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Church Will Try to Squash Hero in 'Spidey 3'
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Thomas Haden Church, who was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor in "Sideways," has been cast as Spidey's new archenemy in the next chapter of the "Spider-Man" franchise.
Director Sam Raimi made the announcement Monday along with producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel Studios' Avi Arad.
"Spider-Man 3," which is scheduled for release May 4, 2007, will reunite the team that was responsible for the first two blockbuster films, which combined to gross more than $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
The new film will again star Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Kirsten Dunst (news) is expected to reprise her role as Mary Jane Watson. Production on "Spider-Man 3" is scheduled to begin early next year.
"In addition to the ongoing relationship between Peter Parker and M.J., these films are driven by the great actors who have brought our villains to life," Raimi said. "Thomas Haden Church will be a fantastic and challenging new nemesis, and we all look forward to working with him."
The filmmakers are not revealing the identity of the new villain.
Church is voicing one of the characters in the upcoming animated film "Charlotte's Web," and he recently appeared in Columbia Pictures' "Spanglish."
The actor's other credits include the films "George of the Jungle," "3000 Miles to Graceland," "Monkeybone" and "Tombstone." In 2003, he starred in, co-wrote and directed the comedy "Rolling Kansas." On the small screen, Church played Lowell Mather on the NBC series "Wings" from 1990-95 and starred on the 1995-97 Fox comedy "Ned and Stacey."
And will this be as good as the original two?
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Vaughn Leads 'X-Men' Into Third Battle
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Matthew Vaughn has been enlisted to direct "X-Men 3" for 20th Century Fox.
Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine, is set to return; the studio, which anticipates reassembling the series' principal cast, is in negotiations with Ian McKellen, Halle Berry (news) and Patrick Stewart.
The project will begin filming in mid-July for release May 26, 2006, which marks the beginning of Memorial Day weekend.
A search for a new director for the third movie in the franchise was triggered when Bryan Singer, who helmed the first two and was expected to direct the third, opted in July to relaunch Warner Bros. Pictures' Superman franchise. "Superman Returns" began principal photography Monday.
Writers for "X-Men 3" are Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg.
Vaughn, who produced the Guy Ritchie-directed films "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch," last year directed the British gangster film "Layer Cake," starring Daniel Craig. Vaughn also is attached to direct "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." for Warner Bros.