Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary Jane Watson, “Spider-Man 4″ producer Todd Black told the New York Post.
The star will rejoin director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker’s love interest in the latest installment in the popular superhero franchise, which is slated for May 6, 2011.
However, don’t expect wedding bells for Mary Jane and Peter – Black told the newspaper that he was unaware of such a subplot. At the close of “Spider-Man 3,” the two had an emotional – but ambiguous – reunion after the film’s events drove the lovers apart.
Additionally, Black hinted at the film’s villain, shooting down online rumors that pegged comic book character Morbius the Living Vampire as the latest member of Spidey’s rogue gallery.
Instead, the producer told the Post that the villain had a significant connection to the Big Apple.
“We’re just coming up with who the villain is now,” he said. “We’ll be shooting in New York again. Trust me, people will appreciate who we pick, because it’ll be a big part of New York.”
In past films, Spider-Man has faced off with the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Venom and Sandman, leaving a number of famous villains who could make their silver screen debut in “Spider-Man 4.”
Among the popular options are Kraven the Hunter, Chameleon, the Hobgoblin, Mysterio, Venom offspring Carnage and the Lizard, whose human alter-ego, Dr. Curt Connors, had a role in the previous two movies.
Another potential foe could be New York crime boss the Kingpin – however, the character appeared in 20th Century Fox’s “Daredevil” and would likely require a rights acquisition by Sony Pictures.
But the crime lord would give the film a New York connection – and would also be Access Hollywood film critic Scott Mantz’s top choice.
“The Kingpin is grounded in reality, and that’s the appeal of Spider-Man,” Mantz said, adding another suggestion to the mix – femme fatale the Black Cat. “I’d like to see the Kingpin and the Black Cat, to stir the pot with Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane.”
