Ifans to play 'Spiderman' villian

Actor Rhys Ifans is to play the bad guy in the next 'Spiderman' film.

Sony Pictures announced today that Ifans, widely known as a comic actor in such films as 'Notting Hill', will co-star as the villain in the superhero adventure, due out in July 2012.

The studio’s announcement notes that the “filmmakers prefer to not reveal which character Ifans will be playing”.

Ifans, 43, played Grant’s offbeat room-mate in 1999’s 'Notting Hill'.

He co-starred in this year’s 'Nanny McPhee Returns' and Ben Stiller’s comic drama 'Greenberg'. He also co-stars in the new Harry Potter film.