Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012.

Clark Kent says: Not so sure if I dig this, but ‘Spider-Man 3′ was wack, so a reboot couldn’t really hurt in the long run. More after the jump.

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Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

The new chapter in the “Spider-Man” franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.

“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three ‘Spider-Man’ films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter’s roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“Working on the ‘Spider-Man’ movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.

“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade. This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”

“‘Spider-Man’ will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen.”

Clark Kent says: The studio will have more news about Spider-Man in 2012 in the coming weeks as it prepares for production of the film.

With all the rumors and speculation about Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4, whether or not it will make its scheduled May 5, 2011 release date and why it has run into production problems, it’s come out in the wash that John Malkovich was indeed up for the role of the Vulture, Raimi’s choice of villain for the fourth movie, which was first broken by Movieline a month ago.

Clark Kent says: I likes. Malkovich looks, sounds, and feels like The Vulture. So, hopefully this will diffuse some of those pesky villain rumors that have been going around.

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Malkovich was interviewed by an Italian sports show called “Quelli Che il Calcio” and he was asked not only about whether he had been approached to play the Vulture but also about the production delays. The fine folks at the Italian web site Bad Taste have graciously provided an English summation of what was said on the show:

“When conductor Simona Ventura asked him about his role of Vulture in the movie, he not only didn’t deny his involvement, but confirmed that he’s waiting for the final script to be sent to him, and that the movie has been delayed. He also hopes that shooting will begin as soon as possible.”

Some may remember that Malkovich was the alternate choice to play the Green Goblin in the first “Spider-Man” movie, a role that went to his Shadow of the Vampire co-star Willem Dafoe, so it has always made perfect sense that Raimi would be interested in him to play a Spidey villain. The question is whether Sony will agree to the lesser Spider-Man villain for such an important tentpole franchise.

Clark Kent says: The Vulture couldn’t be as much of a eff-up like they did with Venom for Spidey 3. Sony will sign off on this. What do you think?

With yesterday’s announcement that Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 will not start production in time for its planned May 5, 2011 release, other studios are looking to grab some of those dates for their own tentpoles. Making that rumored delay official is the news that Marvel Studios and Paramount will be releasing Kenneth Branagh’s Thor on Spider-Man’s original release weekend, kicking off the summer on May 6, two weeks earlier than its original release plan.

Clark Kent says: I was never really into Thor like that, but the cast is shaping up to be something big. Marvel isn’t looking to battle with its fellow creation, but a little friendly competition couldn’t hurt. More after the jump.

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According to Variety, Sony hasn’t abandoned the date yet and still hopes to get Spider-Man 4 done in time, but Paramount has decided to not wait and see what Sony does before grabbing that date themselves. They suggest that if Sony decides to keep that date then Thor will move again, although it’s doubtful they can get May 20 back again.

At this point, Sony hasn’t announced a new release date for Spider-Man 4. July 4th that year has been held for Michael Bay’s Transformers 3 followed two weeks later by the “Harry Potter” finale and then The First Avenger: Captain America, which hasn’t even announced its cast yet, the following week. (Warner Bros.’ Green Lantern has already grabbed June 17, potentially making it one of the busiest summers for comic book and superhero movies in some time.)

Clark Kent says: Check out the CineFOOLS reports that Thor will start filming this Friday!

Variety has confirmed reports that Sony Pictures has indeed postponed production on Spider-Man 4 so that more work can be done on the script.

Clark Kent says: I heard that they haven’t figured out what villain they want to use for the fourth installment. If it was up to me — I would’ve had Carnage and Venom duke it out with Spidey in the sequel. More about this after the jump.

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Gary Ross, David Lindsay-Abaire and James Vanderbilt previously wrote drafts of the screenplay, and the trade says that Alvin Sargent is now “retooling the story.” Sargent worked on the scripts for both the second and third Spidey movies.

Back in December, SuperHeroHype was told by the studio that the production was not on hold but that they were simply on hiatus for the holidays and that production would resume in the new year. Obviously, that is not the case.

Sony still has the movie scheduled for a May 5, 2011 release (not May 6 or May 11 as some sites are reporting), but Variety adds “that date has become highly unlikely.”

“We’ll try, but I think making May is a real question,” a source told the trade. “We will not start until we have it right. The feeling is we are not going to rush it to make the date.”

Clark Kent says: You don’t want to make another ‘Spider-Man 3′ — that’s for sure. Big news. We’ll keep you posted as more develops.

Speaking to The Boston Globe, Spider-Man 4 star Tobey Maguire addressed the rumors he was reluctant to return to the role.

Clark Kent says: I’m no longer sold on Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane. Please get somebody hotter!

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“It’s not that I was reluctant,” he said. “For me, it’s a big process to decide whether or not to do a role…. I have to want to wake up in the morning and feel like I can’t wait to get to work. I’ve got to feel OK about leaving my kids for 12 or 13 hours a day for five months. It’s a big commitment.”

