EXCLUSIVE: Martin Sheen Caught in Spider-Man's Web

Martin Sheen is in final negotiations to play Uncle Ben in Columbia’s new Spider-Man movie.

In Spider-Man lore, Uncle Ben, along with Aunt May, is responsible for bringing up Peter Parker. His death at the hands of a burglar is the key event that turns Parker, who until then was using his newfound super-powers for personal gain, to step onto the path of heroism. 

Sheen will join a cast that includes Andrew Garfield as Peter, Emma Stone as love interest Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans as the movie’s unnamed villain. (Sally Field is in early talks to play Aunt May.)

The movie, under the direction of Marc Webb, is heading for a December start.

Sheen, repped by ICM, last appeared in Love Happens, the romantic drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart. He stars in The Way, directed by son Emilio Estevez, which is selling at AFM.