I actually think Sam Raimi is a little further along in pre-production on SPIDER-MAN 4 than he lets on to IGN this weekend and I translate the "earliest stages" comment referring more to finalising the script elements they already have in place rather than just beginning work on writing a new movie. They have a release date now, May 6th 2011... things are starting to get serious now for Spidey's fourth installment. Raimi claims he is closing in on villain/villains, one of whom thanks to Nikki Finke we already know was offered to actor Mickey Rourke, who had to turn it down due to his commitment on IRON MAN 2. As we know Raimi has mentioned before he has wanted to include Morbius The Living Vampire in the franchise to add a supernatural element, so it's not too hard of a stretch to think Rourke's was offered that role, as the physical resemblance is strong. Now it will be interesting to see if it was a case of that's the only actor Raimi wanted for that part and without him they have no character, or whether it will be offered elsewhere. We should also take into consideration the progression of Dr. Curt Connors as played by Dylan Baker in the last two movies and the inclusion of The Vulture, a villain Raimi wanted in the last movie before he was forced to include Venom. He had already offered the role to Ben Kingsley before the character was taken out of Raimi's hands... one has to think he has got to be favourite here now Raimi has full control back after Marvel made it's money with Venom, if he wants The Vulture, this time he will get him. He also says he hopes Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary Jane Watson because "it wouldn't be the Spider-Man series without her". Raimi also spoke of THE EVIL DEAD franchise this weekend and revealed that although making a fourth movie was unlikely. at least for a couple of years (as he needs time to write the script for a start), he could forsee hiring a young director to remake his original classic with a big Hollywood budget...
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"I have talked with my partners about having a young director come in and remake Evil Dead...That film was made in 16mm on a shoestring budget and blown up to 35mm. The visual effects are crumby, it was done in mono, not even stereo, let alone 5.1. What you could do with it now would be so much better. I think if you had a new director using the full power of 35mm and 5.1 sound, you could really make a pretty socko presentation. It was always meant for the big screen, but never really seen on the big screen."
As usual with Raimi and THE EVIL DEAD, it's much talk but not much development.