Lee Hints At Long-running Spider-man Franchise

The former Marvel Comics president has been at the helm of the first three superhero films, which have all enjoyed hugely lucrative runs at the global box office - with the 2002 Spider-Man big-screen debut becoming the second most successful comic-book movie after The Dark Knight.

And, with stars Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst expected to return for a fourth Spider-Man outing in 2011, Lee is adamant the film can continue to entice fans - as long as they remain true to his original work.

He says, "I don't think there will ever be too many Spider-Man movies as long as the studios churn out ones that are unique, compelling and with good characterisation.

"We've already had three Spider-Man movies - and there are going to be more. Some might be a little better than the previous, some might be the same, some might not come up to standard. But I think every one of them will be an interesting movie and people will want to see them."