SPIDER-MAN LOOKING FOR HIS GIRLFRIEND (AND SHE'S NOT MARY JANE)
Columbia Pictures and director Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer) are meeting with several actresses this weekend in the search to cast Peter Parker's romantic interest. The identity of the character is not yet known, but who it isn't is Mary Jane Parker, played by Kristen Dunst in the first three movies. The likeliest candidate is Gwen Stacy (played by Bryce Dallas Howard in Spider-Man 3), but it could also be Betty Brandt (previously played by Elizabeth Banks), Felicia Hardy (The Black Cat), or perhaps an entirely different character. The full list of actresses hasn't been revealed, but the partial list includes three young British actresses: Lily Collins (The Blind Side, the upcoming Priest), Ophelia Lovibond (the upcoming Nowhere Boy and London Boulevard) and Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later, the upcoming Fright Night remake). The emphasis on British actresses is especially interesting considering that the new Peter Parker will be played by Andrew Garfield, who is himself British-American. Australian Teresa Palmer (The Sorcerer's Apprentice, the upcoming I Am Number Four) and American (and Julia's niece) Emma Roberts (Valentine's Day, the upcoming Scream 4) are also in the running for the role. Someone who is already out of the running is Mary Elizabeth Winstead, hopefully not because of the disappointing opening numbers for Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. If none of these actresses work out, Columbia will continue with another round of casting interviews, similar to the long process the studio went through to find Andrew Garfield to play Peter Parker.
