Andrew Garfield is "grateful" his Spider-Man film series was cut short because the franchise commitments would have scuppered his chances to work with Mel Gibson and Martin Scorsese.
The British actor played the comic book superhero in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel, but plans for a third and fourth instalment were axed by Sony Pictures bosses after the second release was panned by fans and critics alike.
Andrew admits the move was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed him to take on more varied projects, including Gibson's Oscars-tipped war drama Hacksaw Ridge and Scorsese's upcoming Silence.
"To be honest, I would not have been able to work with Mel Gibson and Martin Scorsese if I had done Spider-Man 3," he told Fandango.com.
Officials at Marvel Studios have since regained the rights to the web-slinging character and have opted for a complete reboot of the story, with Tom Holland now tackling the titular role, making his debut in the recent blockbuster Captain America: Civil War.
"I'm incredibly grateful that I get to now go and watch another man play Spider-Man, who I think is a fantastic actor, Tom Holland," Andrew continued, as he went on to reflect on the new direction of the franchise.
He added, "You know what, it's sliding doors, right? There are so many possible outcomes; so many positives and potential downsides to that situation. If I am being totally honest, I am so excited Spider-Man is back in the hands of Marvel. I think that's a really awesome move. It was a move that I've been advocating since I was offered the Spider-Man gig five or six years ago. I'm also excited for Tom Holland. I think he's a very emotional, truthful, funny, physical actor, and I love the filmmaker - it all really couldn't be in any better hands. I'm really stoked for it."
Spider-Man: Homecoming, directed by Jon Watts, is set for release in July (17).
