'Spidey 4' caught up in a tangled script web

(Courtesy:  Columbia Pictures)

If you've already marked May 11, 2011 on your calendar to catch the fourth big-screen "Spider-Man" extravaganza, you may have to look for something else to occupy your time that day.

According to an article posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site and other sources, "Sony and director Sam Raimi are at loggerheads over which direction to go with the villains."

It sounds very much like an impasse that could delay this spring's production launch and, of course, the May 2011 release date.  The good news, anxious Spidey fans, is that you have a little time to pencil something else in for May 11 next year.

According to the Hollywood Reporter article, Raimi, who has been in the director's chair for all three previous Spidey adventures, wants the Vulture as the primary antagonist for the third sequel.

The movie studio is said to be pushing for another villain and a romantic sub-plot involving a burglar dubbed the Black Cat.

'Scuse me, but I have a question.  Is a third sequel really necessary?

Yes and no.  No from an artistic viewpoint, especially since the franchise's visionary leader can't see eye-to-eye with studio suits over Spider-Man's rival and a sub-plot or two.

But yes, oh YES, when it comes to bottom-line Hollywood economics.  The Spidey franchise is a runaway money-making machine.

Methinks if Raimi rages against the machine too much, even the creative genius behind the comic book-to-big screen transformation could become a victim himself going up against the multi-billion dollar revenue machine.