It seems like only a short time has passed since The Amazing Spider-Man was barreling through production, eager to release in time to retain Sony Pictures’ film rights. After audiences reacted warmly to the rebooted superhero franchise, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has followed the same pattern of fast and furious production as its predecessor.
Anticipation for the sequel is high, as director Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer) has recruited a bevy of promising new faces for the project. In the past week, two rather interesting tidbits about The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (and possible directions the film might be taking) have surfaced.
The first of these stories comes from The Wall Street Journal, which shares the scoop that sets for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 suggest a trip to the dormitories at Columbia University. The movie’s currently released synopsis hints that Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) will be graduating high school this go-around – will we see him begin his life as a college undergraduate? The report mentions that the dorm appears to belong to a girl, so Peter may be attending another school, if at all. If so, the scenes mentioned may involve Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) or Mary-Jane Watson (Shailene Woodley).
In related news, MTV’s Splash Page reports that Woodley (The Descendants) has completed filming her scenes as Mary-Jane. The relative quickness with which Woodley’s contribution to the film was finished backs up previous rumors that the part is smaller and less important than initially assumed. It looks as if (for now) the movie’s romantic focus will remain squarely on Gwen.
Image of the campus of Columbia University in New York City. Will this be Peter Parker’s alma mater?
Both of these pieces of news don’t mean much in the larger scheme of figuring out The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s plot and the fates of its principal characters. However, they do confirm that the film will at least take a little time out from action set-pieces to examine Peter Parker’s turbulent personal life.
This is almost certainly a good thing. While this installment of the Spider-Man saga will see Spidey taking on both Electro (Jamie Foxx) and The Rhino (Paul Giamatti), a major part of the character’s appeal has always been in how he deals with the vagaries of day-to-day, non-superheroic life. Struggling to balance life as Spider-Man and Peter Parker (complete with girl troubles and school woes) is all part of the package of a proper adaptation of the comics.
The production of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 appears to be moving with a quickness. Keep your eyes glued to Screen Rant for more news as it develops.
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will leap into theaters on May 2nd, 2014.
Source: The Wall Street Journal; MTV Splash Page [via Deadline]
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Still think they REALLY got the WRONG person to play Mary Jane. Not even close on who Peter should pick, Emma Watson duh
Emma stone*
Personally I would have gone with lyndsy fonseca for Mary Jane.
hey, hey. No one likes a jerk
??
Paul Giamatti? Spider-Man should lure Rhino into a pool filled with blue dye and spike his shampoo with orange paint.
I see what you did there… Maybe Amanda Bynes would make for a better Mary-Jane? Eh? … Eh?
Gross… not even close! I always thought it should be Mary Elizabeth Winstead .
What’s wrong with Shailene Woodley everybody? I know Secret Life sucked, but did you see her in The Descendants? She was great
Talented? Sure. But is she Mary Jane? I think not. MJ’s a model and an actress, this chick just looks kind of like a normal girl. I mean she’s a pretty girl, but MJ’s supposed to be this smokin’ hot, sexy-cool girl next door. He hit the jackpot with her, remember, guys?
Still better looking than Kirsten Dunst. Who’s to say this girl won’t look smoking hot in the movie either? Just based on how she looks in one thing doesn’t mean she’s not going to look totally different in another. Either way I would take acting over hotness that can’t act. Cough *Megan Fox* Cough
What’s with you guys?! She’s plenty pretty enough for MJ……
http://www.magxone.com/seventeen/shailene-woodley-seventeen-us-may-2010/attachment/shailene-woodley-seventeen-4/
Nothing is wrong with her, I’m sure she’ll be fine. I just thought it should be Winstead. People just like to overreact.
I can see MEW playing Felicia Hardy if Felicity Jones isn’t
Hilarious!
This movie can’t be finished soon enough for me.
Damn!She has to have a minor role if she’s done filming her part as MJ. TASM 2 has only been shooting for a month.
That is really a small role seemingly, but the greater news is that there won’t be a premature (and possibly distracting) love triangle conflict. I would like to see the relationship fleshing out more and developing more while juxtapose the escalation of threat in Peter’s extracurricular activity as Spider-Man. That way the final dying wish of Captain George Stacy and Peter’s eventual breaking of that promise could hold more weight when (if) the events arise surrounding the fate of Gwen Stacy. A romantic conflict would only serve to distract rather than deepen the relationship between Peter and Gwen. So personally I am glad Mary Jane Watson only shows up in a minimal role, just like in the books, that will organically grow over the course of the series.
Personally wrong choice for Mary Jane though she was good in descendants and that’s all I’ve seen her in. Talented but not MJ.
I loved Emma stones Gwen that I wouldn’t have even minded if they kept her through 3 without introducing Mary Jane at all.
Also her woodleys Mary Jane in this movie should be nothing more then a extended cameo like hawkeye in Thor.
Can’t wait for the movie
If its based on the ultimate comics then MJ wasnt, or at least isnt yet, a model or actress but an aspiring journelist of some kind.
From what i hear and have seen/noticed, they draw alot of inspiration from the Ultimate Comics as opposed to the straight Amazing Comics (ironically enough)
Yeah, especially if she’s going to be a student attending Columbia University.
Most likely, if they kill off Gwen (like the 616 instead of Ultimate universes) they will have Peter distracted by Mary Jane and the guilt will be magnified when he can’t save her.
I’d take this girl over a stiff model that can’t act for the life of her.
Because you’ve all seen the movie already and know what Woodley’s performance would be like… What else can you tell me about the future?
That’s pretty close to what I was thinking.
Shaline Woodley as Mary-Jane? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? PLEASE TELL ME that they’re gonna dye her hair red! Or else she WILL NOT PASS AS MARY JANE!! Physically, she doesn’t look like Mary Jane? But Emma Stone would’ve been PERFECT!!… BUT OH! They already cast her part, WHOOPS!! The casting people screwed up on that one!!
Ummm…You’ve SEEN the real-life Mary Jane???
Less action! the first one was a snore fest! Marvel please come get your property back, save us from this dren.
jimmy love with the troll action smh SHUT………wait for it…………………..UP!!
its just to go from the extreme hot and talented like Emma Stone to someone who is almost unknown and doesnt really have that hook just seems like stupid casting.
although i must say i am looking forward to seeing giamatti as the rhino, i dont know how theyll do it
It doesn’t take that long to say, “Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot!”
I always though that chick who played Ginnie in Harry Potter would be perfect for M-J. I always pictured M-J like her
But hey let’s give Shailene Woodley a chance 
Whatever I actually really don’t want Gwen to die or M-J to be with Peter. Gwen and Peter are perfect together so I’m happy M-J might don’t be a big of the movie