The Amazing Spider-Man 3 To Be Directed By Marc Webb

Earlier today, ComicBook.com reported on a story that Sony Pictures Entertainment hopes to have a new Spider-Man universe film in theaters every year in the near future, eclipsing Warner Bros.'s DC Comics output as well as Fox's X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises--and nearing the twice-annually pace of Marvel Studios, all of whom have more, and more diverse, superhero possibilities than do Sony. Well, buried in the Variety report on which our story was based was the following revelation, which we missed our first time through: "Marc Webb will direct The Amazing Spider-Man 3, securing his spot in helming all three films in the trilogy. The third pic is dated for release in June 2016." That makes Webb the first superhero director to successfully complete a Marvel trilogy since Sam Raimi did so with the first batch of Spider-Man movies, and means that barring a change in his current plans, Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man movies will all be directed by Webb. Of course, it hardly counts as a trilogy, since the studio already have plans for The Amazing Spider-Man 4, but with Garfield talking about leaving after his three-picture deal is up, it seems like it counts. This also presumably gives Webb the opportunity to set up the universe for the spinoffs to come, since none of them have release dates yet and they're therefore unlikely to hit theaters before The Amazing Spider-Man 3. Having Webb involved with the casting and design of the Sinister Six and Venom could help create a coherent look and feel for Sony's world, even if he leaves once his three films are completed. Just how Sony got Webb back in the first place is an interesting question; the in-demand young director still owes 20th Century Fox a movie as a condition of the contract he signed back when he made (500) Days of Summer. After the success of The Amazing Spider-Man, Fox tried to enforce that clause right away and almost prevented Webb being able to sign on--and when he did, reports were that he had to promise Fox a film shortly after the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Whether he might have to cram something in between the two sequels, or whether his contract was bought out by Sony in order to keep him around, is an interesting question that likely won't be answered soon. NOTE: A draft version of this story containing some minor mistakes was published in error, and before it could be repaired, a commenter noted the problems. Thank you to that reader, but the comments thread has been deleted to avoid other readers correcting the original corrections.