THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2 (Cast news)

• THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2

Jamie Foxx

Earlier this week Sony confirmed that Jamie Foxx will indeed be playing Electro in Marc Webb's upcoming sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man. Now thanks to ET, Foxx reveals some details about his characters origins:

"[He's a] genius electrician-type person," Foxx says, "and he gets the short end of the stick from the whole world... [T]he next thing you know, he turns it on."

Though the character of Electro has never definitively appeared on the big screen, some fan speculation has suggested that the mysterious figure (played by Michael Massee) featured in The Amazing Spider-Man's end credits was, in fact, our first look at the character. First appearing in 1964's "The Amazing Spider-Man" #9, Electro's real name is Max Dillon and he gained his powers after a freak accident while working on a electrical line.

In other Amazing Spider-Man 2 news, actor Dane DeHaan has officially won the role of Harry Osborn in the upcoming sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man. Director Marc Webb confirmed the news this morning via his Twitter feed.

DeHaan is best known for roles in films like Chronicle and Lawless and his casting suggests that the sequel will retain the "dark and edgy" take on the young Osborn rather than, a more outgoing and athletic version.

Harry, the son of Green Goblin alter ego Norman Osborn, was in the comics a close friend and classmate to Peter Parker who later became a villain, taking up the Goblin mantle himself. In Sam Raimi's original trilogy, the role was played by James Franco.

DeHaan joins the returning Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone along with Shailene Woodley in the part of Mary Jane Watson.

Dane Dehaan

Check out the press release below:

“The Amazing Spider-Man sequel hits theaters on May 2, 2014. Here is the official press release on the casting:

Dane DeHaan will join the cast of the next installment of The Amazing Spider-Man™ along side Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx and Shailene Woodley as Columbia Pictures prepares to begin production on the next chapter of the blockbuster franchise, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of production for the studio.

The screenplay is by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner based on a previous draft by James Vanderbilt. The film will be directed by Marc Webb and produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.

The casting of DeHaan as Harry Osborn was confirmed this morning in a tweet by Webb (@MarcW) who wrote "Meet Harry Osborn. So excited to have him on board. @danedehaan."

"Dane is an exciting and extraordinary young actor and he is a fantastic addition to our cast," Webb said.

The new film in the Spider-Man saga is set for release in 3D on May 2, 2014. Production will begin in early 2013 in New York.

Webb, Garfield and Stone previously teamed on this summer’s blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man, which has taken in more than $751 million worldwide.

DeHaan caught moviegoers’ attention with his performances in four 2012 releases: Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis and Lukas Haas; John Hillcoat’s Lawless, alongside Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke; Bradley Rust Gray’s Jack & Diane, with Juno Temple and Riley Keough; and one of the year’s biggest sleeper hits, the adventure thriller Chronicle, directed by Josh Trank. He began his film career with director John Sayles and actor Chris Cooper in Amigo.

DeHaan next stars in Place Beyond the Pines alongside Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gosling. In addition he will star in Atom Egoyan’s Devil’s Knot, with Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth, about the fate of the West Memphis Three; and John Krokidas’ Kill Your Darlings, with Jack Huston, Daniel Radcliffe, Ben Foster, and Kyra Sedgwick, set in 1944 amidst the Beat Generation.

Mr. DeHaan first came to industry attention with his portrayal of Jesse in the third season of the critically applauded drama series In Treatment, starring alongside Gabriel Byrne. This was followed by a guest arc in the fourth season of the popular horror series True Blood.

In 2010, he received an Obie Award for his performance in Annie Baker’s The Aliens, directed by Sam Gold. The Rattlestick Theater production was cited as “Play of the Year” by The New York Times. Mr. DeHaan made his Broadway debut in with American Buffalo, Robert Falls’ 2008 staging of the classic David Mamet play.”