Columbia kills 'Spider-Man 4' and plans reboot!

Whoa! No more 'Spider-Man' with Raimi and co. Columbia plans reboot of series

Last week Sony decided to put "Spider-Man 4' on hold because script problems delayed plans to head into production this year, and today comes the announcement that Columbia has officially killed the fourth installment in the series.

The bad news is that the studio now plans to reboot the whole franchise, and Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will not return. Even worse: the plan is to send Peter Parker back to high school. What the hell are they thinking?

In a press release, Columbia said the new film will feature new filmmakers and actors. The plan is to release the flick in 2012, and it will be based on a script by James Vanderbilt. More news on this so-called reboot will be released soon.

“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre," said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Sam Raimi said, “Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job."

Vanderbilt was also supposed to write the "Spider-Man 5" and "Spider-Man 6" flicks, so my guess is he will stay on board for the reboot and potential sequels. Anyway, here are my two cents: I am not particularly happy about this. A reboot is way too early. And Parker back in high school? Ugh!

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)