Dunst a doubt for 'Spider-Man 4'

Spider-Man may have to swing into action without his leading lady - movie bosses are still battling to persuade Kirsten Dunst to sign up for the fourth instalment of the superhero franchise.

The 26-year-old has starred in all three Spider-Man films as Mary Jane Watson, opposite leading man Tobey Maguire.

But while Maguire has confirmed he will appear in the fourth and fifth films in the franchise, Dunst is still pondering whether to rejoin the cast.

Director Sam Raimi said: "I'm hoping that she is going to come on board and I've got a meeting coming up with her. I think she would like to but I don't want to speak on her behalf."

While a source told the Daily Express: "It had been presumed that Kristen would sign up for

the fourth but she's still not agreed. She needs to be assured that the story is going to be a strong one, in terms of her character. The films clearly wouldn't be the same without her."