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Sony Officially Announces New Spider-Man - Andrew Garfield
by Alex Billington
July 1, 2010
So it wasn't actually Josh Hutcherson, but now we know who it really is, no more rumors. Sony has officially announced (via press release and Twitter) that 26-year-old actor Andrew Garfield has been fully cast as the new Peter Parker in Sony's Spider-Man reboot. Production begins in early December directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt (The Losers). "Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor's work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love [him as Peter]," says Webb.
"Spider-Man is a classic superhero -- a young man who balances his responsibility to serve humanity and crush evil with the shyness and normalcy of someone struggling to find himself. The role demands an extraordinary actor. You need someone who can magically transform himself from Peter Parker into Spider-Man. An actor who will depict the vulnerability of youth and the strength and confidence of a legendary figure at the same moment. We have found that actor in Andrew Garfield. From the first time we saw him in the upcoming film The Social Network, to his glorious screen test, which floored all of us, we knew that we had found our new Peter Parker," says Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures.
Most may not know Andrew Garfield yet, but you will soon. He appeared in Boy A and Lions for Lambs and starred in the Red Riding trilogy as well as Terry Gilliam's Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. He was also cast in David Fincher's The Social Network as Eduardo Saverin and co-stars in Never Let Me Go. I've seen him in a couple of films and I can certainly say he's very talented, but I haven't seen him playing a character like Peter Parker yet. "In the end, we all agreed that in addition to being an extraordinary actor, Andrew had the right mix of humor, youth, and pathos, along with an underlying sense of strength and power necessary to bring Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life on screen," says producer Laura Ziskin. They really like him!
Sony has scheduled Marc Webb's Spider-Man for release, in 3D, on July 3rd, 2012. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios. Stay tuned for more updates on casting and the movie in general, as this is only the beginning of a very long journey! Did they make a good choice?
47 Comments
1
If he has a British accent, the whole film is ruined.
JTMoney on Jul 1, 2010
2
Ummm......high school(?)
Al on Jul 1, 2010
3
Excellent choice... He was great in Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Unfortunately I still don't give a shit about this movie.
asdfdasfds on Jul 1, 2010
4
Oh god, I fucking hated him in Parnassus. I mean it was an awful film to begin with but jesus did he bring it down a few knotches.
Sroe on Jul 1, 2010
6
meh...
Sam B on Jul 1, 2010
7
He looks kinda lanky and creepy, doesn't he? Maybe he'll pull a Heath Ledger, but my initial reaction is that the Josh Hutcherson kid looked more like Peter Parker to me.
Outlaw on Jul 1, 2010
8
ummmm....i guess they are not going after the high school story line then, buddy over here looks like he's 30....
ray on Jul 1, 2010
9
sorry for the double post but jesus, he looks older than Tobey Maguire as parker in 02. Why not just get Ed Asner?
Al on Jul 1, 2010
10
Yet another Marvel comics movie that I will skip... (... and that will more than likely also be terrible).
graffiti bandit on Jul 1, 2010
11
ok... definetly have my doubts on this one... i was ok with kid from journey to center of earth cuz he's actually young and can pass for high school. but this guy. WTF?!?!?!?!?!
KING on Jul 1, 2010
12
hes not a teen actor,,,wtf?!...
Victor Diaz on Jul 1, 2010
13
@ #1 he's English but he grew up in America. Garfield was amazing in "The imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus", so maybe this will surprise us? You doubters need to see tIoDP he was great in that film. He was born in '83 guys c'mon.
Xerxex on Jul 1, 2010
14
honestly...a Indie type spiderman movie... i'm down to see it...who else?
Darren on Jul 1, 2010
15
why not just get JGL they are around same age LOL
nelson on Jul 1, 2010
16
@4 your nuts..imaginarium was a great film and he was excellent in it. I love that hes been casted so he can get more mainstream but still have no intrest in this reboot.
Hale18 on Jul 1, 2010
17
YES!!! Excellent news! This guy is extremely talented and he was amazing in TIoDP. He will surely be extraordinary in this movie (even if the movie does end up being bad :P). But I'm remaining hopefully optimistic for this. Maybe we will get lucky and they will bring it into the MCU!
Cinephile on Jul 1, 2010
18
He also did voice acting for the main robot character in Spike Jonze's short film "I'm Here" and he was absolutely great in that. This guy hasn't been seen in too many things but he's been cast by Terry Gilliam (Dr. Parnassus), Spike Jonze (I'm Here), Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go), and David Fincher (The Social Network). These are great directors and they all have seen something in him, which definitely says something. I'm officially excited for this reboot. Now they just need to title it "The Amazing Spiderman"
samir on Jul 1, 2010
19
Okay, maybe this can work, but im still not sold on anything. I mean, it's just something we dont need no matter who's playin what part or who's directing.
Eli on Jul 1, 2010
20
I just saw a youtube vid of him. I can definately see him going from shy and withdrawn to ass kicker. Maybe I'll keep be interested afterall...
Eli on Jul 1, 2010
21
Video montage of Garfield's acting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-vsctKad_A
Scott on Jul 1, 2010
22
Of all spiderman's image you could've used you chose this one? Fix it bro!
dex on Jul 1, 2010
23
roflmao Marvel. you do know it's not April Fools right?
Aimee on Jul 1, 2010
24
haha are you guys are hating on this guy cause he's old. idk i havent seen him in anything else, but about his age....i mean, Tobey Maguire was older than high school in the original Spider-Man. yet they made him look younger. they can do that these days.
youwish on Jul 1, 2010
25
No one should complain because this guy is loads better than the other dudes in the running. They might have won me over with this casting.
germs on Jul 1, 2010
26
He seems like he could be good (I've only seen him in the montage), and I really don't think age is much of a problem. I think the sideburns are just throwing you guys off. I'm mostly worried about the script.
