Despite the seemingly rushed nature of Sony Pictures’ reboot of the Spider-Man franchise after dropping Sam Raimi’s problematic Spider-Man 4, The Amazing Spider-Man – despite its flaws – successfully reintroduced Peter Parker in large part due to its roster of talent onscreen. For The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Marc Webb looks to keep that magic flowing with inspired casting that already includes Jamie Foxx as the villainous Electro, Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) as Mary Jane and Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) as Harry Osborn.
Today we’ve learned that Sony is looking to bolster the cast led by Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone even more by adding Paul Giamatti and Felicity Jones.
The scoop comes from THR who have it on good authority that Oscar-nominated Paul Giamatti is in negotiations to join The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as the villainous Rhino, while Brit actress Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) is also in talks for another, unknown role. Could she play one-time love interests Betty Brant or Liz Allan, or is Webb pulling out all the stops and introducing Felicia Hardy AKA Black Cat?
Felicity Jones in Like Crazy
The report confirms Sony’s attempt at distancing itself from the Sam Raimi trilogy of Spider-Man films by taking advantage of a different set of villains. Both Electro and Rhino were mentioned among fan wishlists for inclusion in Raimi’s ill-fated Spider-Man 4 and will finally get their chance in the Marc Webb universe.
Every character Giamatti touches is gold and to see him play the physically-dominant Rhino will be something unique for the superhero genre, especially given the track record of the franchise to successfully adapt the more “out there” characters like Sandman and The Lizard. So, expect to see a super-powered and gigantic Rhino on screen battling Spider-Man.
Paul Giamatti in Shoot ‘Em Up
In Marvel Comics, Rhino (real name: Aleksei Sytsevich) was a member of the Russian mafia who, after undergoing a lengthy process genetic manipulation with chemicals and radiation, was given his superhuman abilities, but unfortunately no superhuman level of intelligence. His powers are further enhanced by a suit he wears on top of his thick armored skin.
As our own Kofi Outlaw brought up in chatting with Marc Webb last summer, it looks as if the end credits sequence of The Amazing Spider-Man and the plans for the sequel could be leading to the formation of the Sinister Six (read Webb’s curious response here), where multiple Spidey villains (The Lizard, Electro and Rhino included in various incarnations) form together. Such a large-scale threat certainly boosts the blockbuster appeal of the franchise in a post-Avengers genre.
[Update: I made this. 9-foot Paul Giamatti running headfirst into walls. Think about it.]
For fans of The Amazing Spider-Man video game, I met with the producers behind it who spent many hours working with Sony to ensure the game fits within the plans for the film universe where Oscorp and their biological experimentation were the central point for all of the super-powered characters we know from years of Marvel Comics. Rhino (pictured up top) was re-imagined for the game.
Fun fact: The Oscorp tower from The Amazing Spider-Man almost made its way into The Avengers but digital effects on the New York skyline were already near completion.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 releases May 2, 2014.
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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes for more!
Source: THR
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I said they should do the Sinister Six back before school started
I hope they show us some Norman Osborn in this one the green goblin was always the joker of the spider-man universe to me I hope they get a famous and talented actor to play him, and with better effects nowadays they can make him look so much better than he did in Raimi’s trilogy
I nominate Bryan Cranston.
Cranston is a very good actor I need to see more movies with him in them. Other actors I was also thinking maybe Richard Gere but nowim nor so sure about that.
I vote christoph waltz for Green Goblin and Bryan Crantson for Mysterio not sure who else will be in the Sinister six for the movie if that’s what they end up doing but they’d probably bring back Ifans as Lizard and Foxx as Electro and Giamatti as Rhino and that with my casting leaves only one left well we’ve already seen sandman before (Green Goblin is an exception in this case) maybe they could use Venom or Kraven I love both of them they could also do vulture but but the only thing I never liked about him was that he looked like he was in his sixties and he’s beating up a super strong and fast teenager, but if they got an actor like John Malcovich I think that’d be good but a younger actor for vulture to make it a little more reali in some cases maybe Benedict Cumberbatch or Michael rosenbaum or maybe even Michael fassbender, yeah these may not be my best picks for the role but I’m in a hurry and I’m just spit-balling ideas right now
TBH I’d be happy with Michael Massee from the end credits scene. Seeing as I’ve always wanted him for Joker anyway/
I love Paul but they need to make him a very, very large man, which he is far from, to really work for this. I think if they do something like they were talking about for the new “Thing” from the FF, and make him almost the size of the Hulk, then it will work.
Even though I don’t play, that video game looks intense.
I’m in. “ASM” was a little uneven, but a fun effort. Throw some more Spider-Man one liners in, a little less “Twilight” angst and keep the action level the same.
This is Spidey. Would an all-out fun movie really kill them?
I thought the first wasn’t bad, beat my expectations… 3 wasn’t bad, 4 probly would have been though without Harry… Hope the sequel to this sequel will have the hunter guy, he’s my fave! Excited for 2, Paul Giamatti is cool and a good actor.
That is truly amazing that rhino,elector are in the amazing spider-man sequels and sinister six will on amazing spider-man 2 or amazing spider -man 3 movies and also bring the black cat many other as well in the amazing spider-man 2 and amazing spider-man 3 movies in the future spider-mnan movies.
Twilight teenage angst is all they want for Spider-Man which is why they hired Marc Webb. It is all he’s good for. Loom at th first movie, nothing was done right it was all cushy romance and no one understands me Peter Parker. Revealed his identity 3 times in the first movie. Completely missed the mark. Should of focused on becoming the hero, the science, the boy who becomes the man. Should of hired JJ Abrams.
This movie looks great but may i say that i don’t like the actors who are playing the villains…:(
Is the 9 foot paul Giamatti just the picture I’m a little confused usually it’s a video or something.
Too bad jamie fox is in it. He is one of my banned actors. I guess I will have to pass this one up at the box office.
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I’d love to see Carnage in there somewhere. Final movie, huge on the drama and depth for that one. I think Vulture would be pretty cool…maybe have him start out like how Scarecrow did in The Dark Knight.
I definitely want to see Scorpion as well. Just to see how they do it on the screen, and also it would give Webb a chance to play with the more mechanical villains and see how it compares to Raimi’s Doc Oc (who was awesome).
They HAVE to bring back Green Goblin eventually – more visceral, maybe CGI/makeup mask genetic monster-type instead of the green power ranger stuff of times past.
And finally, I really would have preferred Shocker over Electro. Someone mentioned Jason Statham. Ha, could have been fun times. Oh well
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Great actors and great movie this one should be a block buster
Great actors and great movie this one should be a block buster.
I doubt SHocker would ever be incorporated as an important character in the movie but a cameo of him being arrested or a half a minute brawl would be worth it
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