This whole Black Cat thing is getting a little out-of-hand, is it not?

I mean, we seem to wake up every day to a brand new rumour about who’ll be rubbing up against Spider-Man come 2011....

.... hopefully Sony decides to announce something concrete sooner rather than later so this frenzy of feline rumours can be, er, euthanized.

Fourth rumoured contender- in two weeks! - for Felicia Hardy/The Black Cat in “Spider-Man 4” is..... Anne Hathaway.

Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that the "Get Smart" and "Devil Wears Prada" hottie has been approached to star in the film.

Yeah... Okay, I can see that. But I can also see Rachel McAdams, Julia Stiles... and the half-a-dozen other actresses (Okay, maybe not Alyson Hannigan) that have been rumoured for the role in Sam Raimi’s super-sequel.

Seems Amy Pascal and company aren’t necessarily chasing any particular ‘type’ for the part either – just someone whose name means something to the public, and who’d look pretty on a series of trading cards.

Look, I’m not saying I don’t believe any of these rumours, just that they’re not that interesting.... or surprising. Of course Sony are going to go after every A-list young actress in town for the female lead in what’s one of their next big tentpoles. And if I’m right, then you can probably expect to hear Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, and Kristen Stewart’s names mentioned in relation to Parker’s Pussy in the next week or two, too. I guess they could also be checking out some lesser-known actresses for the part too – only that we’re not hearing about them, of course. Personally, I’d love to see a fresh face (say, Kristina Anapau or Ashley Greene, even Cobie Smoudlers) get the part of Hardy... but doesn’t look like anyone with a limited IMDB listing’s going to get a look-in.... which is a pity, because I think I’d look hot in leather pants.