LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Bryce Dallas Howard ("The Village") is in negotiations to play Peter Parker's love interest Gwen Stacy in "Spider-Man 3," which is scheduled to roll this month.
Gwen is pivotal in Spider-Man lore as Peter's high school crush, his first girlfriend and his first love. She ended up being kidnapped by the Green Goblin and died during a bridgetop battle in "Amazing Spider-Man" issue 121.
In "Spider-Man," Columbia Pictures put Mary Jane Watson, a later love interest of Peter's who was a model, in the Gwen role, casting Kirsten Dunst as the high school crush. The 2002 movie featured the famous battle on the bridge with the Green Goblin, though a Hollywood ending was added, and the character survived.
Columbia is keeping a tight lid on the third movie's story line, though it is known that Gwen is the third part of a love triangle and that the character does survive. The film is scheduled for release next year.
Tobey Maguire is reprising his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, while Dunst and James Franco are also returning. Topher Grace and Thomas Haden Church have been cast as the villains. Sam Raimi will return as director.
Howard, the daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard, reunites with "The Village" director M. Night Shyamalan in the upcoming "Lady in the Water," and will also star in Kenneth Branagh's "As You Like It." She returns to theaters January 27 in Lars von Trier's "Manderlay."
