‘Trek’s’ Chekov Next Spider-Man?

According to The L.A Times, actor Anton Yelchin, who starred in Star Trek as Pavel Chekov and Terminator Salvation as Kyle Reese, is in talks to star as Peter Parker in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot.

The next installment of the Spider-Man film franchise will be released in 3-D on July 3, 2012.

The new movie will begin production later this year, directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin return to produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

“Spider-Man is the ultimate summer movie-going experience, and we’re thrilled the filmmakers are presenting the next installment in 3-D,” said Jeff Blake, chairman of Son y Pictures Worldwide. “Spider-Man is one of the most popular characters in the world, and we know audiences are eager and excited to discover Marc’s fantastic vision for Peter Parker and the franchise.”

The new date will pit Spider-Man versus Paramount Pictures’ currently untitled Star Trek XII. Director J.J. Abrams’ Trek sequel is currently scheduled to open on June 29, 2012.  That’s only four days before the new Spider-Man will spin its way into theaters.

In related news, Bleeding Cool reports that the feature villain for the franchise restart could be Dr. Curt Connors, who eventually becomes The Lizard.

In the comics, Connors is a Florida surgeon who lost an arm during a stint in the army. Returning to civilian life as a research technologist, he tried to re-grow his amputated arm using an experiment in reptilian limb regeneration. The procedure worked but eventually turned him into The Lizard.

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