The casting of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is about to take one very strange turn. Paul Giamatti is reportedly in talks to play the Rhino. If this actually happens, he would be joining Electro (Jamie Foxx) as a possible pair of foes to face off against the webslinger. Like Crazy star Felicity Jones is also rumored to be in talks to join the cast.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the hulking villain, The Rhino is a Russian hitman endowed with a powerful thick hide for defense equipped with a large razor sharp horn for offensive destruction. A constant threat to Spider-Man, the Rhino made his debut Amazing Spider-Man #41 in 1966.

It does sound silly that a guy like Giamatti can be suited up with something like what the Rhino wears. Then there is Giamatti trying to voice the dim-witted villain with a thick Russian accent. So many factors about this possible casting leads me to believe that this could be either a really good idea or a really bad idea.

THR was the first to report on the news, but amusingly enough Giamatti had expressed interest in playing the character as far back as 2011. On the subject of the character, Giamatti this this to ShowBizSpy in 2011:

As far as Jones’ casting goes, the trade did not specify what role she would have in the film. But if there needed to be a character rumor, might as well throw in Black Cat.

Marc Webb returns to the director’s chair for the second time with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone also returning to reprise their respective roles. Dane DeHaan and Shailene Woodley also star. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to begin shooting in February and will open in theaters on May 2, 2014.

So what do you think about Giamatti possibly playing as Rhino? Who do you think Jones will play in the film?

[Source: THR]