While “Spider-Man 3” was a commerical success, many critics and fans believe it was a step backward for the big-screen franchise about everyone’s favorite web-slinger. It looks like Columbia Pictures may be trying to get the franchise back on track for the inevitable “Spider-Man 4.”
In recent weeks, the studio has worked to get director Sam Raimi and stars Toby McGuire and Kirsten Dundst back into the fold for the fourth installment. Now it appears the studio is taking a serious look at finding a writer who will return the series to the successes of the first two films in the franchise.
Columbia is in final negotations with Pulitzer-prize winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire to write the next Spidey movie. Lindsay-Abaire won the Pulitzer last year for his play “The Rabbit Hole.” If the deal is finalized, Lindsay-Abaire would be the second Pultizer-winner to work on the franchise. Pulitzer-winner Michael Chabon assisted in the writing of “Spider-Man 2.”
The hiring of Lindsay-Abaire is seen by many as a move in the right direction for “Spider-Man 4.” Lindsay-Abaire has said in interviews that his plays tend to be “peopled with outsiders in search of clarity,” which would put his work on sympathetic terms with Peter Parker, who in his classic incarnation is the perpetual outsider.
The choice of scribe also signals that that filmmakers are intent to focus on character, something that critics said got lost in the third installment.
Columbia is keeping details like who the next villain could be under wraps.
Yes. It’s a move in the right direction. In Spidey-4, you’ll get all the drama you found down “The Rabbit Hole”, but will you take the Red Pill, or the Black Pill?