‘Spider-Man’ Update: Asa Butterfield Is Out — Marvel And Sony Said To Be Fighting Over Tom Holland And Charlie Plummer

Asa Butterfield is reportedly out of the running for Spider-Man if Meet the Movie Press is to be believed. Jeff Sneider reported that Butterfield will no longer be considered for the web slinger. Part of the reasoning behind his departure may be linked to the fact that he was very vocal about the part before he received it (around 11:30 mark). For the last couple of months, it has been reported by various news outlets, including Latino-Review, that Butterfield had all but been given the role.

Sneider goes on to explain what insiders believe to be the holdup in casting the new Spider-Man.

“Here’s how it was explained to me. Marvel likes Charlie Plummer. Sony likes Tom Holland.”

This is another set back to the Spider-Man franchise. In February, Sony and Marvel reached a deal that would give Marvel creative control over the character. Sony would fund the project. This would give Marvel the opportunity to start putting Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something that Marvel had been wanting to do for quite some time.

The deal will also allow Sony to benefit from the franchise that many fans had felt ran its course with the company. Sony gets the good will from the fans, but they also get a good percentage of the revenue generated from the film, according to Variety. Considering the last two Avenger movies had grossed well over $1 billion, that number could be staggering.

Marvel’s pick, Charlie Plummer, is best known for his role as Timmy Sanders from Boardwalk Empire. The babyface actor would fit what Marvel has been saying all along. They want to take Spider-Man and Peter Parker back to his high school roots. Casting Plummer would most likely put Peter Parker at about 15 or 16 years old.

Sony’s pick, Tom Holland, impressed many with his role as Lucas in 2012’s The Impossible. Holland would allow the next Spider-Man to be cast at or around the same age as Toby McGuire’s version from 2002. Both of these actors haven’t enjoyed the commercial success that Asa Butterfield has, but this would, in a roundabout way, put the Disney stamp of approval on the film. The main new actors from Star Wars: The Force Awakens are all relatively unknown.

Regardless of who they choose, the studios need to make a decision fast. It has been widely reported that Spider-Man is set to make an appearance in next year’s Captain America: Civil War. That movie is currently in production and is expecting to be released internationally in April 2016.

Who would you choose? Are you in the Marvel Camp and wanting Charlie Plummer, or would you rather see Sony get their way with Tom Holland? One thing is for sure, those who were wanting Asa Butterfield are now left in the cold.

[Photos by AP and Marvel]