Andrew Garfield & Director Marc Webb To Officially Return For ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Sequel

Columbia Pictures has today officially confirmed that Andrew Garfield will return to the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Marc Webb is set to direct the next installment of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man.’ The screenplay for the sequel is by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner based on a previous draft by James Vanderbilt. The film will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. The new chapter in the Spider-Man saga is set for release in 3D on May 2nd, 2014. Emma Stone is also in talks to return to the blockbuster franchise and is expected to reprise her role as Gwen Stacy.

Commenting on the announcement, Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, said, “We could not be more confident in the direction we are taking this new Spider-Man storyline and we are tremendously excited to be ramping up production again with Marc at the helm and Andrew continuing on as Peter Parker. We can’t wait to share what we have in store for Peter and Spider-Man with audiences worldwide.”

The new film will begin production in early 2013. Marc Webb, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone previously teamed on this summer’s blockbuster ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ which has taken in more than $751 million worldwide. Based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the original 3D action-adventure film starred Garfield as Spider-man/Peter Parker, Stone as Gwen Stacy, Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Conners/The Lizard, Denis Leary as George Stacy, Campbell Scott as Richard Parker, Chris Zylka as Flash Thompson, Irrfan Khan as Dr. Ratha, Martin Sheen as Ben Parker, and Sally Field as May Parker. You can check out my interviews for the film here: Andrew Garfield. Emma Stone. Martin Sheen. Denis Leary. Rhys Ifans. Marc Webb. The official synopsis and production notes for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ can be read below.

One of the world’s most beloved characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man. Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb. Screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves. Story by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to OsCorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

Columbia Pictures presents a Marvel Entertainment / Laura Ziskin / Avi Arad / Matt Tolmach production, The Amazing Spider-Man™. Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. Directed by Marc Webb. Produced by Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach. Screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves. Story by James Vanderbilt. Based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Executive producers are Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, and Michael Grillo. Director of Photography is John Schwartzman, ASC. Production Designer is J. Michael Riva. Editors are Alan Edward Bell, A. C. E. and Pietro Scalia, A. C. E. Special Visual Effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. Visual Effects Supervisor is Jerome Chen. Costume Designer is Kym Barrett. Music by James Horner.