'The Amazing Spider-Man' Writer Returns for Sequel

Shooting hasn’t wrapped yet on Columbia Pictures’The Amazing Spider-Man, the Mar Webb-directed reboot of the superhero movie franchise, and the studio has already re-hired screenwriterJames Vanderbiltto work on the sequel.

TheHollywood Reportersaid Vanderbilt met with executives Wednesday to outline his take on the inevitable follow-up and was given the go-ahead to begin officially writing another installment. The screenwriter initially conceived a trilogy arc for the more character-driven comic book adaptation, which fits with the studio’s vision of leaner, lower budget flicks with less expensive CGI set pieces.

Vanderbilt was originally hired to work onSpider-Man 4inOctober 2007when Sam Raimi was still attached to direct another movie starring Tobey Maguire. But the studio and director clashed over creative differences, namely that Raimi wanted to use the Vulture (played by John Malkovich) and Columbia insisted on telling the transformation of Dr. Connors (Dylan Baker) into the Lizard.  When the sequel ultimatelyfell apart, Columbia had already commissioned Vanderbilt’s slimmer, character-focused take and got their reptilian villain (nowplayed by Rhys Ifans).

Oscar-winning screenwriter Alvin Sargent, who worked onSpider-Man 2, 3, andAmazing, will likely provide a polish once Vanderbilt is finished.

The Amazing Spider-Manis scheduled to complete photography in mid-April before the special effects wizards make their contributions. The reboot is set for July 3, 012.

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