Despite my reflexive plethora of reservations when Sony announced its plans to reboot the Spider-Man franchise – it had, after all, only been three years since Sam Raimi’s third instalment – I have since warmed to the idea.

The deciding factor, for me at least, has been the promising cast assembled by new franchise overlord Marc Webb.

With Andrew Garfield scheduled to relieve the ever inadequate Tobey Maguire of webslinging duties, and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy alleviating the despondence induced that greeted Kirsten Dunst’s Mary-Jane Watson, the reboot was already off to a promising start.

However, with the original trilogy containing some incredibly strong supporting performances, it was in recasting the rest of the ensemble that Webb would run the risk of coming up short. J.K. Simmons was a revelation as Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson; Alfred Molina was grounded as Doctor Octopus; and Elizabeth Banks was memorable as an underused Betty Brant.

Rumour has it, however, that Webb may have an ace up his sleeve. There are sketchy reports from Showbiz Spy that Zooey Deschanel, who previously collaborated with Webb on the endlessly likeable (500) Days of Summer, is being considered for the role previously filled by Banks and a surprisingly effective wig.

Should the actress join Garfield, Stone and resident evil Rhys Ifans, there may be so much more to look forward to in Webb’s Spider-Man than a dimunition of nauseatingly saccharine sentimentality, a refined focus and believable character development.