Amazing Spider-Man 2 First Look: Paul Giamatti As The Rhino

Tags:

‘The Amazing Spider-Man’,Paul Giamatti,Spider-Man,Movies,Andrew Garfield,Jamie Foxx,Marvel,Erin O’Sullivan

1/1

TwitPic
Paul Giamatti as Aleksei Sytsevich (Rhino) in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’

FIRST PUBLISHED: May 11, 2013 7:00 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” director Marc Webb has released the first photo of Paul Giamatti as Aleksei Sytsevich, aka The Rhino.

“Say hello to Aleksei Sytsevich,” Webb Tweeted on Saturday, along with a photo of Giamatti as the radiation-enhanced Russian mafia thug.

In the photo, Giamatti appears to be yelling while driving a vehicle, with his hand gripping the steering wheel — but he has yet to be fitted with his signature surgically-attached ramming horn and body armor.

PHOTOS: Scenes From ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’

The actor is sporting a barbed wire tattoo across his forehead in the shot, as well as inked symbols on his knuckles and forearm.

Playing The Rhino is a dream come true for Giamatti, as the character has been a favorite of his since childhood.

PHOTOS: Sexy Superheroes

“I thought Rhino was the greatest thing when I was a little kid,” the “Sideways” star told Showbiz Spy in a 2011 interview. “It was a guy who was basically in this rhinoceros outfit and I always thought, ‘Why don’t they have The Rhino in one of their movies?’ but maybe The Rhino wasn’t that big of a deal for anybody but me.

“If they ever go with The Rhino I would be ready and waiting,” he added at the time.

The Rhino is one of two known villains who will face off against Andrew Garfield’s web slinger in the upcoming Marvel sequel (Jamie Foxx will star as Electro).

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” hits theaters on May 2, 2014.

-- Erin O’Sullivan

For breaking news and personal commentary from our hosts and producers, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!