The moment Andrew Garfield learned he was Spider-Man | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

When it comes to prestigious acting roles, it doesn’t get much bigger than Spider-Man. The web-slinger first made the leap to the big screen in 2002, with Tobey Maguire taking on the title role in the box office smash, which spawned two sequels. Although a fourth film was planned, this was later cancelled, and the series was rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, this time with Andrew Garfield front and centre as Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego.

And now a clip of the moment Andrew learned he would be putting on the iconic red and blue costume and swinging through New York has emerged. A clip shared to social media shows the moment in 2010 when the actor – at the time best known for The Social Network – was given the life-changing news.

The clip shows Andrew being led into a room by director Marc Webb, who would helm the two Amazing Spider-Man films, with the actor quickly realising what is about to happen. Walking in, Andrew says: “Are you kidding me?”

Marc says: “We have some news. So you’re gonna be the next Spider-Man.”

Andrew reacts with shock, walking out of the room and back in again as the people there applaud, repeating “Woah” as he digests the news. Putting his arm around the actor’s shoulders, Marc says: “Take it in.”

“It’s gonna be impossible to take in,” Andrew says. “I’m flattered and honoured and I will work as hard as any boy has ever worked.”

People on social media were enchanted by the clip, which is taken from a new documentary titled Generations: The Evolution of Spider-Man. Writing on Facebook, one person said: “Andrew will always be the best Spider-Man. Other than the comic book accuracy, he plays Spider-Man with passion; you see the emotional range.”

Another wrote: “HE WAS AWESOME. The first one was good!! The second was not.” And someone else said: “It stinks he never got to have a third movie.”

Andrew, who was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in Epsom, Surrey, starred alongside Emma Stone in The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, followed by The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014. Although plans were in place for a third film and multiple spin-offs, these were cancelled after the second instalment was met with mixed reviews and lower-than-expected box office.

Tom Holland debuted as the third version of Peter Parker in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. He later appeared in his own trilogy of films, as well as two Avengers blockbusters.

However, Andrew later returned, alongside Tobey Maguire, in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which saw the previous two iterations of the character cross the multiverse to team up with Tom’s version. The fourth film in the current series, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is due to be released on Wednesday, July 31.

It is not known if Andrew will re-appear as Spider-Man in this film, or any future instalments.