If anyone still doubts that comic book movies are coming up in the world, look no further than this item in The Hollywood Reporter: Apparently, "Spider-Man 4" has landed one heck of a screenwriter in Pulitzer Prize winner and playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. What this means for James Vanderbilt's previous draft is anyone's guess, particularly since plot details remain under tight wraps. But since Lindsay-Abaire's plays focus on (in his own words) "outsiders in search of clarity," the choice suggests that Columbia wants a return to a character-driven "Spider-Man," and a Peter Parker who struggles with his heroic powers.
Columbia has a tradition of hiring top-notch writers for the "Spider-Man" franchise -- if he signs on, Lindsay-Abaire will follow in the skilled footsteps of Alvin Sargent and Michael Chabon. Of course, as "Spider-Man 3„ proved, having a fantastic writer like Sargent doesn't always mean a crowd- or critic-pleasing movie. Read More...