'Spider-Man 4' postponed indefinitely

'Spider-Man 4' has been postponed indefinitely because of script concerns.

The sequel, directed by Sam Raimi, stars Tobey Maguire as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man, but movie bosses say it will now not make its release date next May.

A source at Sony said: "We'll try, but I think making May is a real question. We will not start until we have it right. The feeling is we are not going to rush it to make the date."

Sony Pictures decided to delay the sequel because more work needs to be done on developing the central characters.

Director Raimi has previously suggested the franchise would be taking a more mature direction.

He said: "I've been talking with Tobey about where his character might grow to in this instalment. Parker started as a little bit of a selfish, naive and insecure high school kid ... In the second picture, he wrestled with his personal fulfilment versus that responsibility and, in the third film, I think it was a little bit about his growing hubris."