While out promoting his latest film, the animated feature Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, actor Bruce Campbell ended up giving out some minor spoilers on when the next installment in the extremely profitable Spider-Man franchise would begin shooting. Campbell, who spilled the beans to Access Hollywood when they approached him at the red carpet for the film’s premiere, told them that the next installment — that being the franchise’s fourth and possibly last featuring the original crew — will begin shooting in January next year. There has also previously been hints about this, but it now seems confirmed.

What is more interesting however is the fact that Campbell also mentions that his involvement in the movie this time around won’t be just a cameo like in the three previous flicks, but rather a role of a substantial size. What this role will be though, he doesn’t even know himself, as he mentions that it was simply just what he was told. Wauw, the security on Spidey 4 really is tight… not even the actors know who or what they’ll play!

Gossip like this really is prime fuel for the blogosphere; something we can make up random rumors for! So, looking around the web, the big buzz has been that Campbell is being groomed for a role as a villain and that the villain in question is Mysterio, the master of illusion. However that is all just pure speculation and it seems a bit blown up. I doubt that even though Campbell is a longtime friend and collaborator of director Sam Raimi that he will end up as one of the film’s villains. I can only imagine the studio wanting someone with a lot more star power for the role of one of the bad guys, and not an above average b-movie star like Campbell. What do you think, is this Campbell’s time to shine? Is Raimi trying to bring his old friend back in the spotlight, or is all this just wild speculation?

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