Rhys Ifans isn't the biggest name to play a supervillain, but he might be starting July 2012. Columbia Pictures announced he'll be the bad guy fighting Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man. Emma Stone will be the love interest (of Garfiel'ds, not Ifans). They haven't let us know which baddie Ifans will be playing, but I have a hunch simply based on what Ifans looks like. I believe Rhys Ifans will play Mac Gargan, who becomes Scorpion. I'm talking about the first Scorpion, not one who gets tangled up with Venom. What do you think? Who else could Ifans play? Does this Spider-Man feel big enough without Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco? Here's the news release: Rhys Ifans will play the villain, opposite Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, in the next installment of Spider-Man from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, it was announced today by Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures. The film, to be directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and produced by Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will begin production in December and will be released in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012. Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, “We have been very fortunate to attract some of the best actors working today to play the villains in the Spider-Man movies, and it is exciting to see that trend continue with Rhys Ifans. After seeing his performance in our upcoming film Anonymous, we’re in awe of his talent and think he’s the perfect choice to take on this role.”

The filmmakers prefer to not reveal which character Ifans will be playing in the forthcoming film.

Webb added, “What sets the Spider-Man villains apart is the complexity of their relationships with Peter Parker. Rhys' incredible ability to embody both warmth and rage makes him the ideal choice for this character."