Marc Webb is new Director for Spiderman 4

Filmmaker Marc Webb has signed on to direct the new Spider-Man film, after the departure of Sam Raimi from the blockbuster superhero franchise.

In a statement, Webb insisted he wasn’t taking over from Raimi as “that would be impossible, not to mention arrogant”.

“I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas and creative voice to Spider-Man,” he added.

Roman Polanski Requests to be Sentenced in Absentia

Fugitive film director Roman Polanski asked a Los Angeles judge on Wednesday to sentence him in his absence on a 1977 charge of having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Judge Peter Espinoza set a January 22 date for a full hearing on the request, made by Polanski in a notarized document signed December 26 in Switzerland and submitted by the Oscar-winning director’s Los Angeles-based lawyer, Chad Hummel.

But prosecutors, who have long sought to bring Polanski back to Los Angeles, said they would oppose any bid to sentence him until he turns up physically in court.

ABC NEWS

Polanski victim seeks dismissal

The victim of the sexual assault committed by Roman Polanski has called for charges against the film director to be dismissed, court documents show.

Lawyers for Samantha Geimer, who was 13 when Polanski had sex with her in 1977, urged a dismissal in a motion filed at a California appeals court on Friday.

She had suffered health problems after being hounded by the media following Polanski’s arrest last month, it said.

The director is currently being held in Switzerland on a US arrest warrant.

On Friday, the US embassy in Bern submitted a formal extradition request, on which the Swiss authorities must rule within 40 days.

Read more at BBC