Columbia Pictures

Webheads, let the countdown begin!

After taking a year to wrangle up the key players, Columbia Pictures has finally set May 5, 2011, as the worldwide release date for Spider-Man 4.

The first three films based on Marvel's acrobatic webcrawler combined grossed a massive $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, so a fourth installment was a no-brainer for the studio. It was only a matter of locking down stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst and director Sam Raimi.

The summer of 2011 is shaping up to be a Marvel-ous season, with Thor due on June 17 and The First Avenger: Captain America on July 22.

And for all the Raimi fanboys out there, Evil Dead actor Bruce Campbell, who's had a cameo in the first three Spidey movies, recently said he's signed on for a major part, possibly even a villainous one, in Spider-Man 4.

Filming reportedly gets under way early next year.

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Can't get enough men in tights? Check out E! Online's Comic-Con 2009 photo gallery.

Marvel Comics; Disney

Mickey, Donald, Woody, Buzz, Kermit and Miley just got some company at the Disney cafeteria.

The Mouse House is buying Marvel Entertainment and its store of superheroes for a whopping $4 billion, adding such classic characters as Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk and Thor to the Walt Disney stable.

Along with taking control of all of the fanboy faves for future movies, TV shows and the inevitable theme-park attractions, the purchase also sets up the (quite scary) proposition that Spidey & Co. might end up mingling with the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana in cross-promotional efforts.

We can see it now: X-Men Origins: The Rise of Goofy.

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Get the latest Marvel scoop in our Comic-Con 2009 movie gallery.

Paramount Pictures; Sony Pictures; Disney/Pixar; Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures

Been a weird summer. Aliens everywhere, too, fighting each other right next to Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf, or stuck in some awful Johannesburg ghetto, or getting their asses handed to them by James Tiberius Kirk.

On top of that, the Nazis got what they deserved, Meryl Streep cooked up a storm, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale had their mojo stolen by four drunks lost in Vegas, then some old guy with a load of balloons made everybody cry like a little girl.

Lots of hits, misses and sleepers, but—because this is the Best of Summer 2009—what was the hottest flick? You make the call. (If your fave isn't on the list, drop it in the comments and make your case!)

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Peep Twilight porn and the season's best bods in our Best of Summer 2009 gallery

Warner Bros. Entertainment.com

Oops! Did one of the stars of The Dark Knight spill something he shouldn't have? Anyway, it's out:

A sequel to the megahit batflick will start shooting in 2010, according to Gary Oldman, aka Commissioner Gordon. He let word slip to fans today at San Diego Comic-Con, on the panel promoting The Book of Eli, which totally isn't about Batman.

"We start shooting next year," Oldman 'fessed. "Which means the movie won't come out for another two years. But you didn't hear it from me!"

Oh, but we totally just did!

He offered no other details, but confirms that, after making Inception, director Christopher Nolan will team up for a third romp with Batguy Christian Bale. And if your last flick was the second-highest grossing movie ever, you would too, right?

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Get your geek on with our total Comic-Con coverage!

Star Wars: In Concert

It's shaping up to be quite the week for comic and sci-fi geeks enthusiasts.

As if the star-studded launch of Comic-Con wasn't enough to get their pocket protectors in a twist, fans have new cause to rejoice as it was announced yesterday—to much fanboy squeeing, we're sure—that Star Wars: In Concert will begin a worldwide arena tour Oct. 1 in Anaheim.

The show will feature a full symphony orchestra and choir and will be narrated live by Anthony Daniels—better known as C-3PO to those whose homes don't bear shrines to George Lucas.

In addition to an exhibit of costumes, props and artwork from all six films at the arenas, the concert will sync with specially edited footage projected on a three-story-tall HD superscreen.

Which we suppose is better than watching it in your mother's basement.

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Can't wait to channel your inner nerd? The time is now! Get in on the unabashed fanfest with our Comic-Con 2009 gallery.

Daniel Radcliffe was interviewed by Kana, Japan's biggest Harry Potter fan, and proves he just might be the best famous person around. Not many celebrities could handle a crazy, screeching fangirl with such genuine kindness— but he does it and looks happy to be there.

He even let's her touch his face and freak out, which is really weird and uncomfortable to watch, but seriously, what a nice guy, right?

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Take a look at everyone else in the running for Best Famous Person in our Big Pic gallery.

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Paramount Pictures

The Wrestler has traded in his staples for some far heavier metal.

Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau has released the first on-set photo of Mickey Rourke clad in the gear that makes him the nefarious Whiplash, just one of the villains Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man will be battling in the upcoming sequel.

So far, we seem to be looking at half an orange prison jumpsuit, leather-and-iron arm braces and a heart-protecting electromagnet in his chest, like the one Tony Stark uses to keep the shrapnel at bay.

Rourke's less mechanical alter ego being Russian tech whiz Ivan Vanko, the tats he sports include several Russian phrases.

The eagerly awaited second chapter of the comic-book saga is due in theaters May 7, 2010.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The video-game industry's star-studded preview expo, E3, dropped eye-popping sci-fi technology and some very A-list music games this week.

It ends today, and had kicked off Monday night with Jay-Z and Eminem headlining a VIP show at the Wiltern Theatre to pimp Guitar Hero spin-off DJ Hero. Other guests/geeks included Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey.

We then headed downtown to the sprawling expo to see what else is gonna be big in games 'n' gadgets. Here's all you need to know:

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Warner Bros. Entertainment

The future of mankind comes down to a cockfight. Two of them, actually, or so the star and director of Terminator Salvation told reporters today.

In round one, franchise newcomer Christian Bale faces off against a totally nude Arnold Schwarzenegger, the original Terminator model. Kinda.

"I get a thrill out of seeing the scene where Connor faces off against the original T-800," Bale, who keeps his clothes on in the scene, told E! News. "I didn't meet [Schwarzenegger] on the set. He didn't have to expend one second of time."

So how'd they do it?

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