Tobey Maguire was very nearly replaced in Spider-Man once before when he balked at making the second film, forcing Sony to line up Jake Gyllenhaal as insurance. Still, we can’t recommend that Gyllenhaal get excited by today’s news that Sony will be recasting Peter Parker in the next installment, as the studio’s intended high school reboot will almost certainly limit its potential casting pool to actors 18-25. Who’s got the inside track, then? Movieline’s gone ahead and picked out nine young thespians whose spider-sense should be tingling right now.
Johnny Simmons
Age: 23
Why It Could Work: As he showed in Jennifer’s Body, Simmons has the kind of bashful, croaky charisma that evokes Maguire himself. Give him a haircut and he could almost be a dead ringer.
Why It Might Not: Hasn’t yet proven himself in a lead role.
Logan Lerman
Age: 17
Why It Could Work: The Percy Jackson star turns 18 in a little over a week and certainly is the most convincing high-schooler on this list.
Why It Might Not: If Percy becomes a big hit, 20th Century Fox will want to rush Lerman into a sequel as soon as possible (which will limit his availability).
Aaron Johnson
Age: 19
Why It Could Work: Johnson is the right age and has the right look, and he’s got the nerdy superhero thing working for him in the upcoming Kick-Ass…
Why It Might Not: …but it also works against him. How can Johnson have two separate superhero franchises where one practically parodies the idea of the other?
Zac Efron
Age: 22
Why It Could Work: Aside from the unavailable Twilight duo of Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, Efron possibly has the most marquee value of any male actor in his age group. After leaving High School Musical, he’s ready for his next franchise and certainly athletic enough to convince as Spider-Man.
Why It Might Not: Is Efron too big a star for the franchise? Sony might want a relative unknown that the studio can pay peanuts, not an actor who’d command an eight-figure paycheck right off the bat.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 5:13 PM
Chris Colfer, with a twist.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 5:40 PM
Anton Yelchin could seem like a good idea. Unlike that movie.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 6:15 PM
Actually, I had Anton in my original piece and I think it accidentally got cut from the post's publication. (I'd imagine people were wondering why there were 8 suggestions instead of the promised 9!) It's back now, so take a look.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 6:45 PM
What, no Sam Worthington?
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 7:12 PM
You know my thoughts on Sam!
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 8:12 PM
worthington could never pass as a teenager.
the better (in terms of appearing the age) would be "what no Pattinson" (or Lautner if that's your team)
personally I think they should go for a more indie approach and find some fellow that is known on TV or as supporting roles and not another big name.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 8:16 PM
I think Zac will be more suitable than any..!
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 8:26 PM
This conversation is so depressing ... there was nothing wrong with Maguire and Raimi. Nothing. Raimi ran because the studio wanted to jam the new flick with villains - rarely a good thing.
Rebooting a solid franchise with great talent makes no sense ... unless you're desperately chasing the tween set. And didn't the "Spidey" films make a ton of dough as is? Why fix what's not broken? Sad all around.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 9:00 PM
I think Zac would do. He was good in 17 Again, much better than I expected after those crappy HSM movies.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 10:29 PM
someone recommended Joseph-Gordon Levitt... I like the idea
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 11:13 PM
If Zac Efron is chosen I refuse to watch the movie then. Zac is a good actor but this role just doesnt seem like him to me. He just isnt the face I wanna see when the mask comes off.
Posted 11 Jan 2010, 11:59 PM
You should use a newer Zac Efron pic. That one is gross and 3 years old. He looks so much fitter now, see http://i47.tinypic.com/dcdj02.jpg
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 12:39 AM
Honestly, James Franco is the best choice. I'm aware he's cast already as Harry Osborn in the series; the writers will just have to get really creative.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 12:44 AM
What about Zach Gilford from the TV show "Friday Night Lights." He's become a talented/versatile actor. On FNL you see he's capable of the nerdy, dorky and "just doesn't fit in" way about Peter Parker and then he conveys confidence, subtle arrogance/sarcasm and athletic ability known of Spiderman.
Since they're rebooting the franchise they should start with a lesser known actor and/or cast so the film is about the story and characters surrounding Spiderman rather than the actors.
Just as important to the reboot as who plays Peter Parker/Spiderman is the reboot of their inner monologues. The great story of Spiderman is Peter Parker didn't have a mentor/role model to learn the ropes from. The inner monologue allows viewers deeper perspective/understanding how a dorky teenage Peter Parker learns, understand and embraces these newfound abilities and the great responsibilities which compliment them.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 1:34 AM
"Is Efron too big a star for the franchise? Sony might want a relative unknown that the studio can pay peanuts, not an actor who’d command an eight-figure paycheck right off the bat."
Eight-figure paycheck?! LOL, only in Zac's dreams.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 1:56 AM
What about the Dude From New Moon?
He's only 17 right...whats his name...
Taylor Lautner.
would be a hit with the girls
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 2:37 AM
Jake should have been Peter Parker in the first place.
Peter Parker is supposed to be geeky, but handsome once he'd come out of his shell, as can be seen in Spiderman comics. Macguire never fit that bill and always looked like an awkward geek. Gyllenhaal was a perfect fit to cover both sides of Parker.
I don't see the point in a reboot though. Even though S3 was terrible, the other two were fine.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 10:32 AM
Agreed. Even though I didn't care for SM3, I don't think that one dud film out of a three-part series calls for a reboot! They just need to make the next one awesome. If they reboot the series (I'm getting so sick of that), I don't think I'll bother to watch them.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 5:29 AM
Efron would be interesting.
