spider-man-slice

As you may have noticed, superhero movies are very, very, very popular. With each new film there comes a high degree of excitement and anticipation, and also a period in which the studio works to find the right person the play the eponymous hero. With lesser-known properties like Guardians of the Galaxy, there’s less passion with regards to what kind of actor fans think is the perfect fit for a character like Star-Lord. But with something like Spider-Man, everyone’s got an opinion.

You’re no doubt aware that Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios came to an agreement recently that will see the two teaming up on a new Spider-Man film set for release in 2017, but the new iteration of the character will first be introduced in Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War. The casting of this new Spider-Man is paramount, as not only will he be leading his own franchise at Sony, but he’ll be a part of the immensely successful Marvel Cinematic Universe, so both parties obviously want to make sure they find the right actor.

the-amazing-spider-man-2-costume
Image via Sony

We learned yesterday that Sony, who has final say over the casting of the character, is aiming to cast an actor who is younger than the 31-year-old Andrew Garfield (who was 28 when he first signed on for The Amazing Spider-Man). They are also planning on taking the character back to high school in the new Spidey films, so we have a bit of a narrower focus when it comes to considering candidates to play Spider-Man.

The most important thing to remember at this time is that we do not know anything about this Spider-Man. We have absolutely no idea what kind of Spider-Man this is, let alone whether it’s Peter Parker, Miles Morales, or a different iteration of the superhero altogether. As such, we can’t definitely say “oh such-and-such is completely wrong for the character.” Some may fit better than others with our preconceived notions as to who Spider-Man is, but keeping an open mind is key.

With that being said, I’ve put together a list of 7 actors that I think deserve consideration for the role. They are all in the rough age range to play a high school Spider-Man, but again, Garfield was 28 when he pulled off teenage Peter Parker, so age is flexible.

As last night’s report revealed that Logan Lerman (Fury) and Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner) are names that have already popped up as being under consideration, I’ve left them off of this list (I would’ve included Lerman, by the way). And in the planning stages for this feature, there was considerable supporting amongst the Collider staff for Jack O’Connell (Unbroken) and Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), so consider them “honorable mentions”.

You’ll notice from this list that I’ve singled out actors of a variety of ethnicities. I’m going to say up front that I don’t think only a white actor can play Peter Parker, and there’s always the possibility that Marvel and Sony opt to use Miles Morales instead, a Spider-Man in the comics who is from African-American and Hispanic descent. So I’m not separating these candidates between those who could play Parker and those who could play Morales—all are worthy of filling the suit regardless. I think a color blind casting of Parker or whomever this next Spidey is would be refreshing and, in tandem with The Fantastic Four, the beginning of a hopeful new trend.

Without further ado…

Click Over to Page 2 for 7 Actors That Could Play Spider-Man

Suraj Sharma (21)

suraj-sharma-spider-man

Sharma is rather new to the acting scene, but he made a big splash in his feature film debut Life of Pi. The fresh-faced actor was able to carry Ang Lee’s adaptation alone for much of its runtime, more than proving his skills as a thespian. And he showed a different, darker side of himself in a recurring role on the most recent season of Showtime’s Homeland. The guy has an innocence about him that’s sweet and charming without coming off as naïve, but there’s also a maturity to his demeanor as well that I think would work nicely with Spider-Man.

Thomas Mann (23)

thomas-mann-spider-man

This is a guy whose name you might not be too familiar with, but you’ll certainly recognize his face. He had some solid supporting turns in films like Project X, Fun Size, and Beautiful Creatures, but he’s poised to break out further in this year’s Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, the most buzzed-about film from year’s Sundance Film Festival. Having seen Me and Earl I can vouch for Mann’s chops, and he shows in the film that he’s able to effortlessly swing from comedy to drama within the span of a few seconds—a necessity in the MCU. He’s got a bit of an awkwardness to him that makes me think he’d be a swell fit for high school Spidey, but it’s an affable goofiness, not off-putting. If Sony and Marvel are going for more of an “outsider teenager” vibe for the character, Mann seems like a solid fit.

Nick Robinson (19)

nick-robinson-spider-man

But if Sony and Marvel want someone a bit more “cool” or rebellious, Robinson may be the way to go. Some may know him from his series regular role on the ABC Family sitcom Melissa & Joey, but Robinson got his first big starring role in the 2013 indie The Kings of Summer. This year he tackles his first franchise with a supporting turn in Jurassic World (starring MCU member Chris Pratt), so he’ll have experience both as a film’s lead and with a large-scale, studio blockbuster. The guy did an excellent job of selling an odd arc in The Kings of Summer (the movie’s like a reverse Step Brothers), and he feels like a burgeoning young talent on the verge of breaking out. One can also imagine him effortlessly trading quips with Robert Downey Jr. or Chris Evans in the MCU.

Keith Stanfield (23)

keith-stanfield-spider-man

This guy has been one to watch since his breakout turn in the 2013 indie Short Term 12, and he’s been very busy in the interim. He had a small but memorable (and heartbreaking) turn in last year’s Selma, and he plays Snoop Dogg in this year’s NWA film Straight Outta Compton. His acting chops are formidable, and with Short Term 12 he proved he can convincingly play someone of high school age, albeit with a bit of an edge. Again, we have no idea what Sony and Marvel are planning for this new Spider-Man, but Stanfield would be a really exciting choice.

Continue Reading on Page 3

Luke Pasqualino (24)

luke-pasqualino-spider-man

Here’s another name you may not know, but if you’ve seen Snowpiercer, then you’ve seen Pasqualino in action. He played the resourceful character Grey in last year’s dystopian sci-fi film, showing off his action skills as he flew down the length of the train with burning torch in hand. He’s got a pretty lengthy resume for a young actor, with regular turns on the UK series Skins and The Musketeers, as well as a leading turn as young William Adama in the TV movie Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome. If Sony and Marvel want to go acrobatic with this new Spidey and hire an actor who can convincingly pull off some of the sure-to-be-swingtacular stunts, Pasqualino is certainly one to consider.

Shameik Moore (19)

shameik-moore-spider-man

This one is the liveliest of the candidates listed here. Moore is, again, a new talent, but he has a regular role on the Cartoon Network series Incredible Crew and gets his first starring role in the Sundance indie Dope, which is where he came to my attention. He plays a 90s-obsessed “nerd” in that film with gleefulness, spunk, and a slight do-gooder awkwardness that makes me think he’d be an excellent choice for a young Spidey. I’m aware that most of you probably aren’t familiar with his name just yet, but trust me on this one.

Anton Yelchin (25)

anton-yelchin-spider-man

Probably the most widely known name on this list, Yelchin could be a fascinating left-field choice for the role. You know him from his turns in Star Trek, Like Crazy, and Fright Night, and his eclectic filmography shows off some tremendous range. He’s not an obvious pick to play a teenaged Spidey, but I think he’d be an interesting addition to the current lineup of superhero leads. The guy also has some finely tuned comic timing (as seen in the Trek films) that would come in handy while bantering with the folks in the MCU.

And that about wraps it up. Obviously this isn’t a complete and final list, but these are a few of the talented young actors that first came to mind when I was thinking about the new Spider-Man. What say you, readers? Care to throw support behind one of the aforementioned actors, or do you have other alternate suggestions? Sound off in the comments below.

Note: slurs or racist remarks will absolutely not be tolerated. If anyone crosses the line they will be banned.

For more on the new Spider-Man, peruse the recent links below: