'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' isn't in theaters for a few more weeks, but we're already talking about 'The Amazing Spider-Man 3.' And 'The Amazing Spider-Man 4.' And 'Sinister Six' and 'Venom', which today we learn will both arrive in between parts three and four of the 'Spider-Man' movies. If your choice of death involves overdosing on Spider-Man, the next few years are going to be very helpful.

We knew that there were going to be four 'Amazing Spider-Man' movies and at least two spin-offs focusing on the villains of the Spidey universe, but a new interview with producer Matt Tolmach (via Den of Geek) reveals the exact timeframe. Here's the most relevant quote:

Before we know what we do with Spider-Man 4, we're going to do Sinister Six, Venom and Spider-Man 3. There is going to be a lot of crossover in those movies. So we're just not at Spider-Man 4, because we still have a whole other Spider-Man movie and two other movies. So we don't know yet what [Spider-Man 4] is going to be.

This is where it starts to get a little confusing. Sony had already locked down May 27, 2016 for 'The Amazing Spider-Man 3' and May 4, 2018 for 'The Amazing Spider-Man 4,' but now Tolmach is saying that could change. Now, the 2018 release date will belong to a Spider-Man movie of some kind, but not necessarily 'The Amazing Spider-Man 4.' That slot could go to 'Sinister Six' or 'Venom,' which will definitely arrive before the fourth film in the main series hits theaters.

Phew. Okay. Don't worry if this is all a little confusing and weird. Because it is confusing and weird. It's not surprising that Tolmach doesn't know what 'The Amazing Spider-Man 4' is going to be -- how could he? It's hard enough to make one movie, let alone focus on four more movies in the next four years. It's especially rough since director Marc Webb had said he'll only helm the first three films, which puts an immediate kink in Sony's ability to make long-term plans with the webslinger.

The real news at the core of all of this is that Drew Goddard's 'Sinister Six' and the still-completey-vague 'Venom' will be in theaters by 2018, either to lead into 'The Amazing Spider-Man 4' or take its place on May 4. Spin-offs for Spider-Man villains is a really strange idea (especially with someone as talented as Goddard at the helm of one), but we hope Sony's rush to get as many movies in the works as possible doesn't backfire. The whole thing just seems so desperate and chaotic. If we're going to see five more Spider-Man movies between now and 2018, we want them to be good!

In the meantime, 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' opens on May 6, 2014.

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