Andrew Garfield has been cast as Sony Pictures new Spiderman!

::Crickets::

Says director Marc Webb:

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.

Mark Webb?

::Crickets::

Just joshing! Webb directed the very cute rom-com 500 Days of Summer.

Garfield has starred in director Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and will next be seen in Mark Romanek’s sci-fi drama Never Let Me Go and David Fincher’s Facebook story The Social Network.

Sony made the announcement today during an international press event in Cancun, Mexico. From the press release:

After a comprehensive worldwide casting search, Andrew Garfield has been chosen to portray Peter Parker when Spider-Man swings back onto the screen in 3D on July 3, 2012. The new film will begin production in early December directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Today’s confirmation culminates what has been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements in recent memory. Bloggers, pop culture speculators, and everyday fans have pored over and analyzed every conceivable online rumor in an attempt to discover the identity of the next actor to play Peter Parker. Garfield will immediately begin preparing for the coveted role.

The Spiderman reboot is an origins film based on Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley’s “Ultimate Spiderman” comics, which finds our web-slinging hero back in high school. The film is budgeted at $80 million and will be released in 3-D on July 3, 2012.

Garfield is reportedly being paid $500,000 to play the beloved web-slinger. That may not seem like a lot of money until you realize that you’re making $13 an hour and will never meet a hot girl who will want to screw you while you wear your Hot Dog on a Stick uniform.

Check out Garfield and Webb at today’s press event: