1 Apr – A "Spider-Man 4" sequel may be cancelled due to Sam Raimi's withdrawal, but it looks like "Venom", the long-awaited "Spider-Man 3" spin-off, has been green lighted by Sony, with "Chronicle" director Josh Trank in negotiations to occupy the director's chair, according to Total Film. Trank is the second director that the studios have turned to after "The Hunger Games" helmer Gary Ross turned down the offer back in 2009. Considering his commendable work on the found-footage drama "Chronicle", executives believed that Trank would do justice to one of Marvel's iconic villains. Venom was first depicted in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 3", however, the character failed to rise above afterthought status. The name Venom refers to the alien symbiote that attaches itself to human host Eddie Brock, played by Topher Grace ("Take Me Home Tonight") and transforms him into an antithesis of Spider-Man, but slinging ooze instead. It remains to be seen if Topher Grace will reprise his role as Eddie Brock/Venom, or if the new Spider-Man played by Andrew Garfield ("Never Let Me Go"), would appear in this new film.