Gary Ross to write and direct 'Venom'

Gary Ross is working out a deal with Columbia to rewrite and possibly direct "Venom," the “Spider-Man” spinoff that's been in development for quite a while already. It's based on one of Spidey's tough villains.

In "Spider-Man 3," Venom was played by Topher Grace, who played Peter Parker's rival and is later transformed into Spidey's opponent after being infected by a nasty alien organism sticking to his skin.

Variety says it is unlikely Grace will return to reprise the role, as the studio is looking to start a potential "Venom" franchise from scratch. In the film, Venom is the antihero turning into a defender of the innocent.

Ross is quite familiar with the Marvel property, as he's currently rewriting Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 4," due in theaters 2011. He also directed "Pleasantville" and "Seabiscuit."

Ross' writing credits include "Dave," "Lassie" and more recently "The Tale of Despereaux."