Spider-Man's Box Office Record Makes Sequel Certain For Sony

Posted Monday, May 6, 2002 at 5:58 PM Central

by Tim Briscoe

As if there was any doubt after this weekend's record-breaking box office performance of Spider-Man, Sony Pictures announced the film's sequel today. Production on Spider-Man 2 will begin next year and the film will bow in theaters on May 7, 2004.

No official word on the return of Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst or director Sam Raimi, but the odds are very good -- albeit at a higher price tag than the first time around.

Spider-Man's weekend take of $114.8 million obliterated the box office record set last year with Harry Potter And The Scorcerer's Stone's $90.3 debut. Estimates put Spider-Man's total gross at around $400 million. Titanic's $601 million is the all-time champ.

Even before Spidey's release, movie studios have been lining up at Marvel Comics' doorstep to write them checks for other film projects. The Hulk and Daredevil are already in development. The sequel to X-Men is set for release next year.