The rumors and speculation are over now that reliable source Nikki Finke has leaked the news that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire will both be back for a Spider-Man 4 (and probably 5, too). Sony was rumored to have been considering other actors to play the superhero, but apparently they woke up and realized how rare a franchise this successful and critically favored is. Apparently, Tobey wasn't sure he wanted to do it, but I'm guessing Sony made it worth his while.

A lot can happen in two years. By summer 2010, the U.S. will be about eighteen months into a new presidential term. Sixty generations of overcrowded laboratory fruit flies will have come and gone. An elephant who gets knocked up today will be taking her baby on its first migration. Two years is a long time, in other words, but Sony Pictures is planning way ahead by revealing its Green Hornet website, complete with a brand new, shiny green logo. (Hilariously, the new website reminds us that "This film is not yet rated." No! Really? "This film is not yet in existence," is more like it.) Why now? Why so early? Maybe Sony doesn't realize it could shoot itself in the foot with two solid years of pre-release hype. Maybe Sony is trying to get the movie-going public used to the idea of its unconventional action movie star. Or maybe an intern just had some free time on his hands and wanted to play around with Photoshop.