Some directors, like X-Men: Days Of Future Past**’s Bryan Singer, take an occasional behind-the-scenes Twitter picture. The Amazing Spider-sequel’s Marc Webb, on the other hand, has plumped for a blitzkrieg, snap-happy, pic-a-day approach. This weekend he offered up a real gem, however, with the first proper pic of Paul Giamatti as The Rhino.
Say hello to Aleksei Sytsevich. [twitter.com/MarcW/status/3…](http://t.co/vkOTLJaQN5 "http://twitter.com/MarcW/status/333254851326795776/photo/1") > > — Marc Webb (@MarcW) [May 11, 2013](https://twitter.com/MarcW/status/333254851326795776)
Real name Aleksei Sytsevich, it’s not known how much of the character’s comic book history will make it into the movie (especially given that the focus will likely be on Jamie Foxx’s Electro. But in the canon Ol' Aleksei was your basic Russian Mafia thug until a life-threatening series of chemical and radian treatments transformed him into a superhuman agent for an espionage collective. He gets his name from his armour – which is incredibly tough like rhino hide – and, in the comics at least, it's perma-bonded to his skin.
Giamatti certainly seems to be channelling his rage here, but we’ll wait and see how effective his character turns out to be on the big screen.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, of course, follows the continuing adventures of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) as he continues to deal with his dual life and constantly breaks his promise to the late, lamented Captain Stacey to stay away from his daughter Gwen (Emma Stone). As mentioned, Foxx’s Electro could be a potential ally, but will likely end up causing more trouble, and with Norman (Chris Cooper) and Harry (Dane DeHaan) Osborn around, his existence is set to get a lot more complicated - and we haven't even mentioned Shailene Woodley's Mary Jane… We’ll find out to what degree Spidey's in trouble when the movie swings in on April 18 next year.