Top is Hot

According to the LA Times, Spider-Man 4 is a done deal, and is set for a May 2011 release date tentatively, said producer Laura Ziskin of the fourth installment in the franchise.

There’s no screenplay yet, and none of the stars from the previous films are committed to doing a fourth as of right now, but they are hopeful that the fourth film can be ready in three years’ time.

The first three films, starring the titular character made popular by his Marvel Comics 2-D counterpart, comprise one of the most successful franchises in the history of film with a combined worldwide grossing of $2.5 billion.

Sony reportedly has already paid Marvel to renew the rights for the franchise (no doubt due to the huge success of the last two Marvel films and wanting to keep their piece of the pie) even though neither the stars nor director are yet attached.

Should it meet the tentative release date, Spider-Man 4 will have some strong competition that month with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Marvel’s own The First Avenger: Captain America hitting the same month.