Triple Frontier?

Ever thought it might be cool to see the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man from Ghostbusters stomp through New York in 3D? Or how about the massive alien ships from District 9? Maybe you’ve always wanted to feel what it was like to be Spider-Man swinging from the rooftops? Well your wish just might be coming true, popular films in the Sony catalogue are looking to get a 3D makeover. Read the full story

While out promoting Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief star Logan Lerman stated to Access Hollywood that he happens to be in talks for starring in Marc Webb’s upcoming reboot of Spider-Man. Here’s what Lerman had to say: Read the full story

Much speculation has been circulating around Hollywood as to who would be directing Sony’s Spider-Man reboot. Names ranging everywhere from James Cameron to Michael Bay have been rumored for the last few weeks. Well, according to a report on Vulture, (500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb has apparently signed on to do not one, but three upcoming Spider-Man films. Now if memory serves me correctly, Marc Webb was the choice everyone was hoping for, so it looks like Sony is listening to people (at least in some fashion). According to a quote given by Claude Brodesser-Akner:

Sony will imminently announce a deal with “(500) Days of Summer” director Marc Webb to direct not one, but three ‘Spider-Man’ movies in a rebooted franchise that will focus far more on the private life of Peter Parker.

UPDATE: The official press release is below.

CULVER CITY, Calif., January , 2010 – Marc Webb, the director of the Golden Globe nominated Best Picture (500) Days of Summer, will direct the next chapter in the Spider-Man franchise, set to hit theaters summer 2012, it was jointly announced today by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Written by James Vanderbilt, Webb will work closely with producers Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin in developing the project, which will begin production later this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, said, “At its core, Spider-Man is a small, intimate human story about an everyday teenager that takes place in an epic super-human world. The key for us as we sought a new director was to identify filmmakers who could give sharp focus to Peter Parker’s life. We wanted someone who could capture the awe of being in Peter’s shoes so the audience could experience his sense of discovery while giving real heart to the emotion, anxiety, and recklessness of that age and coupling all of that with the adrenaline of Spider-Man’s adventure. We believe Marc Webb is the perfect choice to bring us on that journey.”

Arad and Ziskin added jointly, “Over the years, the Spider-Man comics have been told with bold and creative new writers and artists who have re-calibrated the way audiences see Peter Parker. Marc Webb will do for the new direction of the films what so many visionary storytellers have done with the comic books. He is an incredibly talented filmmaker and we look forward to working closely with him on this new adventure.”

Webb said, “This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity. Sam Raimi’s virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to ‘take over’ from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man.”

Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, added, “I’m excited that Sony has chosen a director with a real penchant and understanding for the character. This is a brave, bold direction for the franchise, and I can’t wait to see what Marc comes up with next.”

Added Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, “The idea of re-imagining the on-screen story for one of the world’s most iconic superheros is sure to deliver an exciting new dimension to Spider-Man fans everywhere. There are volumes of comics and material available to inspire fresh and compelling takes on Peter Parker and his journey as Spidey and we look forward to seeing this come alive onscreen.”

Marc Webb has won acclaim with his film debut (500) Days of Summer. He has several MTV VMAs™ including 2009’s Best Director award for Green Day’s “21 Guns,” 2006 Best Rock Video for AFI’s “Miss Murder,” and Best Group Video for The All-American Rejects’ “Move Along.” The Music Video Production Association honored him in 2006 as the Director of the Year for his work with Weezer, AAR, and My Chemical Romance.

In addition to two Golden Globe nominations including Best Picture (musical or comedy), his first feature film, (500) Days of Summer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, has been nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature. Webb was also awarded the Spotlight Award, which honors outstanding directorial debuts, by the National Board of Review.

Heat Vision also has a news about the (smaller) budget for the movie and what they are going for in terms of casting. Check it out below:

The plan for the movie is to be in the $80 million range and feature a cast of relative unknowns (so you can quash those Rob Pattinson or Gordon-Levitt rumors at this point). And the story will be pared down to center on a high school kid who is dealing with the knowledge that his uncle died even though the teen had the power to stop it.

The touchstone for the new movie will not be the 1960s comics, which were the inspiration behind the movies by Raimi, who grew on up on them, but rather this past decade’s “Ultimate Spider-Man” comics by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley where the villain-fighting took a back seat to the high school angst.

I don’t have much to say. I was hoping like everyone else for Webb to get the franchise and I only he hope he makes the best of a bad situation. I have a feeling that Marc Webb will create a Spidey film that will make both Sony and the fans happy. My greatest hope is that he consults in some way with Raimi to find out what he did right and play off that.

