Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") who is already rewritting "Spider-Man 4" for Columbia Pictures, is now making a deal to write and direct "Venom," a spinoff of series.

Marvel Entertainment's Avi Arad will produce with Ross. The story tells of Venom, an archenemy of Spider-Man who will be transformed into an antihero who defends the innocent.

In "Spider-Man 3," Venom was played by Topher Grace who started out as Eddie Brock, a competitive photographer and Peter Parker's rival. After he's infected with the black, alien organism which grafts itself to his sckin, Brock develops superpowers and strength far greater than Spider-Man's.

Grace, who just signed on to Fox's "Predators," is unlikely to reprise his role.

Columbia is also developing another "Ghost Rider," as if the first film wasn't bad enough.