Though has been plenty of chatter about whether Marc Webb will direct the gestating sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, and whether he wants to, Sony has not made any official comment on the matter. But now, in a Hollywood Reporter interview, Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad has opened up.

Though his statements are still not definitive, he does indicate that there is an issue with Webb’s return. “We'd really like him back, but there are obstacles. He has an obligation to Fox.”

That's all well and good, but you do get the feeling that if Sony really wanted him back the studio would find a way to negotiate with Fox to free Webb up for more Spider-time. And that’s not to say he definitely won’t be back, but the prevailing opinion does seem to be that he’s launched his last web.

More evidence of that crops up in another statement from Belgrad, when asked pointedly about problems with making 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.” Which is unusually candid for an executive, albeit something he feels comfortable saying now the film is successful.

So assuming Webb doesn’t come back, who do you think could or should take over the Spider-franchise?