New Spider-Man picture and an official title

This is a hi-res photo, click to enlarge

Introducing Spider-Man.  What an awesome picture.  A few weeks ago the first official photo was released of Andrew Garfield as the teenage super hero.  This is a much better look.  The reboot by Marc Webb is appropriately titled, The Amazing Spider-Man.  They're really trying to separate this film from the Sam Raimi trilogy aren't they?  I'm ok with that.  I always thought that trilogy was too campy, but seriously did a lot to change the game of superhero comic book movies.  I also love that they went away from the organic web shooters and went for artificial, just like the comics.  What do you think?!

First Look at Both Spider-Man and Captain America!

Click to see a much larger version of the pictures

Pretty awesome huh? Our first look at Marc Webb's Spider-Man! The picture above is that of Andrew Garfield in the first official photo of the web-slinger. I have to tell you, I like the direction it's headed. I read a lot of sites online today and they all seem to think the suite looks "more homemade". I disagree. Not too many high schoolers Peter Parker's age know how to make something look that good.

Second thing I noticed took me by surprise! Look at the back of Garfield's wrists.... there are nozzles there for his web to come out. See, in the original comics, his web was artificial, not organic like it was portrayed in the Sam Raimi trilogy. This is a pretty cool throwback for the fans, and helps to differentiate the film from its predecessor.

Then there's this gem! The first official photo of Chris Evans as Captain America! I have to tell you, I didn't like it the first second I looked at it. I thought it was too bright and too vintage (if there is such a thing). But after looking at it a bit more, I think it's great. I think it only appeared to be too bright because of the soldiers behind him dressed in black, as well as the black truck.

The shield is a bit deceiving. We know Tony Stark builds Captain America's shield, they gave it away in Iron Man 2; so is this it? Its important to note that Captain America: The First Avenger will take place years ago, before our hero gets frozen. BUT, we know S.H.I.E.L.D. unfreezes him and brings him into The Avengers. So this may be a shield prior to the freeze, or Stark's shield, made of adamantium. Love it, sign me up!

Denis Leary Negotiating Small Role in "Spider-Man" Reboot

I love Denis Leary, the man is hilarious in his own unique way and doesn't apologize to anyone for it either. Check out Suicide Kings for a look at how funny Leary is. Ok maybe that one isn't as popular as the Ice Age crap he's been doing, or his hit TV show "Rescue Me"; but Leary is still welcome on the big screen anytime in my book.

/slashfilm is reporting via THR that Leary is negotiating to play Emma Stone's father in the Spider-Man reboot directed by Marc Webb. Emma Stone plays Gwen Stacy. Her character has already been portrayed by Dallas Bryce Howard in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. Leary may or may not have a big part, but I say 'welcome buddy, it's been too long'.

By the way, the only reason I used this pic is because... you guessed it, I love cigars!

Emma Stone Cast in "Spider-Man," But NOT as Mary Jane Watson

Emma Stone is indeed going to be in the new Spider-Man film, but NOT as Mary Jane Watson. Huh? We've been talking about Stone joining Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man for some time now, but we always assumed it would be as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's red-headed love interest. Well let me tell you something. Sony wants this next franchise to be completely different than the previous, starting with Stone's character.

Stone will play Gwen Stacy, who was previously portrayed by Dallas Bryce Howard in Spider-Man 3. She's the beautiful blond who goes to the same school as Peter. Another thing to note is that Stone is naturally blond. She dyed her hair red for Superbad and it just kind of stuck.

I like what they're doing at Sony. The first franchise was so big, so successful, it's going to take clever moves like this one to differentiate between the two franchises. If you read this blog, you know Emma Stone is my Hollywood crush, so I love the casting aspect of all this, but I'm more intrigued by the choice of character (Gwen Stacy as apposed to the obvious Mary Jane Watson). Either way, Sony just improved their chances of getting my 12 bucks at the theater. It will probably be 18 bucks by the time the movie comes out. Ooouf.

UPDATE: EMMA STONE NOW, Not Hilary Duff for Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man?

UPDATE: So it's been rumored this week that my new Hollywood crush, Emma Stone could be taking over the character of Mary Jane Watson in the new Spider-Man film. THANK GOODNESS! I was going to shoot myself if Hilary Duff really was cast for such an important role. What do you think about this update? Good? You better say it's good news! Emma Stone's doing well in theaters with Easy-A. The girl can act, and will be a perfect fit in the new world of Spider-Man.

Like really? Latinoreview is reporting that the Disney star, Hilary Duff, is rumored to star as Mary Jane Watson in the upcoming reboot of Spider-Man. Usually Latinoreview doesn't post hearsay or b.s. casting rumors, but they did on this one. Some reporter was interviewing her husband (an NHL hockey player) and saw a Spider-Man script with highlights on the character of "girl". C'mon! Well, those guys are usually on target so I'm posting it anyway.

I hate the idea, I hate bubblegum pop star, wanna be singer, former Disney queens; so no, I do not like this rumor. She can't act, dear God, we all know she can't sing. I would rather the druggie, law breaking Lindsay Lohan play Mary Jane Watson. At least she's a true red-head. No? Yeah I don't like that one either.

"With great power, comes great CASTING" Andrew Garfield IS Spider-Man

Tiny Update:  Here's what Webb had to say after I posted:
"Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor's work understand his extraordinary talents.  He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker."

Marc Webb and Sony Pictures have been hard at work trying to find the right man for the new Spider-Man job.  It's a tough task if you ask me.  Casting the lead in a superhero franchise film is much harder than we could ever imagine.  Looks, acting chops, bankability, all the above must be taken into consideration.  So who will play Spider-Man in the new 3D version?  Andrew Garfield.

Bet you've never heard of him huh?  Well I have and I love his work.  He was fantastic in Boy, A and he was great in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.  Apparently he's been turning heads at Sony for awhile now.  His work in the upcoming The Social Network has Sony giddy in their boots, according to an article in the LA Times. 

I approve of the casting decision, because I believe Garfield will capture Peter Parker's sensibilities and vulnerabilities of being a high schooler with such great power.  The argument all day today is that he's too old (26) to play a high school kid.  I disagree.  I think he looks the part, and will bring out the emotion that Toby Maguire was so good at doing in the first trilogy.  Kudos to director Marc Webb and Sony for getting this one right!

Batman 3 release date announced, G.I. Joe sequel coming as well... 2012 is going to be a good year!

UPDATE: Ice Age 4 (Ice Age: Continental Drift) will also be released in 2012 (July 13th). That's all you get for this stupid, unneccessary sequel.

Warner Brothers has announced the release date for the next installment of the Christopher Nolan Batman franchise. July 20th, 2012 I will standing in a very long line to see this movie. I will not be blogging, I will not be texting or talking on the phone; I will be immersed in the film that I would have waited 4 years for! God I can't wait!

Batman is not the only big budget movie that summer, nor is it the only big budget comic book movie that summer. UNofficially, a sequel to G.I. Joe has been announced as well. MTV Movie Blog interviewed the producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and he told them the sequel could film as early as the Spring of 2011 for a Summer of 2012.

Not a bad list of summer 2012 films so far huh?

Batman 3
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Avengers
G.I. Joe 2

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.