With 'The Amazing Spider-Man' earning mixed reviews, it seemed possible that director Marc Webb might not return for the sequel. And Columbia Pictures chief Doug Belgrad only reinforced that idea in a recent interview.

It's worth noting that 'The Amazing Spider-Man' grossed $521 million worldwide at the box office, and those numbers are nothing to scoff at. Still, during a chat with THR, when asked if Marc Webb would return to direct the sequel, Doug Belgrad responded:

"We'd really like him back, but there are obstacles. He has an obligation to Fox."

That "obligation" is a follow-up to Webb's directorial debut, '(500) Days of Summer.' That film was also divisive among critics, with several feeling it too precious. It'll be interesting to see what Webb does next, as the most likely path post 'Summer' seemed to be another original film, and his deal to direct 'Amazing Spider-Man' came as something of a surprise. The two films have nothing in common thematically or visually, and with the latter, the influence of Sony is relatively clear, making it hard to determine if Webb is a director with a consistent vision that was, in this case, trifled with.

Belgrad also acknowledged problems with the film:

"The section where Rhys Ifans' character turns irrevocably into the Lizard. It took several months to figure out, and the filmmakers cut a bunch of scenes. In software parlance, it required a patch."

Sony and Columbia are obviously determined to make a sequel, with or without Webb. The question now is: Who will direct the next 'Spider-Man' film?

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