The fate of the "Amazing Spider-Man" may be in jeopardy according to new reports. Apparently mega-writer/producer Roberto Orci of "Star Trek" fame has just bowed out of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
This news comes after Orci split from longtime writing partner Alex Kurtzman earlier this year. The worldwide gross and reception of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" fell short of industry estimates, leaving the series in a state of limbo. Sony had originally wanted a "Sinister Six" and "Venom" spin-off to come after "Amazing Spider-Man 3," but the tepid reaction to "Amazing Spider-Man 2" may have changed those plans.
"I don't know what their plans are for that franchise," Orci said to IGN. "I don't ever want to say never, but we have to figure out what their scheduling is in terms of when they want each movie. I've read probably as much as anyone else. There's a love for 'The Sinister Six,' the idea of 'Venom'-there's an idea of Spider-Man's going to be one of these characters that's part of our business."
"He's such a popular character," Orci continued. "Spider-Man's not going to go away any time soon. When it all happens and how and all that has yet to be determine. I don't want to say anything about what they should do. I don't want them to think I'm spilling the beans about something."
At the moment, Orci seems to be concentrating solely on his directorial debut of "Star Trek 3," which is supposed to be released in 2016. However, Paramount has yet to approve the Orci-penned script for the third installment of the series.
"The studio has yet to even read the script. I'm in the middle of writing it, with the talented team of John D. Payne and Patrick McKay. They are true 'Star Trek' fans, as well. So, I can't even think anything about the future until I give them a script and they green light it. Until that happens, everything else is just a rumor," says Orci in a recent interview with Collider.
The second installment in "The Amazing Spider-Man" series was the lowest grossing film in the Spidey series, dating back to the Sam Raimi trilogy. Whatever happens with the series in the future, don't expect Orci to be a part of it.
