Skip to main content

Andrew Garfield to Become Next Spider-Man

Defying predictions, rumors, and speculation, Sony has announced that Andrew Garfield will play Peter Parker in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Garfield, a dual citizen of the UK and the US, is mostly unknown in the States – his biggest role coming in a small part in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. In the UK however, he has gained a reputation as a rising star for his roles in the TV miniseries Red Riding, and the critically acclaimed movie Boy A, for which Garfield won the 2008 Best Actor BAFTA for his performance.

The casting for Spider-Man has been filled with numerous stories, all saying that a different actor had the role sealed up. For awhile it was Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), and the deal was all but done according to numerous sources. Then it was Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth), who reportedly  signed a deal to wear the Spider-Man suit.

Almost miraculously, the news was officially broken by Sony itself, thwarting hundreds of rabid websites fiendishly watching every potential rumor on the new Spider-Man’s lead. The casting of Garfield came as a surprise to everyone, including Garfield himself, who was only informed 30 minutes before the official announcement by Sony.

Variety is reporting that the choice came down to three actors: Garfield, Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper), and Alden Enrenreich (Tetro). Hundreds were considered, and at least six actors screen-tested.

The movie will be directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer), and will be slated for a July 3, 2012 release in 3D.

“Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents,” Webb said at the official announcement, “He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit and humanity.”

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Madame Web: how many post-credits scenes does it have?
Dakota Johnson looks at someone in Madame Web.

If you're coming into the weekend without any idea about who the title character of Madame Web is, then you're not alone. For all of the barbs that The Marvels got – and we've fired a few ourselves – the three characters at the center of that movie at least had the benefit of having two headliners between them. Not one of the main characters in Madame Web has ever held down an ongoing comic book series, least of all Dakota Johnson's Cassandra Web.

But for any comic book movie fans who just have to know about the future of Sony's Spider-Man Universe – aka the movies that don't actually feature Spider-Man – then we can tell you right now how many post-credits scenes that Madame Web has.
How many post-credits scenes does Madame Web have?
None. There's nothing at the mid-credits or the post-credits, so you can run for the exit as soon as the credits roll. Although you may want to leave sooner than that. But consider this post as your clairvoyant vision of the future, which will allow you to stop yourself from losing 116 minutes of your life that you'll never get back. Why should you pay money to see a film that will probably be on Netflix by this summer?

Read more
Madame Web’s ending, explained
Four women stand in a NYC corner in "Madame Web."

Sony and Marvel's latest Spider-Man spinoff, Madame Web, has finally swung into theaters. Set in the year 2003, Madame Web follows paramedic/clairvoyant Cassie Webb (Dakota Johnson) as she tries to protect three young women destined to become Spider-Women from being hunted down by the evil Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim). Said Spider-Women include Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connor), and Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced).

Though it is only the fourth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, it has been received just as well as one would expect from the franchise at this point. Before this film even came out, fans knew it would be another misfire on par with Morbius, and things have turned out just as they were foretold. Nevertheless, it's clear that this story is meant to set up something big for the franchise. So now, let's break down what the movie and its ending mean for this cinematic universe.
What is Madame Web about?

Read more
10 most popular movies of all time on Letterboxd, ranked
A boy looks out of a window in Parasite.

There are great movies that become cultural touchstones or even go on to define an entire generation, which is more common for modern blockbusters thanks to the power of social media. Films can quickly dominate discussions, debates, and memes, with the most popular ones cementing their place in cinematic history by the sheer scale of their influence.

Beyond box office numbers, online platforms for cinephiles like Letterboxd make it possible to see which movies are getting the most attention from its thousands of users. From '90s classics like Fight Club to recent sensations like Barbie, the most popular movies on Letterboxd can give viewers some idea of films everyone should see at least once. These reflect what types of movies audiences are gravitating towards these days and what will almost certainly be the defining films of this era.
10. La La Land (2016)

Read more