Paul Giamatti in Talks to Play 'Rhino' in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

Paul Giamatti is officially in talks to take on a major role in THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2, The Hollywood Reporter has announced.

The acclaimed actor would play 'The Rhino,' a behemoth of a man with super-strength, speed, and a giant horn. 'The Rhino' was one of hte original villains of Spider-Man in 1966, who has, in more recent years, allied himself with the webhead.

The site has also reported that FeliciTy Jones is also in talks for an unspecified role.

As earlier reported by BroadwayWorld, both Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are set to reprise their roles of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey in the sequel, with Shailene Woodley as Mary Jane Watson, Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborne, and Jamie Foxx as Electro. Marc Webb is also set to return as director.

The Amazing Spider-Man reexamined the origin story of Peter Parker who, like most teenagers his age, is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. In his journey to put the pieces of his past together he uncovers a secret that his father held...a secret that will ultimately shape his destiny as Spider-Man.

Production on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins this year in order to mee the film's May 2nd, 2014 release date.