In case you weren’t sure just how much money The Amazing Spider-Man made for Sony, they’ve just confirmed that it was indeed _all_ the money by announcing both a third and fourth film in the franchise set for 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Full release and more after the jump.

[Here’s Sony’s press release, via Deadline](http://www.deadline.com/2013/06/spider-man-sequels-spider-man-3-spider-man-4-release-dates/):

> CULVER CITY, Calif., June 17, 2013 – With Sony Pictures Entertainment now in production in New York on The Amazing Spider-Man™ 2, slated for release on May 2, 2014, the studio is planting its flag on two future release dates for one of the most successful franchises in studio history, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, Chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictures. The next two films in the story of Peter Parker will be released on June 10, 2016, and on May 4, 2018, respectively.

> Commenting on the announcement, Blake said, “Spider-Man is our most important, most successful, and most beloved franchise, so we’re thrilled that we are in a position to lock in these prime release dates over the next five years.”

> The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner, with a previous draft by James Vanderbilt, and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are the producers. The executive producers are E. Bennett Walsh, Stan Lee, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci.

> The Amazing Spider-Man took in over $750 million at the worldwide box office last year.

Considering how much I _didn’t_ like the first one I really hope that the second one is better and that they keep getting better as they go. At least one thing is for sure though, Mary Jane won’t be in Amazing Spider-Man 2, but she will be in 3 and/or 4.

[EW via TotalFilm](http://www.totalfilm.com/news/shailene-woodley-cut-from-the-amazing-spider-man-2):

> Shailene Woodley’s role as Mary Jane Watson has been cut from The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

> It’s not all bad news for Woodley, as it looks like the decision has been motivated less by her performance, and more by long term planning for the future of everyone’s favourite friendly neighbourhood superhero franchise.

> Speaking with Entertainment Weekly in their forthcoming Divergent issue, Woodley says: “Of course I’m bummed. But I am a firm believer in everything happening for a specific reason… Based on the proposed plot, I completely understand the need for holding off on introducing [Mary Jane] until the next film.”

Both Norman and Harry Osborne are in Amazing Spider-Man 2 so it’s entirely possible that this is to separate the love stories a bit. Gwen Stacey of course dies at the hands of the Green Goblin in the comics, so if she dies in this one then Mary Jane can show up to pick up the pieces in the next one.

Only time will tell if any of this is any better than last time. To be fair, it’d be hard to be worse.