With production expected to begin next month, Sony is hard at work locking down its principal cast for the 3D reboot of the Spider-Man franchise. This new take on Spider-Man will focus on Peter Parker’s days in college and will explore his relationship with Gwen Stacy while also touching on his earlier years when he was a young child when his parents were alive.
Andrew Garfield will be playing the title character and joining him so far are Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans as The Lizard, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field reportedly in talks to play Parker’s aunt and uncle. Now comes word that Gwen Stacy’s dad is about to be cast…
The Hollywood Reporter has the exclusive scoop that Rescue Me star Denis Leary is currently in negotiations to play the character of George Stacy opposite Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. George is the father of Gwen and a captain of the police and in the books, his character crosses paths with Spider-Man on many occasions and is known for being a defender of his cause. At least, that’s his character in the mainstream Marvel Comics universe.
In the Ultimate Marvel Comics however, George Stacy is a younger man who’s not fond of Spidey but digs his vigilante style. The one key story point that sticks in both universes is that Mr. Stacy dies at the hands of Spider-Man”s villains so that could be an emotional trigger for Gwen in the film, should the script follow a similar path.
Since we know Mary Jane will not be a character featured in Marc Webb’s Spider-Man reboot, this lets the story focus on only one love interest of Peter Parker and delve deeper into her character and relationships, an opportunity not taken advantage of previously in the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy where Bryce Dallas Howard and James Cromwell played Gwen and George respectively.
I applaud Webb and Sony Pictures for continuing to think out of the box in adding another unexpected but likable actor to the growing Spider-Man cast.
Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.
Spider-Man is directed by Marc Webb and written by James Vanderbilt. Filming starts in December and the film will be released in 3D on July 3, 2012.
Source: THR
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I’m starting to get on board with this is this follows the ultimate version closely
I just wanna see a trailer lol
same lol
Okay, if they get Leary on board I may actually change my mind about this movie.
I’m a huge fan of Leary! He is one of the funniest comedians ever.
Now they just need J.K Simmons!
Leary would make a good J. Jonah Jameson.
Sin I’m right there with you Leary is basically an idol to me lol
@GreaterTater
I was actually thinking of typing that last night, but didn’t because I still think Jonah is all J.K. Simmons. I loved him in that part and would find it very difficult to see anyone replace him. But, if it was Leary I’d be okay.
I have to agree. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look at Jonah as a character without thinking J. K. Simmons. If he got on board with the reboot I would be very content.
ditto
This movie just got a whole lot douchier. I don’t know if that’s a word but i do know that Leary suck and is a giant a-hole. I will always fondly remember Greg Giraldo coming back at him and Leary pouting like a 4 year old.
For THE FLASH movie I also chose him to play Professor Zoom… That will be a great idea for him to star in the DC/Marvel movies
Hahahaha
This just keeps getting better everytime I swear to god!
I’m gonna love this movie hahah
I’m starting to like this cast more and more. Far better than than Raimi’s version, and I’m a huge Raimi fan.
Eh..Meh..
ditto
Well now I know I don’t want to see this. Can’t stand the guy in anything he does. Just not funny. I will miss the Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell cameos. Also something else that bothers me is that rather then Raimi, Webb is FINALLY useing The Lizard!! I mean come on, after three movies with Dr. Conners, now they’re finally useing him… Tiersome.
Well, Leary is just a rip off of Bill Hick’s stand up comedy and I’m a huge Bruce Campbell and Raimi fan, but, casting wise this is way better IMHO.
This reboot looks promising. I may actually watch this.
Crap now I have to see this piece of junk film. I had no plan to see it now it’s graduated to a DVD rental I’ve never missed anything Leary has done and I never will. He’s a great creative writer and always hilarious. Rescue me is probably one of the greatest shows on Television and his Stand up has been amazing for pretty much his entire carer.
The movie is pretty much screwed it’s got no chance of being good, but now I have to watch it.
Yes Denis Leary!! The chances of this movie sucking just went from “Yes” to “Maybe”.
I always liked Leary. Rescue Me, The Ref, hey, he even stole the freakin’ Demolition Man from Sly and Wesley!
Now that said— forget this! INSTEAD have him dye his hair gray-white with a crew cut. Give him a moustache. Turn him loose.
He’s a better JJ Jameson, my thoughts.
He look like could play her brother rather then her father