AFTER a comprehensive worldwide search, English actor Andrew Garfield has been cast as Peter Parker for the 3D Spiderman movie, slated for a 2012 release.

You might recognise Andrew from The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, although he is a fairly new face in the industry.

“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,” said director Marc Webb.. “Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures both ok-ed 26-year-old Andrew’s casting, and commented on the announcement.

“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,” they said.

“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.”

The studios originally intended to make a fourth Spiderman movie with Tobey Maguire reprising his role as the mutant superhero, but problems in pre-production urged the studio to start from scratch with a prequel for the franchise instead.

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