Cannes Film Festival 2013

Are John Malkovich and Anne Hathaway the villains in 'Spider-Man 4'?

And if so, who are they playing?

<p>Anne Hathaway is rumored to be playing the Black Cat in "Spider-Man 4."</p>

Anne Hathaway is rumored to be playing the Black Cat in "Spider-Man 4."

Credit: AP Photo

I don't know what to think about this latest "Spider-Man 4" rumor from Movieline.

John Malkovich as The Vulture?  I can get behind that.  He's physically right for the part, and he's at the age where he suggests the way the character was written, but he's still got the right stamina to actually play the part.  And certainly he's a great actor, and a great villain if the material is right.  And, let's not forget, he was one of the actors considered for The Green Goblin for the original "Spider-Man," and was evidently a real possibility at one point before the role eventually went to Willem Dafoe.

We've mentioned the hunt for Felicia Hardy here on the site before, but if this Movieline article is accurate, the character isn't going to be the character we think she is.   And this is by far the strangest decision they've made yet on this series, and that's saying something after the dance number in "Spider-Man 3."

Felicia Hardy in the comics is a character named The Black Cat.  She's basically Catwoman for the Marvel Universe, a thief of some moral complexity who sometimes romances Spider-Man and sometimes fights him. Hot girl.  Tight costume.  Pretty simple stuff.  And Anne Hathaway, who is alleged to be getting closer and closer to signing for the role, would certainly fill out the spandex well.  She's engaging, she's funny, she's gorgeous and she's physically substantial, so I could actually buy her in the action scenes.

But according to Movieline, although she's possibly playing Felicia Hardy, she won't be playing The Black Cat because Raimi and his round-robin of writers have decided that Hardy isn't The Black Cat, but is instead The Vulturess.

Can this be right?  If so, does that mean that Malkovich and Hathaway are playing father and daughter?  Or some other familial combination?  The original version of Hardy had some daddy issues, so it wouldn't be too out-of-line if she and Malkovich are connected.

But it raises the basic question, asked time and time again as source material is distorted wildly during the adaptation process:  why?  What urgent reason is there to reinvent the character?  If Raimi wants a Vulturess, why not just create one and leave Felicia Hardy out of it?

Oh, well.  One of us is worth millions of dollars and is actually steering the franchise.  And one of us is writing about him.  I think Raimi wins this round, and I'm sure we'll hear in the weeks ahead if this casting is final, and if these character descriptions are accurate.

"Spider-Man 4" is set for release on May 6, 2011.

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  • Default-avatar

    stormshadow4life

    thankyou for choosing THAT picture of Anne.

    December 8, 2009 at 2:32PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      stormshadow4life hey! you changed the picture! LAME

      December 8, 2009 at 3:14PM EST
    • All_purpose_icon_talkback_profile

      drew I didn't change it, sir. We are both sad now.

      December 8, 2009 at 3:21PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    briguyx@juno.com

    I think using the Vulture is a huge mistake. He just isn't powerful enough when compared to the Green Goblin, Doc Ock and Sandman. Maybe Raimi wants to say something about family bonds, but still...

    I've always said they should do a movie where Kraven comes to NYC to hunt the Lizard and Spider-Man has to save Doc Connors, which causes Kraven to hunt Spidey!

    December 8, 2009 at 2:58PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    John W

    God I hope your wrong about the "vulturess"!

    December 8, 2009 at 3:22PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    John W

    Although Malkovich as the Vulture would be great casting.

    December 8, 2009 at 3:23PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Dante01

    warblecroaker

    Sounds like they learned nothing...They messed up the Goblin by making him metallic, but changing the Black Cat into ""The Vulturess"" is beyond idiotic.

    December 8, 2009 at 3:54PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Roland Z

    The Vulturess? Really? Don't you think it's hard enough accepting one Vulture themed character? I hope this is some sort of joke but I never know with Raimi. I wish he would drop the Spider-men and go on to something else. Drag Me To Hell is so good, why must I sit through another callow Spider-man remix? WHYYYYYYY?

    December 8, 2009 at 6:21PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Sruli Broocker

    The Vulture?! What A LAME CHOICE for the villain! How about the Lizard (Dylan Baker!!!), how about Kraven the Hunter? Mysterio? Mr. Raimi, you re-entered everyone's Cool Book with "Drag Me to Hell." Let's keep the trend going.

    December 8, 2009 at 6:28PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    McNulty

    In answer to your question Drew I think they do it because geek dome will get all giggly and excited anytime the writers make references to minor characters beyond whats in pop culture. They probably think the geeks will look at it as some sort of in joke. However most just see it as a perversion.

    December 8, 2009 at 7:01PM EST Reply to Comment

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