Raimi Conjures Up "Wizard"

Now that "Spider-Man 4" is at least a few years away, Sam Raimi has turned his attention to the small screen.

The director of the hugely popular "Spider-Man" franchise has partnered with Disney and ABC Studios to create a new fantasy television series, according to Entertainment Weekly. "Wizard's First Rule," based on "The Sword of Truth" book series by author Terry Goodkind, centers on a woodcutter who becomes a wizard and fights evil.

Raimi will exec-produce the syndicated show with help from fellow producers Robert Tapert (who helmed both "Grudge" movies), Joshua Donen and Ned Nalle. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Raimi and his pals have already signed a deal to create a 22 episode first-season set to begin production in May.

The show, which sounds likely to follow in the footsteps of other syndicated fantasy shows like "Hercules," should arrive sometime later this year. --Chris Sardelli