The character itself brings the fanboys but Efron could bring the fangirls on top of it. He's been way better post-HSM than people give him credit for.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 8:09 AM
This item should be retitled "What The Hell Is Wrong With Your Hair? Kids Today!"
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 8:36 AM
Well, Zac Efron certainly has that healthy orange of a radioactive spider bit victim!
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 8:56 AM
Yea, Zac would be perfect. It'll also draw more chicks in too. Also, don't use foreign actors for somethng so American! Getting sick of tat!
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 9:47 AM
I like Zac Efron, but he's just too cliche for this franchise. I would much rather see someone new, and there were great choices on this list. I have a soft spot for Johnny Simmons. I thought he was extremely likable in "Jennifer's Body," which I thought kicked ass.
But I'm also against this "reboot/do-over" idea completely.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 9:52 AM
Penn Badgley! he can be Peter Parker
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 9:59 AM
If they're looking for a somewhat unknown actor, I would highly recommend Reiley McClendon for the role. He's been in a couple of movies, but is probably more well known for some remarkable guest spots he's done on TV series. One of the most memorable was in the episode "Identity" of "Law & Order: SVU" in which he played identical twin boys, one of whom had - unbeknownst to either him or his brother - been raised as a girl. Reilly does a magnificent job of not only playing against himself, but also in creating 2 very distinct characters, one of whom believes he's female.
He's only 19, but he's been acting since he was about 8 years old, is pretty good looking and can handle the range a role like Peter Parker/Spiderman would require.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 11:06 AM
All of these choices make me want to cry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dG-4GZ1ytU
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 11:33 AM
I know he seems a little too old but I'm going with Joseph Gordon Levitt. Much more talented than a number of those actors in question and I think he could pull of the age range.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 11:49 AM
Rico Rodriguez!
With Ed O'neill and Sofia Vergara as the aunt and uncle.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 12:55 PM
No one can replace Tobey Maguire
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 12:56 PM
I think Penn Badgley can be a good fit. He's dorky Dan on Gossip Girl but he's got the built now that he's buffed up and he's a pretty good actor
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 1:14 PM
Penn Badgley...great actor and mighty fine.
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 1:52 PM
If they use Zac Effron I will shoot myself
Posted 12 Jan 2010, 3:20 PM
Michael Angarano (Will Stronghold from Sky High) FTW
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0029400/
also a chance to correct the woefully heinous miscasting of Kirsten Dunst as MJ. Leighton Meester perhaps?
Zac Efron could be Harry Osbourne.
Posted 13 Jan 2010, 12:11 AM
Penn Badgley! he can be Peter Parker..
Posted 13 Jan 2010, 1:22 AM
I vote for Penn Badgley. Think he will do it fine, really!!
Posted 13 Jan 2010, 8:55 AM
Drew nailed it! Why go for a Tobey Maguire-alike? He is a singular talent. Joseph Gordon-Levitt could do it. He has the physicality, compact build, and makeup can definitely get him back to high-school looks. Maybe it's time Spidey went to college!
Joseph Gordeon-Levitt for the win! If not, how about Jamie Bell?
Posted 13 Jan 2010, 10:17 PM
Jesse Bradford!!
http://film.onet.pl/_i/news/duze/j/jesse_bradford_1.jpg
Posted 15 Jan 2010, 2:46 AM
Ugh, no to Efron and some of these other guys. Spider-Man was bad enough as it was with Tobey as Peter, I don't want to see my beloved character played by yet another person who doesn't look or act the part. I want to watch a real superhero movie, not a Nikelodeon version.
Posted 18 Jan 2010, 3:49 PM
Logan Lerman and Aaron Johnson are the only ones I could take seriously, but I don't think either would work. Johnson couldn't play two superheros-it'd be too weird and contradictory. Lerman would be a good candidate, but Percy Jackson looks like it's going to do well, so he wouldn't have the time.
Posted 26 Feb 2010, 10:00 AM
LOGAN LERMAN is the most appropriate to play the part. I mean seriously. Who the HELL would want a Zac Efron to play as Peter Parker? The rest of the list didnt fit it either.
Posted 08 Mar 2010, 5:14 AM
as they seem to be going the ultimate spidey universe and it will be a teenage spidey, logan lerman is the best fit. he's not overexposed like Zac Efron who will turn off a lot the fans. Plus he has more feature film acting cred in 310 to yuma, meet bill, gamer and an indie film with renee zellweger. but i think the studios may go for a bigger name like efron who seems eager to play spidey---not really how i see parker/spidey there sorry Zac fans
Posted 22 May 2010, 3:32 AM
I think Daniel Radcliffe would make a great Peter Parker/Spiderman
Posted 22 Jun 2010, 7:01 PM
Michael Cera, Daniel Radcliffe, and Zac Efron- BAD BAD CHOICES. Zac Efron cannot act, neither can Michael Cera. Daniel Radcliffe is an OK actor, but far from great. I think that unknown actors should be given the chance. I'm sure there's someone out there that is the perfect fit for "Spiderman 4" (although I'll miss the cast of Spiderman 1,2, and 3).
Posted 22 Jun 2010, 7:08 PM
It wouldn't be good to do the "high school Spiderman" plot for "Spiderman 4". That's already been done with "Spiderman 1". I want "Spiderman 4" to be Spiderman struggling with his hero identity while attending college, not an "Ultimate Spiderman Universe", that would be stupid. Because everyone, including Spiderman, grows up at some point or another. Personally, I think Sam Worthington would make an AWESOME Lex Luthor. I even have a petition started for Sam Worthington as Lex Luthor: http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/alexanderluthor/
That could use signatures, if you guys would be so kind to sign it. And thank you to those who do sign it. =)