Do you think Marc Webb is the right choice for Spidey?

From the people behind The Sequels That Bombed comes a new graphic highlighting the superhero genre through the years. I originally found it on Firstshowing.net via Koldcast TV and you can view a smaller version below, but you will definitely want to click it to check out the full thing. Read the full story

For a while now Zombieland scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese have been working on bringing the Venom spin-off to the bring screen. It’s been stated in the past that they’ve written two drafts, but now it seems Gary Ross will be handling the script. Variety blog BfDealMemo is reporting that writer/director Gary Ross is being courted to rewrite the script and possibly direct. Ross is currently working on the script for Spiderman 4 and may work on Venom after his work is done there.

Gary Ross seems like a rather odd choice to direct Venom — the man’s directorial credits include Pleasantville and Seabiscuit. Nothing in those films really show that he has an eye for dark material. While those are very good films that pull my heart strings, nothing about them screams Ross is the right man to do Venom. With all that said, Ross is talented and maybe he could do something interesting.

Do you think the director of Seabiscuit could be the same director for Venom?

According to a press release by IMAX Corporation and Columbia Pictures today, Spider-Man 4 will be released for traditional screens as well as in all IMAX theaters worldwide on May 5, 2011. The fourth installment will be distributed domestically by Columbia Pictures and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International.

“The addition of so many new IMAX locations will give even more fans of Spider-Man an opportunity to experience the action and adventure in a unique way,” said Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing. IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond pointed out as well that the IMAX network of theaters has “grown significantly” and that they “continue to roll-out new theaters virtually every week.” All of this sounds very alluring and it’s great to have more films being pushed out on the IMAX network however it’s important to note that this global network of “IMAX” theaters includes the much smaller and nearly irrelevant flavor of IMAX licensed screens that are less than half the size of a true IMAX screen.

I would reluctantly gladly pay a few extra dollars to see Spider-Man 4 on a true IMAX screen but with ticket prices rising and the very underhanded marketing move of selling the larger-than-regular-but-far-smaller-than-IMAX screens as the true “IMAX Experience” really turns me off to the whole thing. My only local IMAX theater is this special smaller licensed IMAX screen. At around $5 to $6 more a ticket, I will enjoy the less crowded regular screens and save that extra money for my alcohol dependency a nice beer after the show.

Bruce Campbell recently sat down on an episode of Access Hollywood and spilled the beans on Spider-Man 4. Campbell has had a cameo in all of the previous Spider-Man films however he stated on Access Hollywood that he will have “a major part” in Spider-Man 4 and that it will begin shooting in January. No one else from the cast or crew has stated anything regarding the upcoming installment.

Last month we reported that the 4th and 5th installments were being written and had been set to start production. Thanks to Campbell’s interview we now know it was more than just rumors. The big question is, what is this “major part” Campbell is talking about? A possible villian perhaps? There is some debate that it could be either Mysterio or Shocker, but I think he would be an awesome Carnage. Campbell has a persona that would suit well for the psycho infected by the venom spawn. Maybe they will even find a way to resurrect Topher Grace and we will get a Venom/Carnage combo.

A while back writer James Vanderbilt was hired to pen the Spider-Man 4 script . The project was later re-written by Gary Ross. But apparently Sony liked Vanderbilt’s ideas so much that they have hired him to write Spider-Man 5 & 6, according to Variety. Yup, before production has even begun on 4, the next two are being written. Raimi and Maguire are signed on for the fourth installment and production is set to begin next year.

I can’t sit back and say this is a good idea, but it isn’t a bad idea either. I don’t think Sony should be thinking about a story for 5 & 6 without at least 4 being in production. But by writing a script now they have the best possibility of getting everyone to return for 2 more film since a script they can read will already be finished, and they can grab them before they go off to do a different project.

Do you think Sony should be moving ahead so soon with Spider-Man 5 and 6?

Variety reported today that the new Spider-Man film is receiving a rewrite from Seabiscuit scribe Gary Ross. Seabiscuit also starred Toby Maguire so Ross should have a good idea for who he is writing the part for. Director Sam Raimi is set to return and Columbia Pictures along with Marvel Studios are set to put the film into production next year.

This is great news for the Spider-Man franchise. I can’t wait to see what Ross comes up with and that fact that all the key players (Raimi, Maguire) are set to return give this film the best chance for success.

Are you looking foward to Spider-Man 4?