Spiderman: Turn On the Reboot

Spiderman has been receiving a lot of press as of late, both good and bad. On the Great White Way, Julie Taymor's U2-penned musical "Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark" has suffered delay after delay after delay (delay could also be switched out for 'disaster'). Cast members have been injured or have left all together, and despite good notices for the stunts (when they, y'know...work), the production has been troubled to say the least.

Thankfully, not all is bad for the famed web-slinger. After months of collective head scratching over the decision to reboot the franchise instead of create a proper 4th film, the first still of our new Spidey, Andrew Garfield, in costume has emerged.

Garfield is certainly lankier in frame than Tobey Maguire, but despite my initial doubts, the suit actually looks convincing on him. Judging by the state of the costume and the downcast look, it's safe to assume that this shot comes from a rather dark moment in the story (unless this turns out to be nothing more than a publicity still). But the real test Marc Webb's (500 Days of Summer) will face will be whether it can make audiences go back to the beginning with Peter Parker for a second time. Granted, Batman Begins had no problems doing this, but in that case, the Batman films had become a complete joke. Despite the lackluster reception of Spiderman 3, the film made bucket loads of money, unlike Batman & Robin.

And even though this is a reboot, the film won't be exactly the same story. A look at the cast list reveals that Rhys Ifans is Dr. Curt Connors, AKA the Lizard. This is somewhat appropriate seeing as Dr. Connors (played originally by Dylan Baker) was rumored to become the Lizard in the 4th Spidey film before it fell apart. In fact, looking at the cast list, there's no one listed as playing Harry or Norman Osbourne, the roles inhabited by James Franco and Willem Dafoe in the original trilogy. And as far as love interests, all we have now is Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), with no one cast as Mary Jane Watson.

So even though the there's obvious that plenty will be different, there's bound to be uncertainty about this project until it finally hits screens...or until the first fan-boy reviews leak from any test screenings conducted by Sony. Either way, we'll have to wait until 2012 to find out exactly what Marc Webb and Garfield have come up with. Just please, please don't let it be even remotely like 3. We can't go through that mess again.