Rumor: Zooey Deschanel Joining Webb's 'Spider-Man'

In the recent wealth of casting news for Marc Webb's Spider-Man reboot, here's a little rumor for you.  Floating around the web today is a report that the director recently met with his (500) Days of Summer co-star Zooey Deschanel about joining his new film's cast.

Hit the jump to find out what role could reunite Summer and Webb.

According to the report, Webb wants Deschanel for the role of Betty Brant, J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the Daily Bugle.  If you remember in the original trilogy, the Betty Brant role was played by a then virtual unknown Elizabeth Banks.

Now keeping in mind casting rumors like this for the big budget superhero movies we've all come to love are always to be taken with a grain of salt.  But this one might carry a little more credence as director and star have worked together, and worked well, in the past.

So IF this is true, what could we then speculate for the film's story?  Going back to comic book lore, Brant typically had a larger role and was even a Peter Parker love interest at times.  So placing a strong performer the likes of Deschanel in this role would point to playing a larger part in the story.  And with the announcement we wouldn't be seeing MJ in this installment, could Brant play that love interest role rivaling Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy?

However this plays out, I think Deschanel is a great talent.  And after seeing the performance Webb got from her in (500) Days of Summer, I would be thrilled if she did come aboard this already stellar cast.