Actor Rhys Ifans, who portrays super-villain The Lizard in the forthcoming Amazing Spider-Man feature film, was arrested Friday on charges of misdemeanor battery for shoving a female security guard.

The incident took place just prior to a cast panel for the film at San Diego Comic-Con, reports The Wrap.

According to police, Ifans smelled of alcohol and became irate when a member of his entourage was denied access to the panel room at the convention. Ifans then shoved the guard, but was allowed to participate in the panel. The accosted security guard subsequently made a citizen’s arrest, according to The Wrap.

A Sony Pictures spokesperson, however, released a statement contradicting the prior report: “It was a minor incident involving a security guard and smoking backstage. Police were called. But I was told Rhys was not arrested and was not handcuffed by the police. I am told he was given a ticket.” (via Ace Showbiz)

Several credible news sites that attended the panel, including Geeks of Doom, First Showing and hosts from the Totally Rad Show, report that Ifans did join the Amazing Spider-Man panel late and fumbled his first words, which could be due to alleged alcohol consumption.

The general consensus among film and geek media sitting in Hall H as I write this post seems to be that Ifans was definitely intoxicated in some way during the panel on Friday. Sony’s denial of the actor’s arrest can easily be dispelled by obtaining the official police report of the incident.

If police incident report surfaces before we get a chance to obtain it from the San Diego Police Department, I’ll update this post with a link.

Developing…

[Photo Source: Photo by Dave3, taken at San Diego Comic-Con Amazing Spider-Man panel on Friday, July 22, 2011.]