The next film, now slated for summer 2012, will have a different cast and be written by James Vanderbilt, Sonys Culver City, California-based film unit said yesterday in a statement. “Spider-Man 4″ was set for release in May 2011.

The plan to restart the series by returning Spider-Mans alter-ego Peter Parker to high school follows a strategy used to revive the “James Bond” franchise, which Sony co-produced, and Viacom Inc.s “Star Trek.” In “Spider-Man 2″ Parker began college and took a part-time job as a newspaper photographer.

“While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction,” Raimi said in the statement. “I know they will do a terrific job.”

Vanderbilt wrote an earlier version of “Spider-Man 4″ that was redone by other writers brought in by Raimi, Variety reported in August. Producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad are staying with the project.

The next release of “Spider-Man” is far enough in the future that the decision likely wont affect Sony shares, said Yoshiharu Izumi, a Tokyo-based analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Sony rose 0.6 percent to $30.60 yesterday in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. U.S. shares of the Tokyo-based company climbed 33 percent last year.

Raimi is scheduled to direct “Warcraft,” a film based on a video game, due for release in 2011, according to Internet Movie Database. He is producing “Priest,” about a cleric who disobeys church law to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece. Its set for theaters in August.

Sony company produces “Spider-Man” under a licensing deal with Walt Disney Co.s Marvel Entertainment. The first three “Spider-Man” movies, released in 2002, 2004 and 2007, grossed $2.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales, including $1.1 billion in the U.S., according to Internet Movie Database.

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