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'Spider-Man': '(500) Days of Summer's' Marc Webb to direct next three films
With the "Spider-Man" film franchise getting the reboot, Marc Webb is the first to be ensnared by the superhero, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced Tuesday (Jan. 19).The director has yet to become a household name, but his "(500) Days of Summer" starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel has been widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for its playful youthfulness. Webb steps into the director's chair vacated by Sam Raimi, who helmed the first three "Spider-Man" films before Sony decided to revamp the franchise.
"This is a dream come true and I couldn't be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity," says Webb. "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."
Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee approves of the decision to hire Webb: "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."
The first of the films, written by James Vanderbilt, will hit theaters in summer 2012. Production will begin sometime later this year.
The head honchos at Columbia and Marvel claim they picked Webb because of his talent with telling more human, intimate stories, which would be important for the rebooted franchise that focuses more on a high school-aged Peter Parker.
Webb made his theatrical directing debut on "(500) Days of Summer." The bulk of his resume is directing music videos, including ones for Green Day, Weezer, My Chemical Romance, Incubus, Maroon 5, All-American Rejects, Hilary Duff and Ashlee Simpson.
What do you think of the choice of director? And when can we start hearing plot specifics so we can talk casting?
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who cares, never heard of the guy, this is going to be a big fat flop....
I believe that they are making a mistake with this reboot. It's too soon to try and cover same ground as Maguire did and he did it very well. Are they toying with a darker version like Venom? I don't get it. The other films were massive worldwide hits so I'm puzzled with why the reboot?
wow thats pretty ballsy because 500 days of summer was not anywhere near a blockbuster movie. however he nailed emotions and reality and that could be good in the movie... itll be interesting to see what happens
I still don't see the point of this reboot.
http://toointerestingfortwitter.blogspot.com
Yea, definitely no point in making this film. That's why foreign films are doing so well in the market now, ORIGINALITY.
Do the execs who decided to do this bad idea of a reboot work for NBC too? What a big mistake this is, no one wants a rebooted spidey.
I thought his type of movie was always called a re-make. What Yuppie came up with the idea of calling them re-boots. How stupid. Typical Hollywood.
I'm willing to give it a shot but i ask the same question, why reboot spidey when the franchise is doing great? Are they trying to do a NBC/Leno/O'brien? Why fix something that's not broken? Hmmm... I hope it pays off and that all of us would eat our own words by summer 2012.
Let JGL be Spiderman and I'd actually go see these movies.
Two words: BAD IDEA