Vet4Peace on Jul 1, 2010
27
@13, no he was born in America and grew up in Britain: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1940449/bio Check his acting credentials... most of his work (all oh his early/TV ones) are British. Am I the only one saddened by another American comic book hero is British/Australian. I'm not arguing the talent, as everyone (who had their own starring film) so far has done a wonderful job so far, despite how good the film is in the end. For the record I'm referring to Bale, Bana, Jackman, and the Americans: Maguire, Norton, ... and Keaton.
Akirakorn on Jul 1, 2010
28
They definitely should have gone with Josh Hutcherson. Hes a decent actor and without a doubt could have pulled it off. Most importantly he looks like he could be in high school, the guy they picked is 26. Either way we all know they're just making this movie to cash in on another franchise, hopefully it wont make money and they'll learn their lesson.
Fac on Jul 1, 2010
29
The only problem I have at this point is that he's going to be in his thirties when the sequels come out (if there are any). And he's going to look it. This is not a young-looking dude.
Jenn on Jul 1, 2010
30
I had a feeling I had it backwards Akirakorn, thanks for correcting me.
Xerxex on Jul 1, 2010
31
nice, looks like finally we get a peter parker who can act.
Logan on Jul 1, 2010
32
well as long as he cuts that hair...and the sideburns jaja
guy on Jul 1, 2010
33
Sony Spider Sony Spider He whips a web with a PS3 on the end Look out here comes the Sony Spider I heard he gonna have blue ray shooters instead of webb lol Mark Webb "Yeah man I'm gonna redo Spidey man and he gonna be all dark and stuff man Eww Eww Like Batman Man" Andrew Garfield "Woah" Mark Webb "whaaa..... (Rolls on floor laughing) Duuuuuuuuude nice Keanu Man!" Andrew Garfield "Keanoo Who" "uh" "Dude" Mark Webb "Dude it totally hit me man your spider man dude" "I'm the director I can totally make it happen Man.............I gotta think of what to say to the press now man" . . . . Mark Webb "Mark my words, you will love [his Peter]," says Webb.
Jimmy Love on Jul 1, 2010
34
THis movie is going to fucking suck. Jamie Bell was the best choice, this guy is a bad choice for a character like Peter Parker
matthew on Jul 1, 2010
35
I've been rooting for him since I saw Boy A and Parnassus. Parnassus was a jumbled mess and his character was supposed to be a twat, but he played that twat to perfection. I'm totally on board. The only other one I'd have wanted to take the spandex mantle was Jamie Bell, but good on Garfield.
Jim on Jul 2, 2010
36
i cant believe only one other person mentioned the script i mean the screenplay writer did the losers which was so cliche and predictable , that worries me for this. Anyway in parnassus he was a good actor, i expect to see more of the same. good pick
matt on Jul 2, 2010
37
I'm not going to doubt how good or bad the actor will be, but as has been pointed out several times, they've made a HUGE deal about the fact that they wanted to make this a younger Spider-Man. The guy is actually a year older than Tobey was when he filmed the first Spider-Man. He'll be in his early 30s by the time they finish a trilogy. Get ready for another reboot in 6 year people.
Cloudy with a chance of beefaroni on Jul 2, 2010
38
TOBY MACUIRE IS SPIDERMAN AND NOBODY ELSE...WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PEOPLE????
alina on Jul 2, 2010
39
I'm confident. It's easier to make someone younger then make them look older. I remember him in lions for lambs and Doctor Parnassus and I liked him. Anything is better then spider man 3. Just sayin.
Risk on Jul 2, 2010
40
Creepy, long-necked & Lanky, he's that bad guy right?? Waaay too gaunt-looking to be a spiderman. I'm sure Sony meant he was cast as ZOMBIE Spiderman for a Marvel Zombies movie... I'm just gonna sayit; FUCKIN BOOO!!! This is wack. IMO
solo calrissian on Jul 2, 2010
41
I saw him at a screening of Lions for Lambs. Very charismatic dude - GREAT actor. His American accent is better than most american actors' accents. I say both Spidey & Parker are in good hands. This guy raises the bar for this entire production. Looks like Sony's decided to make a good movie, after all. Naysayers, just admit it. You'll be first in line.
Christopher Nolan on Jul 2, 2010
42
Way to soon for a re-boot, bring back Toby and finish the current series with Spiderman 4!
Steven on Jul 2, 2010
43
I don't mind - I loved him in Parnassus. I just thought Logan Lerman was a perfect fit.
feeheeheeheeny on Jul 2, 2010
44
not sure... gotta see a trailer
Said on Jul 2, 2010
45
There is nothing I love more than watching skeptics eat their words. I bet this will be at least better than spiderman 1 and 3.
meatcarnage on Jul 2, 2010
46
I watched the first 32 seconds of #21's montage video, and i think this guy has the voice, the look, that feeling, he convinced me that this movie will indeed rock hard. Now, if they pick a good villian, i will see this movie in 2D. If they make epic campaigns, sweet trailers, amazing hype, and an awesome cast, i will see this in 3D. Nuff said.
Ty Trehern on Jul 3, 2010
47
ex- student from Central School of Speech and Drama, London remembered him as very subdued and laid-back---good actor--excellent casting I think.
dougo162 on Jul 6, 2010
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