Mary Jane casting is just a ‘Stone’s’ throw-away

She was easily the most talented of the final 'Spider-Man' love interest contenders released on Friday, and now comes word from Deadline that Sony will 'imminently' offer the Mary Jane Watson role to Emma Stone for their forthcoming reboot of the web-slinging series. An offer which she'll of course accept. Two days ago I said the 'Easy A', 'Zombieland' actress was too good to play the boring, whiny and unreasonably selfish character (at least that's how Kirsten Dunst/Sam Raimi portrayed her) and I stick by that now. So I guess, just like the lead casting of Andrew Garfield, this should be considered as something of a coup for Sony. I guess at this point Sony can be accused of nepotism ('Easy A', 'Zombieland' both Sony productions, just as Sony's 'The Social Network' was the reason Garfield got the Peter Parker gig). Stone steps into the shoes of Kirsten Dunst who became a leading Hollywood lady, at least for a brief while, after the exposure of the MJW role which made her a very rich young lady indeed. Though it's true she was never fully embraced by the comic book geeks and was always seen as the weakest link of Raimi's otherwise top-notch casting. By 'Spider-Man 3', she looked bored of playing the one-dimesional character who when she wasn't being a repulsive bitch, was inevitably screaming as the damsel in distress. We like Stone a great deal here at OWF, and she has an abrupt attitude, extreme confidence and presence well beyond her 21 years. We just hope director Marc Webb gives her a meaty character who is more strong-minded than the previous on screen Mary Jane, and is more thick-skinned. Funny, even. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDC9hrNVeIM With a production start of December, the majority of 'Spider-Man' castings are imminent. Sony still need a Gwen Stacy as the last piece of their love triangle puzzle, and the final contenders we heard remains €˜Glee€™s€™ Dianna Agron, Indie actress Georgina Haig, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and Dominique McElligott (she played Sam Rockwell's Earth-bound wife in 'Moon' last year). Presumably, they still need a Harry Osbourne, J. Jonah Jameson (pleeeeeeeease just use J.K. Simmons again), Aunt May, etc. Oh and of course a villain, who Fleming has heard might be Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Venom. I know.... odd, huh? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6L-JnrTIdY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQYbESRD70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTU4BdtzQtw Previously played by Kirsten Dunst;
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Matt Holmes is the co-founder of What Culture, formerly known as Obsessed With Film. He has been blogging about pop culture and entertainment since 2006 and has written over 10,000 articles.