Current hot actress of the moment, Emma Stone (Easy A, Zombieland) has been officially announced as the female lead opposite Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) in the as yet untitled Spider-Man reboot directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer). Stone had previously been rumored for the role of Mary Jane Watson while Alice in Wonderland star Mia Wasikowska was rumored to be in line to score the role of Gwen Stacy, but it would appear those assumptions were wrong.
Stone will be playing Gwen Stacy, a role last played by Bryce Dallas Howard in Spider-Man 3. In the Marvel comics, Gwen becomes the first love of Peter Parker/Spider-Man when she is then killed by Green Goblin. Of course, this mythology was changed with the Sam Raimi directed trio of films that say Mary Jane, played by Kirsten Dunst, as the web-slinger’s true love.
Stone wasn’t even part of the first batch of names rumored for the role, which included Imogen Poots, Ophelia Lovibond, Lilly Collins, Teresa Palmer and Emma Roberts. I have to assume the recent love for her performance in Easy A and her growing relationship with the studio after Superbad, The House Bunny and Zombieland also helped out.
Commenting on the announcement, president of Columbia Pictures Matt Tolmach said, “It’s been an incredible journey for us to watch Emma’s star rise as an actress. She is extraordinarily talented and has a very special on-screen spark that is perfect for this role. Given her history with the studio, casting her in one of our most important franchises is a real thrill.”
Production on the film is set to begin in December for a July 3, 2012 nationwide release.
