Spider Man 4 scrapped: Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire out

: 13 January 2010; John Howell

spider4 After news reports revealed that Spider-Man 4 had been delayed because of script problems, Sony has dropped a Spider-Man bombshell, announcing that the film has been scrapped altogether and that star Tobey Maguire, director Sam Raimi and the rest of the cast, will not return for a fourth film. Believe it or not, they're going to try to perform a Star Trek type reboot of the Spider-Man franchise, with Spider-Man's Peter Parker returning to high school.

Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, in a press release revealed that:

"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 and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning".

Sony Pictures decided to reboot the Spider-Man franchise after director Sam Raimi pulled out because he felt he couldn't make a summer release date and still keep the film's creative integrity.

In his own press release, star of the first 3 Spider-Man movies, Tobey Maguire wrote:

“I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade. Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”

Odds are good that the next thing we hear from Sony is that they're also going to do the new high school Spider-Man movie in 3D.

Sony's press release also announced that we can expect the high school Spider-Man movie to make an appearance in 2012.

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