They've kept us waiting, but we now finally know that Tom Holland (The Impossible) will play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the currently untitled reboot which is set to be released on July 28th, 2017 in IMAX and 3D (that's new information too). Sony and Marvel have also confirmed that Jon Watts (Cop Car) will direct. That film made its debut earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
The press release states that after an extensive worldwide search, both Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal were impressed by Holland’s performances in The Impossible, Wolf Hall, and the upcoming In the Heart of the Sea, and by a series of complex screen tests. Watts meanwhile also went through multiple meetings with Feige, Pascal, and the studio, before winning the job.
Commenting on the announcement in a press release issued through Marvel.com today, Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group Chairman, said, "It’s a big day here at Sony. Kevin, Amy and their teams have done an incredible job. The Marvel process is very thorough, and that’s why their results are so outstanding. I’m confident Spider-Man will be no exception. I’ve worked with a number of up-and-coming directors who have gone on to be superstars and believe that Jon is just such an outstanding talent. For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom’s screen tests were special. All in all, we are off to a roaring start."
Feige commented, "As with James Gunn, Joss Whedon, and the Russo brothers, we love finding new and exciting voices to bring these characters to life. We spent a lot of time with Jon and find his take and work inspiring." Pascal added, "Sony, Marvel, Kevin and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world. With Tom, we’ve found the perfect actor to bring Spider-Man’s story into the Marvel Cinematic Universe." What do you guys think of their decision?