Meet the new Spidey!

Los Angeles - Tom Holland has been cast as the new Spider-Man.

The 19-year-old Brit - who starred in The Impossible and Billy Elliot the musical - has been confirmed by Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures to play Peter Parker and will take over from Andrew Garfield who took over the role from Tobey Maguire.

A statement posted on Marvel's website read: "Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios are proud to announce that after a full worldwide casting search, Tom Holland will play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the next Spider-Man film, in theaters in IMAX and 3D on 28 July, 2017. The film will be directed by Jon Watts, director of Cop Car, the upcoming thriller that made its debut earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.

"Marvel and Sony Pictures, and producers Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal conducted an extensive search for both the actor and the director. The studios and producers were impressed by Holland's performances in The Impossible, Wolf Hall, and the upcoming In the Heart of the Sea, and by a series of complex screen tests. Following Marvel's tradition of working with the brightest next wave of directors, Watts also went through multiple meetings with Feige, Pascal, and the studio, before winning the job.(sic)"

Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group Chairman, Tom Rothman said: "It's a big day here at Sony. Kevin, Amy and their teams have done an incredible job. The Marvel process is very thorough, and that's why their results are so outstanding. I'm confident Spider-Man will be no exception."

He added: "I've worked with a number of up-and-coming directors who have gone on to be superstars and believe that Jon is just such an outstanding talent. For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom's screen tests were special. All in all, we are off to a roaring start."

(Photos: AP, Getty Images)