Extra, Extra!: Marvel's Spectacular Spider-Man

In which I report on the latest in entertainment news.

Although it was a better outcome than I had ever dared to hope for, Marvel's deal with Sony over Spider-Man's cinematic future was not without its own set of hangups.  I was part of a definite minority that was barely tolerant of - let alone enamored by - Raimi's Spider-Man films and was increasingly excited by the direction that the new Amazing Spider-Man franchise was going.  Marc Webb, although not without his particular shortcomings, was a capable director and Andrew Garfield was worlds better than the insipid Tobey Maguire.

And although it was stretching its shared-continuity vision of Spider-Man a little thin, there was one project that especially excited me: The Sinister Six.  Half of the reason for my excitement was because of what it represented: Marvel's answer to the Suicide Squad.  Repurposed from a Spider-specific Legion of Doom to an antagonistic task force, it could shine the spotlight onto what is easily Marvel's most eclectic, fun and all-around interesting rogue's gallery.

The other reason for my excitement was because of the talent involved in the project.  Sony had tapped the co-writer and solo-director for The Cabin in the Woods to head up the project: Drew Goddard.  Not only did he prove more than up to the task of co-creating 2012's most entertaining film not named The Avengers, but his passion for in-camera special effects lent his work a grounded sense of realism that's far too rare in what can increasingly be called the golden age of CGI.  Although there was no mention of Goddard nor Sony's peripheral film projects in the deal struck between them and Marvel, the assumption was that everything planned was scrapped and everybody involved was out of a job.

Although there is no word yet on the fate of Sony's numerous, previously in development projects, we have received a largely completed vision of what the upcoming Spider-Man film - now officially titled The Spectacular Spider-Man - will be.  Drew Goddard will now be heading the project as both its writer and director, lending the film his pitch-perfect blend of action and comedy that was so perfectly on display in The Cabin in the Woods.

What's more, we already know a considerable portion of what the movie's plot is going to revolve around.  It has been announced that "a major part of the first film will involve Spider- Man fighting Iron Man and then trying to pass the 'audition' to join the Avengers."  That's right folks, The Spectacular Spider-Man will pit Robert Downey Jr. against the currently uncast Spider-Man!  Although not quite as show-stopping as Hulk vs Hulkbuster, it will doubtless expand upon the rocky relationships of Marvel's increasingly large cast of superheroes that's been a highlight of the meta-franchise since The Avengers.

Much speculation has surrounded not only who will play everybody's favorite wall-crawler, but what character will be in the suit.  Although most fans are exclusively familiar with Peter Parker, several others have worn the Spidey suit over the years.  One that has seen a surge in popularity lately is Miles Morales: a Black-Hispanic youth that originated in Marvel's Ultimate line of comics.  Many have argued that a change of character, as much as a change in actor, was needed to distinguish the MCU Spider-Man from the Sony Spider-Man v 1.0 from the Sony Spider-Man 2.0.

The president of Sony Pictures, Doug Belgrad, has confirmed that The Spectacular Spider-Man's protagonist will, in fact, be Peter Parker.  Not much more is known about the identity of the actor who will play him, however.  They are allegedly looking into a considerably younger actor to play him and are open to casting a minority in the role.  The two presumed front runners for the role are Logan Lerman and Dylan O'Brien, although with their consideration of actors of color for Parker's role, I would not be surprised if talks for either of these choice have already broken down.

Regardless of your feelings for the previous two Sony Spider-Man franchises, the character is undoubtedly in far better hands with Marvel.  Between his increasingly likely appearance in an Age of Ultron post-credit scene, almost certain appearance in Civil War and a stand-alone film in 2017, it's obvious that Marvel's making the most of his return to the fold.

So who do you think should be cast as Peter Parker in The Spectacular Spider-Man?

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