Church Cast As Villain In 'Spider-Man 3'

The Hollywood Reporter is breaking the news today that "Sideways" star Thomas Haden Church has been cast as the villain in "Spider-Man 3." Which villain? Sam Raimi and Sony Pictures are currently mum about it.

Spider-Man 3," which is scheduled for release May 4, 2007, will reunite the team that was responsible for the first two blockbuster films, which combined to gross more than $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales. The new film will again star Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Kirsten Dunst is expected to reprise her role as Mary Jane Watson, and James Franco as Harry Osborne. Production on "Spider-Man 3" is scheduled to begin early next year.

So which villain could he be? Sandman? Hobgoblin? Mysterio? Kraven?

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Forum Member, Chromeboy also posted earlier about what he received in his email!

OSCAR NOMINEE THOMAS HADEN CHURCH CAST AS
THE NEW NEMESIS IN SONY PICTURES' AND MARVEL STUDIOS' "SPIDER-MAN 3"

Latest Adventure set to debut worldwide on May 4, 2007

CULVER CITY, CA March 22, 2005 - Thomas Haden Church, who was most recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Sideways", has been cast as Spider-Man's new archenemy in the next chapter of the "Spider-Man" adventure, it was announced by director Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel Studios' Avi Arad.

"Spider-Man 3", which is scheduled for release on May 4, 2007, will reunite the successful team that was responsible for the first two blockbuster films. The franchise has grossed more than $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales and the new film will again reteam director Raimi, producers Ziskin and Arad, and actors Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst as M.J..

Production on "Spider-Man 3" is scheduled to begin early next year.

"In addition to the on-going relationship between Peter Parker and M.J., these films are driven by the great actors who have brought our villains to life," said Raimi. "Thomas Haden Church will be a fantastic and challenging new nemesis and we all look forward to working with him."

The identity of the new villain is being kept secret and while speculation is rampant about which character is being called into action, the studio will not comment on the casting beyond confirming Church.

Since his star-making role in "Sideways", Church has been in demand. The actor is voicing one of the characters in the upcoming animated film "Charlotte's Web", and he recently appeared in Columbia Pictures' "Spanglish". Church previously appeared in such other films as "George of the Jungle", "330 Miles to Graceland", and "Tombstone". In 2003, he also starred in, co-wrote and directed the comedy "Rolling Kansas". From 1990 to 1995, Church played Lowell Mather in the TV series "Wings".