I awoke today to – well, a 2--year-old climbing all over me; kindly reminding me she was ager to see her friend “Milly”at day-care – a recurring Twitter that Rachel McAdams is up for the role of Black Cat in “Spider-Man 4”. Yep, the kind of news story you almost expect to come packaged with a photoshopped picture of the actress in question dressed in her villainous garb. In other words, didn’t even think it was worth mentioning – since we’re probably still a couple of months away from getting wind of any official cast mentions, and, mainly, we hear these kind of anonymous-hotmail-account-sent rumours day-in-day-out. But I’m mentioning it because it comes from our friends at Mania, and they’re pretty good when it comes to sifting through the bullshit (Rob M. Worley use to be with the sensational Comics2film.com - now part of Mania). Doesn’t mean there is any truth to the rumour… just that there’s a chance there could be. And if so, then I like it… and why wouldn’t Sony be chasing go-to-girl Rachel McAdams for the female lead, anyway?

Says the site, “We can exclusively reveal that actress Rachel McAdams has met with the producers of the film for a major role. McAdams (of 'Wedding Crashers' and 'Sherlock Holmes' fame) is said to be a top contender for the role of Felicia Hardy, known to comic fans as The Black Cat.

Our sources tell us that the Black Cat's story fits well with Raimi's Spider-Man formula, which always finds the villains troubling not only the costumed hero, but also becoming entangled in Peter Parker's personal life as well.

Fans recall that when Spidey first encounters the Black Cat, she's a cat burgler looking to free her ailing father from prison. She becomes smitten with the web-slinger, to the point of a stalker-level obsession. Later stories had Peter reciprocating her affection and her becoming a lover, a friend and ally (the perfect thing to allow Sony to create a Spidey spin-off).

And it looks like it'll be a two-villain movie. Our source also says they are casting for a male villain, but had few details. However, this would seem to discount the idea that Lizard is the primary, since the role of Dr. Conners has been cast since movie #2.’’

What… no Dylan Baker Lizard!? Jesus! The man’s going to be Apollo Creeding Amy Pascal by the time he’s done with this franchise!

Read the whole Rachel McAdams/Spider-Man 4 rumour thingie at Mania