Spider-Man 2 casts its Harry Osborn

Dane DeHaan has been cast as Peter Parker's best friend Harry Osborn in the sequel to 'The Amazing Spider-Man'.

Director Marc Webb confirmed the casting on Twitter, introducing DeHaan by saying: “Meet Harry Osborn. So excited to have him on board.”

[Related story: Jamie Foxx to be Spider-Man villain?]

Several actors were said to be in the frame for the role, among them British actor Eddie Redmayne and Brady Corbet from 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'.

But now DeHaan, star of 2012's sci-fi hit 'Chronicle' and HBO series 'In Treatment' has scooped the role.

It was previously played by James Franco in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, opposite Tobey Maguire's web-slinger.

The role of Osborn is a fraught one, however, as laid out in the original comic books.

Though they begin best friends, Osborn's father is the industrialist Norman Osborn, who later becomes the Green Goblin.

After his father's death, Harry then becomes the second incarnation of the Green Goblin.

Webb's next Spider-Man is due in May 2014, with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone reprising their roles as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey.

Shailene Woodley, from 'The Descendants', is also set to play Mary Jane Watson, with Jamie Foxx rumoured to be circling the role of villain Electro.

Meanwhile, Webb has said that the next film will deal with the disappearance of Peter Parker's parents.