The 34-year-old actor and “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi will not be returning to the superhero franchise next year. Instead, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced Monday that a new “Spider-Man” film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on Peter Parker in high school would debut in the summer of 2012 with a new cast and filmmaking team.
“I am so proud of what we accomplished with the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise over the last decade,” Maguire said in a statement Monday. “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.”
While I’m disappointed, it actually makes sense because while the first two movies were great, the last installment was a letdown. So it might be better to go for a Spider-Man Begins, so to speak, and see a new take on Peter Parker’s high school years.
It begins with The List — and in 2010, the Marvel Universe will be changed forever.
Here’s the teaser sent by Marvel Entertainment.
If you’re reading New Avengers or the red-hot Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia, then you can’t miss an issue of Dark Reign: The List, beginning with the Avengers!
Clint Barton (Ronin) makes a decision that’ll change the Avengers as you know them! The List–Avengers, from the superstar dream team of Brian Michael Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic, begins the end of the Marvel Universe as you know it when Norman Osborn is targeted for death by Ronin! Meanwhile, Osborn himself reveals his end game–the elimination of every obstacle in his way! He’s battled the X-Men and now, with his sights set on every other major player in the Marvel Universe, all will feel the wrath of Osborn! This landmark issue also features a variant cover by superstar artist Frank Cho!
Click on the pics for bigger images. Here’s a look at the cover.
Sure, as Princess Amidala, Natalie Portman became the love interest of the man who would become one of the most bad-ass villains of all time, Darth Vader (just delete from memory how emo the young Anakin Skywalker a.k.a. Boy Band Vader was). Still, that’s probably nothing compared to being the first love of a bona fide God of Thunder.
Marvel Studios has announced that Portman will play nurse Jane Foster in the movie “Thor,” which is slated for release in May 2011. Foster was Thor’s first love in the early issues of the latest Marvel comic to be adapted for the big screen.
Portman will star opposite Chris Hemsworth who will play Thor and Tom Hiddleston who will play the villain Loki. Kenneth Branagh will direct the film.
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce “Thor.” Principal photography for the film is set for early 2010. The film will be released in the US on May 20, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
By the way, I’m not sure how true those persistent rumors were for the past few years that World Wrestling Entertainment pro wrestler Triple H was in the running for the role of Thor in the new movie, but obviously he won’t be playing the God of Thunder.
I’m not a kid anymore, but there’s a lot of cool stuff to enjoy at MarvelKids.com.
Aside from Flash games featuring your favorite Marvel superheroes, you can watch some episodes of Marvel animated TV shows such as Wolverine and the X-Men.
Here are the three full episodes you can watch online — the first three episodes of Season 1.
