Kirsten Dunst confirms the villains for 'Spider-Man 3'

Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at 10:42 AM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Kirsten Dunst apparently spilled the beans on the villains to be featured in Spider-Man 3. While doing publicity for her upcoming film Elizabethtown, Dunst divulged that Thomas Haden Church would be playing Sandman and Topher Grace was to be Venom.

This would be a nearly official confirmation on the identities of the Spider-Man 3 super-villains. Rumors have been circulating on the internet for months as to which characters Haden Church and Grace would be portraying. Director Sam Raimi and Marvel Comics have both been secretive on Spider-Man's foes for the third movie, expected for a May 2007 release.

Here's how Kirsten allegedly let the cat out of the bag: "We have really great people though as the villains in this film, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace -- Venom and Sandman," Dunst told a reporter when asked about the third Spidey installment. When the reporter replied that this was contradictory to rumors, she added "It's the other way around. You're right."

There's a reason Kirsten is a little shaky on the roles -- she hasn't received a script yet. "But I know the general story," she said. "There's a lot that they're trying to fit into this one."

Yeah, you ain't kidding, Kiki. Spider-Man 2 already set up the rise of Harry Osborn (James Franco) as the successor to his father's Green Goblin. The second film also featured Dylan Baker as Dr. Curt Connors, the man who would become The Lizard. (Tobey Maguire will be back as the wall-crawler.)

Add Sandman and fan-favorite Venom to the mix, and Spider-Man's spider sense is surely already tingling.