J.K. Simmons - the actor who plays Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man films - told MTV that filming on the fourth instalment of the franchise will get underway in 2010.

He said Sam Raimi confirmed the news to him at "his Christmas party", which would corroborate with earlier rumours that Sony were planning a May 2011 release for the superhero sequel.

Meanwhile Simmons had this to say about his fast-talking character: "We've definitely brainstormed ideas for Triple-J, but I have no desire to make Triple-J more of the focus of those movies," he said. "The amount that I did in 1, 2 and 3, is just exactly right. Like be the wolf. Come in, blow in, do a week, blow out, be the comic relief, and hit the road. And let Tobey and everybody else do the heavy lifting."

Progress on the next Spidey film seems to be quickening, with a writer hired for the script, and Raimi already mulling villains. However, neither the director, nor stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst have - as yet - officially signed on for the project.

Source : IGN Movies