Hello there folks. Having thoughts of who should play who building up in my head, I've decided to put them up for all to see. Granted not every one will agree with them, but I cast whomever I think fits the role based on this criteria:
1). Any actor playing a teenager should be of reasonable age. That means that Jim Carrey, Jude Law and even Nick Brendon are out. This is because if Spidey is to be a franchise I'd rather that three movies down the line we didn't have to recast the role because Spidey turned forty.
2). They should resemble the role they will be playing. I'm afraid that the kids from "That 70's Show" don't really bear all-too-strong resemblences to Pete and MJ except in passing. I'd read elsewhere that someone thinks Christopher Walken should play Doc Ock. While a good idea, Ock is a short, overweight scientist, whereas Walken a tall, gaunt fellow.
3). The film include characters that I don't due to space, even thought they will most likely will not be appearing in the film, because I'd like them too. That doesn't include villains, because they're just so much fun to cast! I refer to the mid-town high gang (Tiny, Jason, Sally, et al.) who probably will just be replaced by generic classmates.

That said, let's begin!

Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
If you haven't seen Pleasentville (1998), then rent it now to see Maguire playing a very Peter Parker-type character. Maguire fits the part well too. He has that quality Peter should have in the movie: Not quite a nerd, not quite a stud. He looks like he could play the kind of Peter we should be seeing in the movie, and can, with great skill, portray Peter as a young man with few friends who suddenly gains great power. Plus he kind of looks like Peter too.

Kevin Spacey as Norman Osborn
Spacey, the ideal choice for Osborn, has been catipulted into superstardom with American Beauty and in that film had the sort of double indentity thing going that Norman has dealt with. I only mention Osborn above, as I wouldn't expect the films to include the Goblin until the second or third, but I'm quite sure that Spacey could easily play either part.

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Dr. Octopus
If they were to make a Spidey film without Cameron's treatment at all, then they'd have to use Ock as the villain. Simply for the same reason other comic-films did. You should always have a major villain in the first film. Electro and Sandman just don't have the celbrity Ock does. And Hoffman (Patch Adams, Flawless) looks perfect for the part. I don't mind a younger Ock either, as it would probably look a little better too to have Spidey first face off against a villain who isn't middle-aged.

Betty White as Aunt May
Who ever said this before did so with genius. White, perhaps best known for playing the 'mom' role in things, is a smashing choice for May. My only concern is if White has the acting chops to pull of the part, but she'd sure make a great Aunt May.

Jack Lemmon as Uncle Ben
If I have to tell you why the legendary Lemmon should play Uncle Ben, then go read Cliffhanger Books, or something. (Not to disparage Stan Lee, the sentimental choice for Uncle Ben, but Lemmon looks more the part, and has a little more acting experience. Plus I've included Stan below anyway.)

Seth Green as Harry Osborn
Playing Pete's best friend looks like an easy role for profession 'best-friend' Green, who also has the star power and talent to play Harry, as well the Green Goblin II when Harry becomes him in a later film.

Sarah Michelle Geller as Gwen Stacy
Granted this bit of casting doesn't entirely sit well with me, I think Geller would be able to pull of the strong, witty and beautiful Gwen. Geller does practically that on Buffy each week, and she's got the big screen experience. She'd make a good Gwen I suppose.

Ethan Erickson as Flash Thompson
This is an iffy bit of casting. Erikson looks like Flash, but might not have the star power the casting directors are looking for. Regardless, he's familiar with playing bully-type characters (Jawbreaker, Buffy) and is built up enough to play football star Flash. And with my casting call we're going with 'Thompson' as Flash's last name. It's better than Mc-whatever.

Stan Lee as Mr. Davis (Peter's Teacher)
What a choice role for "The Man"! I realize in the comics Mr. Davis was the principal, but in the film Mr. Davis would precide over the classes Peter and the gang take.

and...

Shannon Elizabeth as Mary Jane
Best known as the "hot-foreign-exchange-student" from American Pie, Elizabeth, who is skilled at accents (she's from Texas actually), has the sex-appeal MJ should have, and can pull of the high school student bit. Add some red hair dye, and green contacts and she'll nail the look. Plus she's the kind of girl who want to see a guy like Pete end up with.

I'll be adding by plot summary using these roles above if you want to see it. Personally I'm always annoyed by fans who think they can write the Spidey movie, but like I said, if you want it I'll put it up.

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