LOS ANGELES - Denis Leary is innegotiations to play the father of Emma Stone in Columbia's new "Spider-Man" movie.
Stone is playing the love interest of Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) and Leary will play police captain George Stacy, her father who frequently came into contact with the web-slinging superhero.
In Marvel Comics lore, Stacy perished in an accident during a battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus, an event that led Gwen Stacy to hate the hero.
Studio Columbia Pictures and director Marc Webb are keeping the script under lock and key so it's uncertain how faithful to the core story Leary's version of the character will be.
Leary hasn't appeared in a theatrical movie since 2002's "The Secret Lives of Dentists," although he has been starring in the acclaimed drama "Rescue Me" since 2004. He appeared in HBO's "Recount" and has continued to voice the character of Diego the sabertooth in the "Ice Age" movies.