The Amazing Spider-Man hasn't torn up the summer season, but it's been a moderate hit by grossing $210 million in the past couple of weeks (yes, by today's standards and budgets, $210 million doesn't count as a homerun), and there's enough support for Sony to feel good about making a sequel.  Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have been tapped to write the script, but it's looking like director Marc Webb might not return.

In an interview with THR, Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad says they'd like Webb to return, but there are "obstacles".  Specifically, Webb owes another movie to 20th Century Fox (which distributed (500) Days of Summer through Fox Searchlight).  Columbia has already scheduled The Amazing Spider-Man 2 for May 2, 2014, so filming will begin sometime next year.  If Fox calls in its option, then Webb is out for the web-slinger's sequel.  Hit the jump for more.

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Image via Sony

As we previously reported, The Amazing Spider-Man is the first film in a planned trilogy (aren't they all?), and people who have seen the movie know that it leaves some big unanswered questions.  Sadly, in today's blockbuster marketplace, I doubt the studio will mind bringing in another director to provide the answers.  We already saw how The Amazing Spider-Man went through some drastic cuts and reshoots leading up to its release (although Belgrad tells THR that scenes were cut because they weren't happy with the Lizard special effects*).  This is not a director's franchise, and the studio's main goal is making sure that Spider-Man's next adventure is ready to kick off summer 2014, Webb or no Webb.

*An excuse no one should believe for a second.  How does that conversation go?

Belgrad: We need you cut these scenes because the Lizard effects aren't good enough.

Webb: But removing these scenes will drastically alter the plot and remove key reveals about Peter Parker's fate!

Belgrad: Dammit, man!  None of that matters if the Lizard effects look even worse than they do now!

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