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Is Spidey Villain News Coming Soon?

Raimi Says Word Could Come After Next Script Draft Is Reviewed

Posted: 2:16 pm EDT October 14, 2009

Perhaps the only thing bigger than the announcement of another "Spider-Man" movie chapter is the announcement of who the web-slinger will face off against come the release of "Spider-Man 4" in 2011.

In an @ The Movies interview Friday to chat about the DVD and Blu-ray release of his horror film "Drag Me to Hell," Raimi said that the time to let the cat out of the bag isn't up to him, but rather the marketing people at Spidey studio Sony Pictures. But he's anticipating something will come out when the current draft of the script is approved.

"We're working on a screenplay right now -- Gary Ross is doing this current draft and is doing a very good job," Raimi said. "I think that when this draft comes in, in about three weeks, we'll know for certain whether it's working and Sony could probably announce the villain probably anytime after that. We still have to make sure that this villain is working -- the ones that we're choosing."

Now before anyone starts reading into the lack of plurality Raimi first used, note how he said "ones" at the end of the quote, leaving open the possibility for more, like there were in "Spider-Man 3."

The bevy of villains, however, is perhaps one of the big reasons "Spider-Man 3" received lukewarm reviews and mixed fan reaction. While the first film had the Green Goblin and the second Doctor Octopus, the third had Sandman, Venom and New Goblin.

Whether it's one or more villains Raimi eventually goes with, the filmmaker promises that the web-slinger's return in "Spider-Man 4" will not be a let-down. After all, as a big "Spider-Man" fan himself, Raimi says what every fan has to say good or bad "tremendously" affects him.

"It can either lift you up as a storyteller or really sting you. It can sting pretty bad for a very long time," Raimi said. "Part of the reason I want to make this 'Spider-Man' film – maybe the biggest reason -- is because I know I can do a lot better than I did last time. I love the character so much -- I just think I got off-track. I hope that I found my way home again to the character that the great Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created. I'm really going to try and bring what I know about the character to the big screen properly this time."

No matter what direction the fourth Spider-Man film takes, it important to Raimi that he remains a character that inspires a sense of wonder in even the youngest of kids.

"The character has always appealed to kids, even when he was in the comic books," Raimi said. "You have a responsibility when you make these pictures to put a character on-screen who is worth these kids' admiration because the kids just give it to the character. You have to earn that admiration. You have to have a character who is responsible, hard-working and respectful. They can have some flaws because you need some drama, but hopefully they can learn to overcome those flaws and grow up to be better human beings. That is a serious responsibility."

Tobey Maguire is set to return as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in "Spider-Man 4," as is Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson. Screenwriter Ross previously worked with Maguire as the director of "Seabiscuit" and "Pleasantville."

Raimi, meanwhile, is developing the big-screen adaptation of the video game "Warcraft," which he will also direct. Like "Spider-Man 4," the film is also pegged for a 2011 release.

Raimi's latest, "Drag Me to Hell," came out on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday. The film marks his first horror flick since "Army of Darkness" in 1982.

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