Director Webb to take on new Spider-Man

Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures have tapped a new director for the upcoming reboot of the Spider-Man film franchise.

Marc Webb, who made his feature film directorial debut with the romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer, will helm the new Spider-Man film now scheduled for release in summer 2012.

Production is to begin later this year, Marvel and Columbia announced this week.

"Over the years, the Spider-Man comics have been told with bold and creative new writers and artists who have recalibrated the way audiences see Peter Parker. Marc Webb will do for the new direction of the films what so many visionary storytellers have done with the comic books," producers Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin said in a statement.

Webb, who called the project "a dream come true," acknowledged director Sam Raimi, who helmed the first three films, which became international hits.

Raimi's "virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humblingprecedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well."

Webb's resum also includes music videos for bands such as Green Day, AFI, All-American Rejects and Weezer.

Early this month, rumours began circulating that a script dispute had halted production on Spider-Man 4, which had been slated to open in May 2011.

Days later, the producers announced that Raimi and star Tobey Maguire had been dropped from the franchise in favour of a new vision that would return the webslinging comic book hero to high school.