THOMAS HADEN CHURCH IS SPIDEY 3 VILLAIN
Thomas Haden Church, who was most recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Sideways, has been cast as Spider-Man's new archenemy in Spider-Man 3, it was announced by director Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel Studios' Avi Arad.
Spider-Man 3, which is scheduled for release on May 4, 2007, will reunite the team that was responsible for the first two films. The franchise has grossed more than $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales and the new film will reteam director Raimi, producers Ziskin and Arad, and actors Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane.
Production on Spider-Man 3 is scheduled to begin early next year.
"In addition to the on-going relationship between Peter Parker and M.J., these films are driven by the great actors who have brought our villains to life," said Raimi. "Thomas Haden Church will be a fantastic and challenging new nemesis and we all look forward to working with him."
The identity of the new villain is being kept secret and while speculation is rampant about which character is being called into action, the studio will not comment on the casting beyond confirming Church.
Church is voicing one of the characters in the upcoming animated film Charlotte's Web, and he recently appeared in Columbia Pictures' Spanglish. Church previously appeared in such films as George of the Jungle, 330 Miles to Graceland and Tombstone. In 2003, he also starred in, co-wrote and directed the comedy Rolling Kansas. From 1990 to 1995, Church played Lowell Mather in the TV series Wings.
X3 GETS DIRECTOR
British filmmaker Matthew Vaughn has been tapped as the director of the third X-Men movie, Variety is reporting. Productin is expected to begin in early summer, with a May 26, 2006 release date announced.
According to Variety, Hugh Jackman is set for Wolverine, and Fox is in negotiations with Halle Berry, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart to return. Famke Janssen is also expected to return.
On Saturday at Wizard World, Marvel Studios' Avi Arad said he hopes that James Marsden, who has been cast in Superman Returns, can return as Cyclops.
Arad spoke briefly about the film itself.
"There will be new characters," he said. "I think you will find it more exciting than 1 and 2. It's a tall order, but it's a big idea, a bigger story."
Vaughn directed Layer Cake, a British gangster dramas that will be released in the United States by Sony Classics this spring. According to Variety, he was also a contender to direct the next Harry Potter and James Bond installments.
Thomas Haden Church, who was most recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Sideways, has been cast as Spider-Man's new archenemy in Spider-Man 3, it was announced by director Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel Studios' Avi Arad.
Spider-Man 3, which is scheduled for release on May 4, 2007, will reunite the team that was responsible for the first two films. The franchise has grossed more than $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales and the new film will reteam director Raimi, producers Ziskin and Arad, and actors Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane.
Production on Spider-Man 3 is scheduled to begin early next year.
"In addition to the on-going relationship between Peter Parker and M.J., these films are driven by the great actors who have brought our villains to life," said Raimi. "Thomas Haden Church will be a fantastic and challenging new nemesis and we all look forward to working with him."
The identity of the new villain is being kept secret and while speculation is rampant about which character is being called into action, the studio will not comment on the casting beyond confirming Church.
Church is voicing one of the characters in the upcoming animated film Charlotte's Web, and he recently appeared in Columbia Pictures' Spanglish. Church previously appeared in such films as George of the Jungle, 330 Miles to Graceland and Tombstone. In 2003, he also starred in, co-wrote and directed the comedy Rolling Kansas. From 1990 to 1995, Church played Lowell Mather in the TV series Wings.
X3 GETS DIRECTOR
British filmmaker Matthew Vaughn has been tapped as the director of the third X-Men movie, Variety is reporting. Productin is expected to begin in early summer, with a May 26, 2006 release date announced.
According to Variety, Hugh Jackman is set for Wolverine, and Fox is in negotiations with Halle Berry, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart to return. Famke Janssen is also expected to return.
On Saturday at Wizard World, Marvel Studios' Avi Arad said he hopes that James Marsden, who has been cast in Superman Returns, can return as Cyclops.
Arad spoke briefly about the film itself.
"There will be new characters," he said. "I think you will find it more exciting than 1 and 2. It's a tall order, but it's a big idea, a bigger story."
Vaughn directed Layer Cake, a British gangster dramas that will be released in the United States by Sony Classics this spring. According to Variety, he was also a contender to direct the next Harry Potter and James Bond installments.
