Things are moving right along on the Amazing Spider-Man sequel. Just over a month ago we learned that director Marc Webb and stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone were all returning for the follow-up, and we recently got wind that The Descendants star Shailene Woodley had entered talks to take on the role of Mary Jane Watson (making a minor appearance in this sequel). Within that report we also learned that the film’s villain was rumored to be Electro, and now it appears that Sony has settled on Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx to take on the electrically-inclined antagonist role.

Hit the jump for more.

[Update: Click here to read what Webb had to say about Foxx’s casting, Electro being the villain, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in general.]

Per Variety, Jamie Foxx is in early negotiations to play the film’s villain, Electro. The appearance of the character isn’t all that shocking (sorry), as the post-credits sequence in The Amazing Spider-Man featured a shadowy figure confronting Rhys Ifans’ Dr. Curt Connors in a jail cell, asking if Peter Parker knew the real truth about his parents. The figure’s appearance and disappearance were accompanied by lightning sounds, and as we all know Electro gained the power to control electricity after being struck by lightning.

Foxx is an interesting choice to tackle the villain role, but if you look at the cast that Webb has assembled it’s really a fantastic line-up of talent. Variety’s report doesn’t mention the appearance of any other villainous characters in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but given that most sequels up the ante in the antagonist department, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another villain pop up in a minor role at some point. Production on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will begin next year in anticipation of the film’s May 2nd, 2014 release date.

Foxx himself commented on the news story, seemingly confirming that he’ll be taking the gig: