Sam Raimi directing Robert Downey Jr. as the Wizard of Oz

The origin story of the Wizard of Oz will be told through the eyes of Sam Raimi. Robert Downey Jr. will play the lead, the Wizard. The movie will be called Oz, the Great and Powerful which was written by Mitchell Kapner (The Whole Nine Yards).

Raimi created 3 of the biggest movies in the history of film with the Spider-Man trilogy. I really wasn't a fan. Yes, I paid to see all three in theaters and I own all three on DVD, but I didn't like the campy approach Saimi chose for the movies. Not every superhero movie needs to be The Dark Knight, but still, give me something a bit darker than Tobey Maguire skipping down the streets of New York. With no concept art, no other casting, no plot points, I'll stay skeptical of this project for now.

Spiderman 4, no more. No more.

From the lips of Tobey Maguire in the first 3 Spiderman films: "I'm Spider-Man... no more. No more." That's right folks... Tobey Maguire (actor), Kristin Dunst (actress), Sam Raimi (director), horrible movie (part 3)... are alllllll gone! Sony Pictures scrapped the plans for Spiderman 4, instead they want a complete reboot.

All the heavy hitters have put out bs letters of appreciation for being a part of the first trilogy, but I'm not buying it. I think the combination of countless delays on part 4, an unfinished script and a horrible part 3 film, and Thor taking the release date of Spiderman 4 have all helped Sony make up its mind.

The studio instead wants a grittier, darker Spiderman. Funny, all the studios with Superhero properties are starting to use those terms when describing reboots. Fantastic Four is getting a "grittier" reboot. Superman will some day fly again in a "darker" version of himself. Ya right!

I wish studios would just speak the truth... "your movie sucked, we didn't think it was going to suck, and now we are giving someone else a chance to make a movie that doesn't suck". That same sentiment goes to Fantastic Four and Superman btw.

Either way, this is a good thing for Maguire and Raimi. I really think they are better away from the franchise. The best days of the franchise are behind us. Part one brought a character to the big screen in a way very few Superhero movies had before it. Part 2 showed us the power of CGI with unforgettable battle atop a train. And sadly, part 3 showed us that very few, if any franchises have a part 3 worth a damn.

A script is in place for the "new" Spiderman trilogy and Sony expects the movie to be in theaters around 2012. But for now... see ya later Spidey... you will be missed... just not by this blogger.

Writer Hired on Raimi's "WarCraft"

Slashfilm is reporting that Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat has started working on a script for a WarCraft movie.

The film is set to be directed by Spider-Man director Sam Raimi. The script will be original and not based on The Wrath of the Lich King as once rumored.

Raimi had this to say:

"We want to be really faithful to the game. We would have our writer, Robert Rodat, really craft an original story within that world that feels like a ‘World of WarCraft’ adventure. Only obviously it’s very different ’cause it’s expanded and translated into the world of a motion picture."

I'm looking forward to this film because I was a WarCraft and WarCraft II fan, even though I never really got in World of WarCraft. It will be great to see what direction Raimi takes this. It may turn out a lot like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Tony, your thoughts?

Quickie: Sam Raimi to Direct World of Warcraft

AICN and Variety are both reporting that Sam Raimi has signed on to direct a World of Warcraft movie adaptation. The director of the Spider-Man franchise is to begin developing and directing AFTER Spider-Man 4 has wrapped. Legendary Pictures has been trying to get the movie up and running for a few years now; so I wouldn't be totally surprised if this gets pushed back until after Spider-Man 5. So keep it here for updates all you World of Warcraft fans.