Third Writer for ‘Spider-Man 4′

Published by Jeff Leins on July 9, 2009

Gary Ross has been hired to rewrite the Spider-Man 4 script, which marks the third screenwriter to rework the sequel.  Previously hired were James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire.

Ross wrote (and directed) Seabiscuit and Pleasantville, which both starred Tobey Maguire, and co-wrote the 1988 classic Big.  When he’s finished re-working Spider-Man’s latest adventure, Ross will pen a Lance Armstrong biopic for Columbia/Sony, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

If you’re at all concerned about how many writers are putting their grubby little fingers on the script, don’t worry.  Spider-Man 2 had four different people work on the story and screenplay and it’s widely regarded as the best of the current trilogy.  At least Sam Raimi and his brother Ivan Raimi aren’t actively writing this one after a few of the cringe-worthy scenes in Spider-Man 3.

Maguire is returning to star as Peter Parker and Raimi is directing for a release on May 6, 2011.  The director is waiting to see what Mary Jane’s involvement is in the story before officially re-casting Kirsten Dunst.  No official villain annoucements yet either.