Spider-Man 3

Spider-Man 3 is the third movie in the Spider-Man series and it is planned for a release on May 4, 2007. The movie will be directed by Sam Raimi. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, J.K. Simmons, Dylan Baker, and James Franco are the confirmed returning cast members from the previous two Spider-Man movies.

Possible villains, characters and storylines

Topher Grace and Thomas Haden Church

Raimi has been vague about Grace's role, stating only that Topher Grace will play "a complex role" which will contrast with the comedic, wholesome, or good-natured roles he's most known for playing.

Related Topics:
Raimi - Topher Grace

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"Spider-Man will face double the trouble in our next film and I couldn't be more excited about the direction we are taking Peter Parker and the franchise," said Raimi. "Topher Grace is an extraordinarily talented actor and will be perfect for the complexities of the role we are developing."

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Sam Raimi also let slip that one or both villains would involve massive CGI.

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At a recent press conferencehttp://chud.com/news/4473, Kirsten Dunst, the lead female actress who plays Mary Jane Watson in the franchise, claimed Church will be playing Sandman, and Topher Grace will be playing Venom. Sony has not released a official statement corroborating or denying Dunst's claim. Dunst admitted that she had not read the script at the time of the press conference. In the past, she has also "confirmed" villains appearing in Spider-Man 2. Of these villains (Doctor Octopus and The Lizard) only Doctor Octopus appeared, though the lizard was slated for the movie, he was removed (unless one counts the cameo of not-yet-The-Lizard, Dr. Curt Connors), thus the veractiy of her claims are still under some dispute.

Related Topics:
Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane Watson - Sandman - Topher Grace - Venom - Spider-Man 2

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Recently Grace has been sporting blond hair which has been officially confirmed as his new look for Spider-man 3.

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James Franco

James Franco's character, Harry Osborn, is expected to be the second Green Goblin or possibly the Hobgoblin in order to avoid the appearance of repeating villains. Harry Osborn becomes the Green Goblin in most comic book adaptations which he is featured, although he was the Hobgoblin in one Ultimate Spider-Man adaptation. The first Green Goblin, played by Willem Dafoe, was the villain in the first movie and was also the father of Franco's character. Director Sam Raimi has stated that this movie will stray the most from the comic books and has hinted at the possibility that Franco may not become a supervillain at all. Some believe that Harry will become the Goblin towards the end of the film, setting the plot up for the fourth film. Or, as some believe, he could set up the Sinister Sydicate to take revenge on Spider-Man/Peter for "killing" his father. The Sinister Syndicate being Vulture, Sandman, Venom, Hobgoblin/Green Goblin, Lizard and would be missing Dr Octupus who died in the second movie.

Related Topics:
James Franco's - Harry Osborn - Green Goblin - Hobgoblin - Ultimate Spider-Man - Willem Dafoe - Villain

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Dylan Baker

The Lizard was once considered the most likely option due the appearence of Dr. Curt Connors played by Dylan Baker, who becomes The Lizard in the Spider-Man comics, in Spider-Man 2. However, Dylan Baker was not immediately signed onto the next film, and rather other (new) actors were sought down and signed on first- this would imply that the role of Dylan Baker was not imperative. There is also speculation that another sympathetic "mad scientist" villain in the third movie would seem repetitive to the movie goers who have seen the second movie. However, Avi Arad, CEO of Marvel Comics, confirmed in June 2005 that Baker is signed to this movie.

Related Topics:
The Lizard - Dr. Curt Connors - Dylan Baker - Spider-Man 2 - Mad scientist - Avi Arad - Marvel Comics - June 2005

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Others

Sam Raimi did happen to let slip, in an interview with Wizard, that there will be more than one villain. It's also possible that Norman Osborn, the first Green Goblin, could return for future movies. Osborn seemed to die in the first movie. However, the comic version of the Goblin survived the same "death" that the film version suffered. Futhermore, Willem Dafoe was interviewed between the first two films' releases by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Stewart asked Dafoe if he would come back to the Spider-Man franchise. Dafoe neither confirmed nor denied this idea. This has led some to believe he'll return.

Related Topics:
Wizard - Jon Stewart - The Daily Show

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Raimi admitted that Black Cat was removed from early drafts of Spider-Man 2 script. He had expressed some interest in using her character, but he has not confirmed if she will finally appear in this sequel. The actress Chlo%C3%AB Sevigny however has claimed that she tried out for a new role as a "blond buxom" for this movie, which many fans assumed to be the Black Cat or possibly Gwen Stacy, Parker's first true love in the comics. There is speculation she made these claims to draw attention to herself, which other actresses have done in the past. Columbia Pictures has neither officially acknowledged or denied Sevigny's claim.

Related Topics:
Black Cat - Chlo%C3%AB Sevigny - Gwen Stacy - Columbia Pictures

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