'Rabbit Hole' scribe pens 'Spidey' sequel

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his heartbreaking stage drama "Rabbit Hole," is writing the next "Spider-Man" screenplay.

The Hollywood Reporter said Lindsay-Abaire was hired to write his first "Spidey" script, while franchise director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire are set to return for their fourth outing. The entertainment industry trade newspaper did not say whether Kirsten Dunst, who played the webslinger's leading lady in the first three films, will be back in the next installment of the superhero series.

The playwright has written the screenplays for the movies "Robots" and "Inkheart," as well as the book for the stage musical "High Fidelity" and the book and lyrics for Broadway's upcoming "Shrek" musical.