Rhys Ifans has been cast as the lead villain in the new Spider-Man film.
According to a press release from Sony, the exact role will not be revealed for a while. Sony Columbia bigwig Matt Tolmach commented, "We have been very fortunate to attract some of the best actors working today to play the villains in the Spider-Man movies, and it is exciting to see that trend continue with Rhys Ifans. After seeing his performance in our upcoming film Anonymous, we’re in awe of his talent and think he’s the perfect choice to take on this role." Director Marc Webb chimed in with, "What sets the Spider-Man villains apart is the complexity of their relationships with Peter Parker. Rhys' incredible ability to embody both warmth and rage makes him the ideal choice for this character."
Ifans joined Andrew Garfield in the titular role, and the recently cast Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey. The flick won't see a release until summer of 2012.