IMAX and Sony Columbia have today announced that the fourth film in their money-spinning Spider-Man franchise will hit both traditional cinema screens and the global network of IMAX theatres on May 5, 2011. Like the IMAX release of Spider-Men 3 and 2 before it, this will be via the up-scaling technology that takes the 35mm master and digitally pumps it up a bit for IMAX screens.

IMAX CEO Raymond Gelfond says:

Spider-Man continues to be one of the world’s most popular motion picture franchises, and we are very excited to include the latest chapter as part of our 2011 slate. Our network has grown significantly and we continue to roll-out new theatres virtually every week, giving more moviegoers the opportunity to experience the movie in IMAX.

At the end of the press release, where Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and so on get their names dropped, there is also mention of Gary Ross as currently ‘adapting’ the screenplay.

This press release also seems to confirm that Spider-Man 4 will neither be shot in the IMAX format or in 3D.

Now that all that is cleared up. TELL US WHO THE VILLAIN IS GOING TO BE AND HOW SIGNIFICANT A ROLE BRUCE CAMPBELL WILL HAVE!!!!