Andrew Garfield will be the next Spider-Man

WASHINGTON - It's been a hotly debated question for months in entertainment circles: Who would inherit the Spider-Man suit from the departing Tobey Maguire?

Columbia Pictures ended the frenzied speculation Thursday, announcing that a virtually unknown actor - Andrew Garfield - has been cast as Peter Parker for the fourth Spider-Man film, which will be directed by Marc Webb beginning late this year.

On selecting the 26-year-old Garfield, Webb said in a news release: "Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor's work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker."

Garfield was seen last year in Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"; his other work includes the upcoming David Fincher film "The Social Network." In 2007, Variety named him one of its "10 Actors to Watch."

Garfield was born in Los Angeles, but he and his family soon moved to England. He has won multiple British theater awards and received the BAFTA for TV's "Boy A."

The film is set to be released July 3, 2012, in 3-D. The three Spider-Man films have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office.

The Washington Post