Our friends at FilmDrunk are reporting that production on "Spider-Man 4" is delayed due to a dispute between director Sam Raimi and Sony Pictures over who should be the villain in the next installment of the wildly successful franchise.

Raimi favors classic Spider-Man rival Vulture, while the studio wants Spidey's ex-girlfriend, Black Cat. We can certainly see why Sony would prefer a plot that includes sexual tension and a hot young actress in a tight, pleather jumpsuit -- as opposed to a story line in which an elderly, winged businessman takes up valuable screen time.

Yet Raimi, who just had a triumphant return to the horror genre with "Drag Me to Hell," probably doesn't need the virtually guaranteed blockbuster as much as Sony does. So don't be surprised if the creative side pulls out the rare victory in this showdown.
Who Should Match Up Against the Webslinger in 'Spider-Man 4'?
Vulture -- good for aerial battles.177 (13.6%)
Black Cat -- early speculation was around Rachel McAdams playing the role.239 (18.4%)
Carnage -- serial killer-chic.581 (44.6%)
Kingpin -- nemesis to many superheroes.153 (11.8%)
Shocker -- just because the name will make some people giggle.75 (5.8%)
Other -- let us know who you prefer in the comments.77 (5.9%)