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Sam Raimi Reveals Why He Left SPIDER-MAN 4
Back in 2009, Sam Raimi was set to direct a fourth installment of his Spider-Man series. The film was already in pre-production and began casting when the project fell apart and Sony decided to reboot the franchise instead. At that time, John Malkovich was set to play the Vulture while Anne Hathaway was also on board either as Felicia Hardy, a.k.a., the Black Cat, or a new character named Vulturess (shudder). Speaking to Vulture, Raimi reveals that Hathaway's role was indeed the Black Cat and explains why he dropped out of Spider-Man 4:
"It really was the most amicable and undramatic of breakups: It was simply that we had a deadline and I couldn’t get the story to work on a level that I wanted it to work. I was very unhappy with Spider-Man 3, and I wanted to make Spider-Man 4 to end on a very high note, the best Spider-Man of them all. But I couldn’t get the script together in time, due to my own failings, and I said to Sony, “I don’t want to make a movie that is less than great, so I think we shouldn’t make this picture. Go ahead with your reboot, which you’ve been planning anyway.” And [Sony co-chairman] Amy Pascal said, “Thank you. Thank you for not wasting the studio’s money, and I appreciate your candor.” So we left on the best of terms, both of us trying to do the best thing for fans, the good name of Spider-Man, and Sony Studios.”"
"I didn't get to see [The Dark Knight Rises] yet, because I've been working nonstop on Oz, but I hear she's great in it. I'm not surprised, because I loved what she was doing with the auditions for Spider-Man 4."
Back in 2009, Sam Raimi was set to direct a fourth installment of his Spider-Man series. The film was already in pre-production and began casting when the project fell apart and Sony decided to reboot the franchise instead. At that time, John Malkovich was set to play the Vulture while Anne Hathaway was also on board either as Felicia Hardy, a.k.a., the Black Cat, or a new character named Vulturess (shudder). Speaking to Vulture, Raimi reveals that Hathaway's role was indeed the Black Cat and explains why he dropped out of Spider-Man 4:
"It really was the most amicable and undramatic of breakups: It was simply that we had a deadline and I couldn’t get the story to work on a level that I wanted it to work. I was very unhappy with Spider-Man 3, and I wanted to make Spider-Man 4 to end on a very high note, the best Spider-Man of them all. But I couldn’t get the script together in time, due to my own failings, and I said to Sony, “I don’t want to make a movie that is less than great, so I think we shouldn’t make this picture. Go ahead with your reboot, which you’ve been planning anyway.” And [Sony co-chairman] Amy Pascal said, “Thank you. Thank you for not wasting the studio’s money, and I appreciate your candor.” So we left on the best of terms, both of us trying to do the best thing for fans, the good name of Spider-Man, and Sony Studios.”"
"I didn't get to see [The Dark Knight Rises] yet, because I've been working nonstop on Oz, but I hear she's great in it. I'm not surprised, because I loved what she was doing with the auditions for Spider-Man 4."