Variety reports that Sony Pictures has hired screenwriter James Vanderbilt to write the screenplay for Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6.
Vanderbilt was the first writer on "Spider-Man 4. Director Sam Raimi brought on "Rabbit Hole" playwright David Lindsay-Abaire to rewrite his script, and Gary Ross is now rewriting that script.
The article adds that Raimi didn't embrace all of Vanderbilt's ideas, but execs at Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios have. Vanderbilt has been hired to pen the fifth and sixth movies, which have an interconnected storyline.
Spider-man 4 is expected to go into production early next year. It is unclear whether Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will be returning.
