The Descendants star Shailene Woodley is in early talks to star in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Mary Jane Watson. Kirsten Dunst portrayed Peter Parker's redheaded love interest in the original Spider-Man trilogy, although director Marc Webb went with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) as Peter's girlfriend in The Amazing Spider-Man.

Sony is also seeking actors to play Harry Osborn, Peter's best friend portrayed by James Franco in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. It is also rumored that the studio is looking for someone to play Electro, a villain who gains the ability to control electricity after he is struck by lightning. The villain's involvement has not been confirmed yet.

Marc Webb is directing from a screenplay by Roberto Orci,Alex Kurtzman, and Jeff Pinkner, based on an early draft by James Vanderbilt. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2013.