Sony and Marvel Announce New Release Dates for Thor, Spider-Man 4

Posted by Robert Levin (rlevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 12, 2009

Sony and Marvel Entertainment Inc. today announced an updated release schedule that will introduce and bring back multiple superheroes to the big screen in advance of the release of The Avengers, the much anticipated adaptation of Stan Lee’s ensemble comic. In reporting the news Coming Soon notes that this is the first time individual super heroes and their story arcs will be introduced separately and brought together in the same movie.

For Marvel’s self-produced projects several dates have changed. The new schedule keeps Iron Man 2 slated for May 7, 2010, moves Kenneth Branagh’s Thor from July 16, 2010 to June 17, 2011, drops The First Avenger: Captain America from May 6, 2011 to July 22, 2011 and pushes The Avengers from July 15, 2011 to May 4, 2012.

The renewed cinematic superhero craze that began with the 2000 release of X-Men shows no sign of abating, so this enormous, expensive gamble should pay off. It will certainly to do so for Samuel L. Jackson, signed to play Nick Fury in all four movies (and five others).

The studios have also confirmed the release of Spider-Man 4 on May 6, 2011, which will be directed by Sam Raimi, who is currently gearing up to promote Drag Me to Hell, his return to horror.

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John Strickland

I was expecting them to move Avengers to 2012. I'm kind of disappointed that they're moving Thor back a year, but seeing as Thor is probably the most difficult role that Marvel has to cast for their superhero-clusterfuck-of-awesome Avengers movie, I understand that this is probably in the film's best interest.

Robert Levin

Oops: you're right about Raimi. We'll be amending that promptly.

Tenika

Sorry I know this is a marvel post, but does anyone think they're going to shoot for a 2011 release date for TDK sequel since Avengers got pushed back?

Josh_Radde

Is it going to be Spider-Man 4 and 5 like Maguire is contracting for or just 4 in the works for right now?

ERoBB

I'm so done with Tobey. I nominate Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Parker. He's got the look of the real Parker, and he might even be the better actor, although thats not saying much.

_Christopher_M

I knew this was coming when the dates were originally announced...considering the amount of effort and money involved Marvel Studios wasn't thinking too clearly....spreading out the dates of Captain America and Avengers was the best move...it's cool we'll see Thor and Cap in the same summer....what about Ant-Man??...

Robert,

Raimi confirmed a while back he was returning...

*Raimi told Michigan paper The Oakland Press that he's beginning production on Spider-Man 4 in 2010 and will look back to his home state for shooting locations. "I'll be looking at Michigan for our second-unit photography on the new Spider-Man film."

Nevernude

eerrrr....no. no. no. no. no. no. Milo Ventimiglia is a bad bad bad bad actor....u cant sell a movie like spider man with a largely unknown actor like Milo. Do u not understand the hollywood psyche? movie studios will never agree to finance big blockbusters such as spidey with unknown actors.

_Christopher_M

I actually thought Michael Angarano from The Forbidden Kingdom would have made a good replacement...it's going to be weird having a 30-40 year old Peter Parker...Sony really should be thinking about recasting

_Christopher_M

the "renewed cinematic superhero craze" actually started with Blade not X-Men...if Blade wasn't as successful as it was X-Men would have never been made...Blade had a somewhat serious and adult tone unlike what superhero films had become with Batman & Robin...Norrington was the first director to pave the way for Singer, Raimi and Nolan....Blade 2 is still my favorite del Toro flick

ferreson

I just want to throw in my agreement with what you said here about Blade. I think many people don't count it because they think the character was never really well known enough to be considered a comic book movie. But I still do remember knowing it for sure at the time that it was, even though I'd never read or seen the comic before. I definitely remember being excited by its success and how I thought it could pave the way for lots of great stuff to follow.

Sony and Marvel Announce New Release Dates for Thor, Spider-Man 4

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