14 DAY TRIAL // The fourth Spider-Man film is happening and, as franchise director Sam Raimi is preparing to take the reins of the story and creative control back, stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are also gearing up to reprise their roles of seven years ago. “Spider-Man 4” will mark a turn in the story as opposed to the previous three films, Raimi tells MTV News of the plot of the upcoming film.
It’s no longer a secret that many fans believed the third Spider-Man film was completely redundant, since it served no one but the movie studio that made more cash by destroying one of the most long-lasting franchises. Because of this, Raimi’s job on the fourth is all the more difficult, as he has to prove the Spidey story is still good enough to sell and draw millions to the cinema. Again, because of this, the famed director aims to take the mature approach to the plot.
“I’ve been talking with Tobey about where his character might grow to in this installment.” Raimi tells MTV of where things are heading with the fourth film. “I think it’s about putting his head down and moving forward with the knowledge that he has this responsibility. And it’s about the growth of that understanding, that it encompasses more than just his sense of duty toward others but he also has a sense of responsibility as a human being toward the ones he loves.” the director adds for the same publication.
For those fans who might believe that the other three movies also dealt with Spider-Man trying to find some balance between matters in his personal life and his responsibilities as a hero, Raimi insists things are not really like that. The first three movies outlined the hero’s journey to maturity, including the hubris in the fourth film and the subsequent fall from grace.
“[Parker] started as a little bit of a selfish, naive and insecure high school kid. He learned some lessons from his uncle and a little bit about the meaning of responsibility. In the second picture, [he] wrestled with his personal fulfillment versus that responsibility and, in the third film, I think it was a little bit about his growing hubris, his pride swallowed up and the darkness that came out of that and the grief that it caused for his best friend and his girlfriend and himself.” Sam Raimi explains.
At the moment, “Spider-Man 4” is nearing production, with Raimi and the movie studio eyeing a spring 2011 release date. For more details on this one, keep an eye on this space.