Rachel McAdams will not be playing Felicia Hardy/Black Cat in Spider-Man 4. Reps for the Canadian actress have dismissed reports attaching her to the role.

Speculation has moved on to other actresses, including Julia Stiles (‘The Bourne Ultimatum’), British actress Romola Garai (‘Atonement’) and now, Anne Hathaway.

Deadline Hollywood’s Nikki Finke is reporting that the ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ star is in talks to appear in the coming fourth Spider-Man installment, and Empire Online is pointing out that Finke is often correct when it comes to Marvel.

Reports are that Felicia Hardy/Black Cat’s father will run the Daily Bugle. Hardy will start out as a hero, but when something happens to her father, she turns villain. It is also rumoured that the character will play rival to Kirsten Dunst’s character Mary Jane as a love interest for Peter Parker.

Word is that the film will feature two villains, one male and one female. Black Cat’s presence is starting to seem like a certainty – regardless of who will eventually play her – and the male foe is rumoured to be the Vulture. 

Tobey Maguire stars and production is supposed to begin early next year for a Summer 2011 release.

(Photo by PR Photos)

Story by the Dish Information Corporation