Marvel Studios and Columbia/Sony announced that British Jewish actor Andrew Garfield, 26, has been cast as the new lead in the “Spider-Man” reboot, which is expected to feature a younger Peter Parker.
Marc Webb (“(500) Days of Summer”) is directing the 3D film, slated for a 2012 release. The reboot emerged from the ashes of “Spider-Man 4,” and comes only five years after the release of the dreadful “Spider-Man 3,” which featured an embarrassingly emo Toby Maguire.
On selecting Garfield, Webb said, “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 Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”
Born in Los Angeles, Garfield moved to England with his British mother and American father when he was 3. In an interview with indieLONDON, he says he grew up in a middle-class Jewish home and attended private school.
A stage actor by training, Garfield has a short but impressive film and television resume, including a striking performance as the youthful sleight-of-hand expert Anton in Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Heath Ledger’s last film) and starring opposite Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep in his first big-screen film, “Lions for Lambs.”
The fannish crowd might recognize Garfield as Frank, the young Hooverville resident in the series three “Doctor Who” episodes “Daleks in Manhattan” and “Evolution of the Daleks.” Later this year you’ll see him in David Fincher’s Facebook film “Social Network.”
Garfield beat out other stars like Anton Yelchin (“Terminator Salvation,” “Star Trek”), Aaron Johnson (“Kick-Ass”) and Logan Lerman (“Percy Jackson”) for the “Spider-Man” role.
