That `70s Show Star Graces 'Spidey 3'


Zap2it (Los Angeles, Calif.)

LOS ANGELES - Topher Grace - who left Point Place, Wis., in the season
finale of That `70s Show on Wednesday - is entering the Marvel universe for
the upcoming 'Spider-Man' sequel directed by Sam Raimi.

The young actor has joined Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco
in 'Spider-Man 3,' which is scheduled for a May 4, 2007, release by Columbia
Pictures.

"I couldn't be more excited about the direction we are taking the continuing
adventures of Peter Parker," says Raimi. "Topher Grace is an extraordinarily
talented actor and will be perfect for the complexities of the role we are
developing."

There's no word on what role Grace will take. The studio remained similarly
mum on the casting of 'Sideways' actor Thomas Haden Church, although
Raimi let slip in an earlier interview that Church would be a "fantastic and
challenging new nemesis."

Grace has enough versatility to play both good and bad guys - or better yet, a
character with both qualities. He's often played a nice guy with a sarcastic
tongue in films such as 'Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!' and 'In Good
Company' and as Eric Forman on That `70s Show. He showed a sly versatility
in Steven Soderbergh's 'Traffic,' however, as a clean-cut rich boy with a jaded
outlook and drug habit.

The 26-year-old actor was also briefly rumored to have had a part in another
superhero project, the Bryan Singer-directed 'Superman,' but the part of the
earnest journalist Jimmy Olsen went to actor Sam Huntington instead.

Grace's other film credits include 'Mona Lisa Smile' and 'P.S.' - a role for
which, along with his turn in 'In Good Company,' was named the best
breakthrough performance by the National Board of Review in 2004.

Production on 'Spider-Man 3' will begin in early 2006.

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