Tom Holland cast as Marvel and Sony’s new Spider-Man

After a long, rumor-filled casting process of rebooting the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man, Marvel and Sony have finally found their Peter Parker. Tom Holland will be Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Spider-Man. And Jon Watts is Spider-Man’s new director.

Marvel announced the casting of Holland and hiring of Watts in the same news release. Best known for his work on “The Impossible” and as the spectacled kid cousin in “How I Live Now,” Holland is relatively unknown, especially when compared with the last two Peter Parkers, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. But both Marvel and Sony seem eager and willing to hand this new actor the great responsibility and the red and blue tights.

Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Rothman released the following statement: “For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom’s screen tests were special. All in all, we are off to a roaring start.” The statement made a specific point to inform the masses that the studio was impressed by Holland’s performance in “a series of complex screen tests,” which we can only imagine included dangling upside down by the wrists and all that sort of good superhero Spidey stuff.

Watts comes from the drama “Cop Car,” starring Kevin Bacon, that screened earlier this year at Sundance. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige seemed additionally excited to have yet another new director under the Marvel wing and released this statement: “As with James Gunn, Joss Whedon and the Russo brothers, we love finding new and exciting voices to bring these characters to life. We spent a lot of time with Jon and find his take and work inspiring.”

The untitled new Spider-Man film will hit theaters in IMAX and 3-D on July 28, 2017.