And the new Spider-Man is... Andrew Garfield?
I'm sure I wasn't alone in raising an eyebrow when news hit the wire that the 26-year-old actor was cast as the next Peter Parker in Sony's planned reboot of the "Spider-Man" film franchise. So who is the actor and does his resume say about his Spidey aptitude?
Let's take a look at the facts, shall we?
Born in the U.S., Garfield moved to England when he was four years old and his early days were peppered with acting honors, including several prestigious awards recognizing him as an outstanding newcomer. After training at the Central School of Speech & Drama, he was named one of Variety's "10 Actors to Watch" in 2007.
For me, the most interesting item in Garfield's resume is a featured role in the two-episode "Doctor Who" adventure "Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution of the Daleks," which aired in 2007. The actor played a 1930s New York City worker who allies himself with The Doctor (played by David Tennant) in a battle against the alien Daleks set against the backdrop of an in-development Empire State Building.
However, it was his role in 2009's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" that first attracted the attention of many moviegoers. In the Terry Gilliam-directed film, Garfield played the romantic rival to deceased "The Dark Knight" actor Heath Ledger.
Now audiences will get to see Garfield in a decidedly different role as Peter Parker, Marvel's high-school nerd turned superhero who develops fantastic powers after he's bitten by a radioactive spider. The oldest of the rumored candidates for the role, the 26-year-old actor will have to refrain from acting his age when he brings the teenage hero to life in the near future.
"Spider-Man" hits theaters July 3, 2012.
Let us know what you think of Garfield landing the role in the comment section or on Twitter!
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