'Spider-Man®2' Swings Into Theaters on June 30, 2004

Columbia Pictures will release "Spider-Man®2" on June 30, 2004, it was announced today at ShoWest by Jeff Blake, Vice-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040325/LATH038 )

"Spider-Man®2" had originally been slated for release on July 2. "We decided to move the film up two days to take full-advantage of the Fourth of July holiday period," said Blake. "When you have an event movie that is so widely-anticipated, it makes sense to give it as wide a berth as possible during the lucrative summer season."

During Columbia Pictures presentation on Wednesday night at ShoWest, the world's largest convention of theater owners and operators, Blake also confirmed the studio is developing the third chapter in the continuing adventures of "Spider-Man" and the next installment will be released on May 4, 2007.

The presentation featured an exclusive first look at approximately 10 minutes of the film highlighting the range of emotion and drama in the movie while also introducing exhibitors to Spider-Man's new nemesis, Doc Ock. In addition, theater owners also previewed a new "Spider-Man® 2" trailer, which will appear in their theaters in the coming weeks. The session included an appearance by the film's stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, director Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad.

In Columbia Pictures "Spider-Man® 2," two years have passed since Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) walked away from his longtime love Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and decided to take the road to responsibility as Spider-Man. Peter must face new challenges as he struggles to cope with "the gift and the curse" of his powers while balancing his dual identities as the elusive superhero Spider-Man and life as a college student. The relationships Peter holds most dear are now in danger of unraveling as he clashes with the powerful, multi-tentacled villain "Doc Ock" (Alfred Molina).

"Spider-Man® 2" reunites the cast and filmmakers from the first adventure, including Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Rosemary Harris and J.K. Simmons, under the leadership of director Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel's Avi Arad. Joining the ensemble cast are Alfred Molina as Dr. Otto Octavius ("Doc Ock"), Daniel Gillies as John Jameson, Vanessa Ferlito as Louise, Dylan Baker as Dr. Curt Connors and Donna Murphy as Rosalie Octavius.

Columbia Pictures Presents A Marvel Enterprises/Laura Ziskin Production "Spider-Man® 2" starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, Donna Murphy and J.K. Simmons. The film is directed by Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man," "The Evil Dead"). The screenplay is by two-time Oscar® winner Alvin Sargent ("Ordinary People," "Unfaithful") based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The screen story is by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Michael Chabon. The producers are Laura Ziskin ("Spider-Man," "Pretty Woman") and Avi Arad ("X-Men," "Daredevil").

About Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/ .

For further information please contact: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, +1-310-244-7142, steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040325/LATH038
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Columbia Pictures

CONTACT: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations, Columbia
TriStar Motion Picture Group, +1-310-244-7142, steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/