In a report that perhaps comes as a shock to few, (500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb has been selected by Sony Pictures to direct its reboot of 'Spider-Man', according to nymag.com. What's interesting here, though, is that Webb has been hired to direct all three films, in a series that will purportedly focus much more on the private life of Peter Parker.

The report cites three main reasons for the choice, and not surprisingly they all have to do with money: Webb is cheaper than Raimi; he won’t get a percentage of the films' grosses (Raimi and Tobey Maguire were expected to claim more than 25 percent of the gross); the recent dramatic collapse of the DVD market left Sony concerned that the previous cast and crew would prevent the franchise from making any money in theaters.

Meanwhile, in what must be a side effect of awards season, several actors seem well-versed at saying, "I’m just happy to be considered." Only it’s not just for the Golden Globes and Oscars, but the upcoming 'Spider-Man' reboot as well.

In recent days, a number of young actors — including Zac Efron, Robert Pattinson, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt — have been mentioned in connection to the Peter Parker/Spider-Man role. For the most part, they’ve responded to the rumors with graciousness and humility.

"I'm a huge fan of the franchise and a huge fan of Spider-Man. I love all the movies at this point. It would be a dream come true for any guy my age," Efron told Digital Spy.

"I'm honored and flattered that you would ask me that," Gordon-Levitt told MTV, when asked if has met with Sony about Spider-Man. "You and your movie gossip," laughed Gordon-Levitt. "It's a fun conversation to have with you. It's like a game of chess."

So apparently, neither has gotten a phone call from Sony yet. But with the selection of Webb, it's easy to imagine that the casting process will move into high gear now.