Editorials > Two Candidates to Play the Next "Spider-man"

Sam Raimi, Kirsten Dunst, and Tobey Maguire made it fairly clear last summer that they were no longer interested in "Spider-man" sequels, leaving many to wonder what would happen to the sometimes great, sometimes mediocre, but always profitable franchise. Well, Cinematical claims to have it on good authority that James Vanderbilt (screenwriter of "Zodiac") has submitted a screenplay to Marvel that could serve as the blueprint for not only "Spider-man 4" but a simultaneously shot "Spider-man 5" as well. This isn't a done deal yet, by any means, but people are starting to get the ball rolling.

As for the question of what actor will play the bookish superhero, Latino Review claims to have the goods. In their words, "Laura Ziskin and Grant Curtis are tossing names around. NO OFFERS HAVE BEEN YET (sic)." Ziskin and Curtis produced the first three films and are presumably the main people responsible for any future Spidey endeavors at this point. According to LR, Ziskin and Curtis are looking at Patrick Fugit and Michael Angarano, the two young actors who played William Miller at different ages in "Almost Famous." Fugit is 25-years-old while Angarano is 20. As LR points out, Fugit certainly looks the geeky part, while Angarano has played heroes (super-powered or not) in "Sky High" and "Forbidden Kingdom," and auditioned for George Miller's "Justice League" movie. 

These are strictly rumors at this point, but I could easily see either man stepping into the role. More easily than I probably could have imagined Tobey Maguire doing so well six years ago. But what do you think? Are these two up to the challenge or should we put the "Spider-man" franchise on hold for a while, regardless of who's filling the spandex?

-David Morgan