Chapter 3: Chapter 2
**Hollywood, Wilshire Avenue.**
Xu Can casually dressed in a shirt and jeans, rode his bicycle for a full 10 kilometers before arriving at the Sony Pictures headquarters.
As soon as he walked in, he almost bumped into a middle-aged man with an unshaven beard.
"Hello, Marc."
"Hey, Xu! You're here! I was just about to call your agent," Marc Webb, the director of *The Amazing Spider-Man*, greeted him warmly. Marc Webb, who previously directed the romance film *500 Days of Summer*, initially hesitated when he saw that Xu Can was Chinese during the auditions. He almost dismissed him on the spot.
But he decided to be patient and give Xu Can a chance.
To his surprise, Xu Can's audition completely overturned Marc's initial doubts. His performance was so compelling that Marc decided to defy public opinion and cast Xu Can, an Asian actor, as the iconic superhero Spider-Man.
Luckily, Xu Can's handsome appearance, three-dimensional facial features, and boy-next-door charm closely matched the comic book image of Peter Parker. Marc was confident that die-hard comic book fans would appreciate this casting choice.
"Come on, let me introduce you to the crew. Everyone's here today, and we'll be starting the script reading. It might be a bit tiring."
"No problem," Xu Can replied confidently. This was a project he chose for himself. No matter how tough it got, he was ready for it.
"Hey, Emma! Let me introduce you. This handsome guy here is your co-star, Xu Can. And this lovely lady is…"
Xu Can turned to meet a fair-skinned blonde with strikingly large eyes that seemed to belong to a character straight out of an anime.
Emma Stone, known as "Sister Stone," was cast as Gwen Stacy, the heroine in *The Amazing Spider-Man* and later in *La La Land*. Xu Can was very familiar with her work.
At this time, Emma was only 18 years old, with youthful, glowing skin.
"No introduction needed… Hello, Ms. Stone. I'm a big fan of your work," Xu Can said with a bright smile as he extended his hand.
Emma seemed both surprised and a little flustered. The Asian actor standing before her had left a great first impression, yet she was taken aback that he knew of her.
"Hello, Mr. Xu…"
"Just call me Xu Can," he corrected gently.
"Ah… Xu Can?"
"Yes, your Chinese is quite good," Xu Can smiled, deciding to let her pronunciation slide for now. He could correct her later.
As the two newcomers exchanged greetings, Marc Webb stood by, arms crossed, with a smile on his face.
An assistant director passed by and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, Marc, what are you smiling about?"
"Can't you feel it? The chemistry between these two is great," Marc said, his instincts as a former romance film director kicking in. The interaction between Xu Can and Emma had a certain spark that convinced him he had found the right leads.
Originally, Marc had intended for Peter Parker's love interest to be Mary Jane, but after discussing the *Spider-Man* story with Xu Can, they found Gwen Stacy's character more intriguing. With the blessing of Stan Lee, the producer Avi Arad had the screenwriters revise the script overnight, making Gwen Stacy the heroine.
The 2002 *Spider-Man* movie was a classic, but its romantic subplot was heavily criticized, with MJ's character being particularly divisive. The switch to Gwen Stacy significantly improved the storyline.
This was one of the reasons why Marc insisted on casting Xu Can. His understanding of the film exceeded that of many seasoned screenwriters.
"Alright, everyone's here. Let's get started with the script reading."
---
**"The first script reading for *Spider-Man* starts now!"**
In a large conference room at Sony Pictures, Marc Webb and the actors gathered around the table, scripts in hand, their expressions serious.
Before the cameras rolled, the cast would read the script aloud together, which not only helped them understand their characters better but also allowed the director to gauge their performances. It was also a chance for the actors to make an impression and perhaps gain the director's favor.
"…On a rainy night, Aunt May held baby Parker and looked out the window, reflecting Parker's immature and uneasy face…"
After Marc Webb read the opening narration, it was Xu Can's turn to deliver his lines.
As Xu Can prepared to speak, something extraordinary happened.
It was as if a spark of inspiration had struck him, sending a current of electricity through his body.
In that instant, memories from different portrayals of Peter Parker—*Spider-Man*, *The Amazing Spider-Man*, *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*, *Marvel's Spider-Man*—all seemed to merge into Xu Can's soul.
Xu Can closed his eyes and could almost see Peter Parker's memories flashing before him.
At that moment, he wasn't just acting; he *was* Peter Parker.
Sitting next to him, Emma Stone noticed Xu Can's hesitation. Was he too nervous to say his lines?
Just as she was about to nudge him gently, Xu Can finally spoke:
"Hey, good morning, Fletcher…"
In just a few words, Xu Can perfectly conveyed the essence of a bullied high school student—timid and resentful but unable to express his anger.
The tall, sunny Xu Can had suddenly transformed into a shy, insecure boy-next-door type.
As Xu Can continued with his lines, his tone and expressions were flawless.
Marc Webb's eyes widened in surprise.
He hadn't expected Xu Can to immerse himself in the role so quickly. He had assumed that Xu, being relatively inexperienced, would need more time to adjust.
The script reading proceeded smoothly.
---
"...I think you were very brave just now."
"What?"
Emma Stone glanced at Xu Can briefly before returning to the script.
"A little foolish, but very brave. You should probably head to the infirmary to get checked for a concussion."
"Uh…"
"May I have your name?"
"Peter… And you're Gwen, right?"
"Gwen Stacy… Remember to go to the infirmary."
Even though it was just a script reading, Xu Can and Emma Stone were already exchanging glances, their characters' chemistry palpable.
Marc Webb noticed it too and nodded in approval. He was finally reassured about his casting choices.
The dialogue scenes had gone well, but the real test would come during the action scenes. It was said that Xu Can had trained in Chinese martial arts, so Marc hoped his physical abilities would live up to expectations.
---
"Hey, Peter!"
"Gwen!"
"Haha, sorry, I got used to calling you by your real name during the script reading."
Though they had just met, Xu Can and Emma Stone quickly developed a rapport.
After several scenes together, their partnership was off to a promising start.
"Xu, are you free later? How about we grab a drink?"
"Sure, I'd love to," Xu Can replied with a smile.
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