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A web of leading ladies

Starting Thursday and heading into the weekend, select actresses are meeting with director Marc Webb and new Spidey actor Andrew Garfield.

In a departure from the Tobey Maguire-Kirsten Dunst movies, the female lead is not Mary Jane. What isn’t clear is whether the actresses are auditioning to play Gwen Stacy, Parker’s other object of affection in the comics (played by Bryce Dallas Howard in 2007’s Spider-Man 3) or some other new character. The script pages being given to the actresses have no name listed for the character.

If necessary, another round of meetings may occur next weekend.

There are others in contention, but the following three British actresses are in the mix:

· Imogen Poots, who is currently shooting the Fright Night remake;

· Ophelia Lovibond, who appeared in Nowhere Boy and 4.3.2.1 and recently wrapped London Boulevard for William Monahan;

· Lily Collins (and daughter of Phil), who appeared in The Blind Side last year and will be seen in Priest.

Others whose names have cropped up are:

· Teresa Palmer, who was the romantic lead in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. She read with Garfield last weekend;

· Emma Roberts, who has twice flown from the set of Scream 4 for readings;

· Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the love interest in Scott Pilgrim vs the World. She was in the arachnid web but sources say she has now fallen out.

These are not screen tests, which usually involve some sort of dealmaking, but rather readings and meetings. Basically, it’s still early. And if none of these girls work out, don’t rule out another round of searching.

Like Garfield, many of the contenders on the female side are up-and-comers, fitting in with the lower-key, edgier movie Webb is trying to make. The story is more grounded in the high school setting than the previous Sam Raimi-directed trilogy. The production is looking to go before cameras in December.