Well, Bendis added fuel to the speculation this afternoon when he posted on Twitter, "Just spent a very interesting morning at Sony with the entire spidey movie team!! Very very cool stuff!!"

Even though the writer's message doesn't necessarily spell out an "Ultimate" adaptation, Bendis' role in shaping Marvel's "Iron Man" and the upcoming "Thor" (along with Hollywood adaptations of his creator-owned content) certainly adds weight to the notion that his long-running series could provide source material for the big-screen "Spider-Man." Between Zac Efron's attachment to "Fire," the "Powers" television series picking up steam and his continued role as an architect of the Marvel Comics universe, it's no secret that Bendis has Hollywood's eye.

As it stands, the film's key roles remain up in the air. Webb's "(500) Days of Summer" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt and recently announced "Stretch Armstrong" star Taylor Lautner seem less likely, while actors like Efron and Logan Lerman of "Percy Jackson" have more recently gone under the microscope for the role of Peter Parker and his web-slinging alter ego.

Whoever Sony finds to don Spidey's threads down the road, fans of one of Spidey's most successful comic book interpretations to date can at least take comfort from knowing the studio is likely considering an "Ultimate" approach to its cinematic storytelling. Either way, fans will find out when the 3-D film opens July 3, 2012.

What do you think of a more "Ultimate" Spider-Man spinning webs in theaters? Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter!