After rumors of infighting and rewrites, Sony abruptly announced that the fourth installment of the wildly successful Spider-Man series would go back to the story's roots, and sent stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst packing, along with director Sam Raimi. Will the reconceived film — a return to the hero's high school days with a more youthful cast and a darker, "Twilight"-esque edge — rejuvenate the Spidey francise, or wreck it? (Watch Tobey Maguire discuss "Spider-Man 4" before exiting the project)
A high-school Spiderman? Cool! This isn't bad news, says Charlie Jane Anders at i09.com. "High-school Spidey could actually be great." Imagine his alter-ego Peter Parker as a young "outcast" who leads a secret life as "the city's greatest hero." As long as the "masterminds" behind the "awful" Spiderman 3 aren't involved, "it's hard not to cling to a bit of optimism."
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