Maguire added that he needed to feel there was a fresh story about Spider-Man worth telling.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to evolve the character in a new direction. He’ll still be Peter Parker, but I hope I can move him forward a bit and take him to a place where there will be new challenges for me as an actor.”

Clark Kent says: Spider-Man 4 is scheduled for a May 5, 2011 release in conventional and IMAX theaters.

It looks like we can add another name to the list of actresses who are reading for a new role in Spider-Man 4.

Clark Kent says: I’m happy to see that this film exhibit some sort of life because ‘Spider-Man 3′ was tres terrible!

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While Sony Pictures insists no decisions have been made, sources say that the producers have approached Anne Hathaway to star in the film. Maybe you experts have an idea what she’ll play? All I know is that she’s wanted for a starring role, and she won’t replace Kirsten Dunst who’s also cast in the Spidey fourquel.

Julia Stiles, Rachel McAdams and Romola Garai have previously been rumored to be auditioning for possibly Felicia Hardy/Black Cat.

Clark Kent says: Will Sony Pictures start making official casting announcements soon? Stay tuned…

Last week, it was reported that Rachel McAdams was a frontrunner for the role of Felicia Hardy/Black Cat in Spider-Man 4, but she tells Entertainment Weekly it’s not true.

Clark Kent says: After the jump, you can read what she has to say, but I’ll be the first to comment that that I was hoping she’d be confirmed for the role. She adds some real sex appeal to the role that Kirsten Dunst lacks majorly.

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“That’s a total rumor, I have to say,” the actress, who will next be seen in the Dec. 25 action-adventure tentpole Sherlock Holmes, tells EW. “I was hanging out in Toronto the other day and someone came up to me and said, ‘I just heard you’re doing Spider-Man 4.‘ And I said, ‘Really? No one told me!’ It’s not true.” A rep for Sony Pictures concurs: “It’s an Internet rumor, as so many things are these days.”

That may be true, but there’s been many cases of actors or actresses denying they’ve landed a role in a film, only to be announced a little later as being officially attached.

Clark Kent says: Very good point. Let’s hope that that rumor of Brad Pitt as Moriarty in ‘Sherlock Holmes’ is true, too.

Early last month, director Sam Raimi said that they were about to start casting for Spider-Man 4, but we have yet to hear any official announcements of new talent coming on board.

Clark Kent says: I’m still lobbying for Carnage to make an appearance so they can get that story told right.

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We knew Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst were going to be back, and since then, Dylan Baker revealed that he’ll return as Dr. Curt Connors.

Now, according to Mania, actresses are auditioning for the role of villain Felicia Hardy/Black Cat, and the site says that Rachel McAdams (upcoming Sherlock Holmes) is a frontrunner for the role. Mania adds that they are also casting for a male villain, which would mean we’re looking at two villains for the fourth installment. None of this is confirmed, of course.

In the meantime, fans pointed us to The Observer where actress Romola Garai (Atonement) has a column in which she wrote the following:

“Love is at the root of everything good that has ever happened and will happen.” This phrase swam into focus as I moved up the escalator at Oxford Circus tube on Tuesday morning on my way to put myself “on tape” for a part in Spider-Man 4. This is the acting equivalent of the London Marathon in that it’s important to try your best as long as you understand that you aren’t going to win.

Might she also be going for the Felicia Hardy role? We won’t know for sure until we start hearing official casting news from Sony.

Clark Kent says: Spider-Man 4 is coming to theaters on May 5, 2011.

Ever since Dylan Baker first appeared in Spider-Man 2 as Empire State University professor Dr. Curt Connors, people have been buzzing about whether we might ever see him turn into Spider-Man’s scaliest foe The Lizard.

Clark Kent says: There’s no word on that, but UGO and SuperHeroHype got some good news for Spidey fans!

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UGO had people at the Walter Reade screening of Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat last night where actor Dylan Baker confirmed he would be returning as Connors for Spider-Man 4. When asked about it during a post-screening Q & A, he didn’t go into details about how big or small his role might be in the fourth installment, although it seemed like it would be another “background” part, rather than The Lizard taking center stage as the next Spider-Man villain.

Clark Kent says: The Lizard is an awesome villain and the fact that they don’t want to put him into the fray sucks. Stan Lee let the fans get their choices heard for the next flick. Spider-Man 3 bombed!!!

MTV alerted us that Sam Raimi revealed to them in a phone interview last week that Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot screenwriter Robert Rodat is writing the script for the Warcraft movie, a project Raimi is expected to take on after Spider-Man 4.

Clark Kent says: WOW fans unite! You’ll wanna keep an eye out on this one. Sorry, I know Raimi won folks back with ‘Drag Me To Hell,’ but WOW is a different story entirely.

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The aim is to adapt the game, rather than a previously conceived story written within that world. “We want to be really faithful to the game,” Raimi said. “We would have our writer, Robert Rodat, really craft an original story within that world that feels like a ‘World of WarCraft’ adventure. Only obviously it’s very different ’cause it’s expanded and translated into the world of a motion picture.”

Clark Kent says: He sounds pretty convincing, don’t you agree? If you want to know more of what Raimi had to say about the adaptation, click here!