Just a few days ago, we learned that Marvel had emerged with a five-strong shortlist for which actors it was looking at for the highly coveted role of Spider-Man, but now the good folks at Latino Review are convinced they’ve figured out which one of those young stars is currently in the lead to swing into the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Asa Butterfield.
It was previously reported that Marvel’s shortlist included Butterfield, Nat Woolf, Tom Holland, Timothee Chalamet and Liam James, and out of those names, Butterfield is certainly one of the more high-profile. He broke out with the lead role in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and has since led sci-fi adaptation Ender’s Game.
The scoop site has a solid track record, and though neither Marvel nor Butterfield’s reps are saying anything, one unnamed industry source said that the part is his, adding, “Marvel had liked him since day one.”
None of Butterfield’s competitors have as many box office hits under their belts – Woolf is a former Nickelodeon star with John Green adaptation Paper Towns out this summer, Holland had a supporting part in disaster pic The Impossible, Chalamet is best known for a bit part in Interstellar and James led indie The Way Way Back.
An official announcement about which actor has bagged the role of Spider-Man is expected soon, as Marvel is confirmed to be introducing the webslinger (who will be Peter Parker and of high school age in his latest big-screen portrayal) in Captain America: Civil War on May 6, 2016 before a Spider-Man solo pic (possibly titled Spider-Man: The New Avenger) arrives on July 28th, 2017.
Stay tuned for more.