Back! Went to Las Vegas for an extended weekend. I’ll try and post some pictures in the coming days. Didn’t win money or anything…at least anything substantial….anyway, here is some updates about the Spider-Man reboot, that I’m still not happy about. Both of these are from Darkhorizons.com:

 Marc Webb Set For “Spider-Man” Reboot

By Garth Franklin

Wednesday January 20th 2010 01:37AM

It’s official, “(500) Days of Summer” director Marc Webb will direct the next chapter in the “Spider-Man” franchise for Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Written by James Vanderbilt, Webb will work closely with producers Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin in developing the project which will begin production later this year for release in Summer 2012.

In an official press release, Webb says “This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity. Sam Raimi’s virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to ‘take over’ from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man.”

We currently have “(500) Days of Summer” at home from Netflix, so I’ll check it out, but I don’t know if it will show whether or not Marc Webb (which is, by the way, a great name for someone working on a Spider-Man film) can handle effects work. But this next update might explain that there might not be as much effects work on this next film.

“Spider-Man” Reboot Slaps On The Clearasil

By Garth Franklin Wednesday January 20th 2010 12:00PM

With Marc Webb now officially signed on to direct the “Spider-Man” reboot, further details have begun to emerge about Sony’s new plans for the webslinger franchise reports Risky Biz Blog.

First up forget every casting rumor you’ve heard, getting the director locked down was the first priority and now that he’s there, only now are attentions being turned to casting the Marvel superhero. Webb himself is only signed on for one but with an option for at least two more.

The biggest surprise is the budget. The initial production estimates have the budget standing at a very modest $80 million. To give you a comparison, Raimi’s first “Spider-Man” in 2002 cost $140 million while the third film cost $260 million.

How in the hell can they keep the cost down? The cast will be relative unknowns, while the storyline will not be based on the classic comics of the 60’s which Raimi used but rather the recent “Ultimate Spider-Man” run by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley.

That series was as much about high school angst as saving the world. The villains are likely to be adapted to better fit that environment, while the character progression will likely be a lot slower to allow the studio to spread things across more sequels.