Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci Jeff Pinkner Split - H 2013
Getty ImagesThe writing gang of Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner is once again caught in the spider’s web.
The trio, who share screenwriting credit on Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 — now in postproduction and swinging toward a May 2, 2014, release date — are reuniting for the third installment.
PHOTOS: Spider-Man’s 50-Year History: How Peter Parker Became a Billion-Dollar Franchise
In June, Sony staked out the dates for the third and fourth Amazing Spider-Man films, setting June 10, 2016, and May 4, 2018, as release dates, respectively.
Andrew Garfield is expected to reprise his role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Marc Webb directed the first and second installments and the hope is that he will return.
Elektro and The Rhino are the villains of Spider-Man 2, although perennial bad guys Norman and Harry Osborne appear in the movie as well. Fans are hoping that one of the future movies at least deals with the classic “Death of Gwen Stacy” storyline — sorry, Emma Stone — but Sony was mum on the plot details.
Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are back as producers for the continuing adventures of the hero created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Kurtzman and Orci also received executive producer credit on Spider-Man 2. While Kurtzman, Orci and Pinkner share screenwriting credit, James Vanderbilt is billed under the story by credit.
STORY: Sony Sets Release Dates for Third and Fourth ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ Films
For the third installment, Kurtzman, Orci and Pinkner are expected to receive story by and screenplay by credit.
Kurtzman and Orci will have to fit Spider-Man 3 into their already busy schedule. The duo have signed on to work on Star Trek 3 and are producing Universal’s reboot of The Mummy franchise as well as an adaptation of the Joe Hill comic book Locke & Key.
Pinkner, who was a writer on Lost, is a longtime Kurtzman and Orci associate. He worked with the duo on Alias and was an exec producer and showrunner on Fringe, the acclaimed sci-fi TV show the pair created with J.J. Abrams.
Kurtzman and Orci are repped by CAA and attorney Michael Gendler; Pinkner by WME.
Hannah Minghella and Rachel O’Connor are overseeing the franchise for the studio.
E-mail: Borys.Kit@THR.com
Twitter: @borys_kit
