Sony Pictures has chosen their actor to become the next Spider-Man for their re-reboot of the franchise now that Marvel is involved creatively.

After many names had been mentioned as potential candidates for the role, it’s 19-year-old Tom Holland who has emerged as Sony’s pick for the gig. It was said that Ender’s Game and Hugo star Asa Butterfield was the frontrunner at one point, but that changed recently when it was reported that it was down to Holland, Charlie Plummer, and Matthew Lintz.

In addition to casting Holland, Sony has also chosen Jon Watts to direct the next Spider-Man movie.

Just as many actors were in the running for the title role, many directors were also being looked at to take on the next movie. It was only earlier this month, however, that Watts slipped into the discussion. Watts wrote and directed the horror movie Clown and the recent thriller Cop Car. He’s also directed various segments for The Onion.

Holland is best known for his role as one of the sons in the tsunami drama The Impossible. He’s also had roles in Locke, How I Live Now, and the TV miniseries Wolf Hall. He also has a role in the upcoming Ron Howard movie In the Heart of the Sea.

Of the news, Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman said:

Marvel’s Kevin Feige also released a statement about the hiring of Watts:

Not only will Holland appear as Spider-Man in the first standalone installment of the re-rebooted franchise, which is currently scheduled for a July 28, 2017 release, but he will also first appear as the character in the upcoming Marvel title Captain America: Civil War.

[Source: Heat Vision]