With Marc Webb safely back behind the camera for Sony’s sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man and Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone returning in front of it, the studio is now putting feelers out for new characters and cast members, with Shailene Woodley considered the front-runner to play iconic Peter Parker partner Mary Jane Watson. Yes, while the first of the rebooted Spidey franchise put the focus on Peter and Gwen Stacy, it appears that his most famous, redheaded love interest arrives in the second film, which may or may not signal that Stone’s Stacy could be headed for her ultimate fate. Woodley is listed in Variety’s story as being in early talks, and isn’t confirmed yet. But given her award-nominated turn in The Descendants, she’s definitely got the skills to bring MJ to life. She won’t be the only fragment of the Spider-Man universe making its way on screen: the filmmakers are apparently after someone to play Harry Osborn, Harry’s best pal and eventual enemy, as portrayed by James Franco in Sam Raimi’s trilogy. And the hunt is also on for villainous types, with Electro rumoured to be the big bad for the second film. The sequel, which has a script by James Vanderbilt, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinker, is now firmly in pre-production with the casting process in full, er, swing. It’s set to arrive On May 2, 2014. Woodley will next be seen in indie comedy drama The Spectacular Now, which is out next year.
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