Chris-CooperMarc Webb has recently returned to the helm for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, with production now very much underway.

The film has been announcing a terrific new ensemble in recent weeks and months. And now Variety report that one more addition to the cast has been made, with Chris Cooper boarding the film to play Norman Osborn.

We got our first official look at the new Spidey suit earlier in the week, and needless to say, it looks awesome.

“In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, for Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), life is busy – between taking out the bad guys as Spider-Man and spending time with the person he loves, Gwen (Emma Stone), high school graduation can’t come quickly enough. Peter hasn’t forgotten about the promise he made to Gwen’s father to protect her by staying away – but that’s a promise he just can’t keep. Things will change for Peter when a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), emerges, an old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, and Peter uncovers new clues about his past.”

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are of course reprising their original leading roles, with Sally Field reprising her role from the first film. Starring alongside them will be Jamie Foxx, Shailene Woodley, Dane DeHaan, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, and the wonderful Felicity Jones, whose role remains unknown.

Webb is directing from a script co-written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek, Transformers) and Jeff Pinkner (Fringe, Lost), based on a previous draft by James Vanderbilt (The Amazing Spider-Man).

There’s been plenty to speculate about the sequel, and the direction it will take, and I’m really glad that the synopsis above doesn’t give too much away. DeHaan’s casting as Harry seems like an inspired choice, and Cooper now joining as his father (played by Willem Dafoe in Raimi’s trilogy) is equally awesome.

Given the arc that Raimi’s original trilogy took with Norman Osborn taking up the Green Goblin mantel in the first film, it will be very interesting to see how things play out in Webb’s next instalment in the franchise.

I remain convinced that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 won’t feature Woodley’s Mary Jane Watson incredibly prominently, and that her role will become much more of a major player in the film (or, I believe, films) to come. If I’m right, I think we’re in for much more than a trilogy here, but that of course remains to be seen.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be released in 3D on 2nd May, 2014, and that is definitely a release date you should be looking forward to. I can’t wait for this to hit.