Martin Sheen is Uncle Ben in Spider-Man

Martin Sheen has signed on to play Uncle Ben in Marc Webb’s reboot of the spider-man franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog and Deadline.

Although Sheen probably won’t be in the film too long, the role is pivotal to Spider-man’s origin story.  If not for Uncle Ben’s death at the hands of a thief, Peter Parker might never use his new-found super-powers for good.

In other Spider-man casting news, Sally Fields is now in talks to play Peter Parker’s beloved Aunt May, who is a key figure in his life.

The new Spider-Man film is set to go before cameras in December, with The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield as the title character, Emma Stone as Peter’s first love, Gwen Stacy and Ryhs Ifans as the still yet unnamed villain.

Stay tuned here as more Spider-Man film news swings in…