Well, according to this article in Hit Fix, we do:The search for the new "Spider-Man" appears to be over.
HitFix has exclusively learned that Logan Lerman is first choice for Sony Pictures and the clear frontrunner to replace Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker in the reboot of the blockbuster franchise. A source close to the production tells HitFix Lerman is "almost 100% locked" but not in contract negotiations for the role yet.
Marc Webb ("500 Days of Summer") is directing the new untitled "Spider-Man" which is being written by James Vanderbilt ("Zodiac," "The Losers") and is meant to be a more teen-friendly incarnation, taking Peter Parker back to his early days of balancing girl trouble, homework, and crimefighting. The new film is expected to begin production later this year for a July 3, 2012 release.
Maguire, co-star Kristen Dunst and director Sam Raimi were expected to continue their version of the wall-crawler's adventures until Raimi bowed out after creative differences with the studio earlier this
year. At that time, Sony Pictures decided to re-cast the film and move in a new direction, and had already been developing a reboot script as a contingency plan.
Lerman beats out rumored contenders Anton Yelchin, Jesse Eisenberg, Patrick Fugit and Johnny Simmons.
The 18-year-old Los Angeles native is best known for his role as Percy in February's hit "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief." His other credits include "Gamer," "My One and Only," "Bill," "3:10 to Yuma," "The Number 23" and the TV series "Jack & Bobby" where he played Bobby. Lerman got his start in two Mel Gibson films "What Women Want" and "The Patriot" at the young age of 8.
The attention focused on the casting of this role is not surprising when one considers that, historically, one of the reasons "Gone With the Wind was a phenomenon when it was released in 1939 was the deep investment that the audience already had in the characters thanks to the popularity of the book. Mega-producer David O. Selznick made canny use of the the casting process to hype the film, and the search to find the right Scarlett O'Hara and the right Rhett Butler was international news for a full year.
These days, it seems that the search for each new superhero has become a major sport for outlets that cover entertainment news, no doubt because modern audiences have a major investment in seeing these characters done right. When Sony Pictures decided to reboot "Spider-Man," speculation began immediately, and Lerman was one of the early names bandied about. At the time, those conversations were premature, but it appears that the process has brought Sony back around to the young actor, and now he is poised to wear the familiar red-and-blue costume after all.
-While Patrick Fugit or Anton Yelchin would have been my first choice (though I love Jesse Eisenberg in everything he does), this doesn't appear to be a bad pick, if it does indeed come to pass...thoughts?
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He certainly could work...
ReplyDeletenext thing we know Chloe Moretz will be mary jane
ReplyDeleteWell played, though that's a little young, even for this...
ReplyDeletemaybe saorise ronan... or ready for it... Miley Cyrus!
ReplyDeleteWe'll see...Marc Webb is a talented director, so I have faith in him pulling this off.
ReplyDeleteLike you said, Joey, it's certainly not a bad choice. Lerman does have some talent, which is evidenced especially by his performance in "3:10 To Yuma". Although I thought that "Percy Jackson" was extremely mediocre, he also gave a solid performance in that and was able to carry a film.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, with a writer like Vanderbilt and a very talented director like Webb, I think that this could usher in a much better adaptation of the extremely popular comic - especially since I never thought that Sam Raimi was the right person to be adapting it.
I enjoyed the first two Raimi Spidey flicks, but I like the new direction they're going in, since it's something different, and I can respect that. Depending on the tone they go with, this could be a really fun movie, something akin to Iron Man meets Young Indiana Jones...if that makes any sense.
ReplyDeleteYea, I know where you're coming from, Joey.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the first of the three by Raimi was the best, but even that was only fun, and nothing to really write home about. The second film, contrary to many people's opinions, was very bad in my opinion. When I think of Spider-Man, I don't think of Tobey Maguire -- and I thought it was unfair to make millions of people who were just being introduced to the character to have to think of him as well...
We shall see...
ReplyDeleteThough I gotta say, I enjoyed the second one...
ReplyDeleteI know it's all bout Peter Parker and Mar Jane in the last little while in the comics, but watch them use Gwen Stacey INSTEAD of MJ. That'd be a fast one!
ReplyDeleteWe shall see...
ReplyDelete