'Spider-Man' sequel films at Grumman, Gold Coast Studios

Long Island played host to the likes of Iron Man, the Hulk and Captain America when "The Avengers" filmed here in 2011. Now, it welcomes another superhero: Spider-Man.

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2," the sequel to the 2012 blockbuster about the web-slinging Marvel superhero, will be filmed at Grumman Studios and Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage, a Nassau official with knowledge of the matter confirmed Monday.

The sequel is expected to be one of the most expensive films made on Long Island, both the county official and a representative for the state business agency Empire State Development Corp. said.

The movie, directed by Marc Webb, began shooting in early February and has been spotted filming around New York City, according to the TV/film location website On Location Vacations. The distributor, Columbia Pictures, has said the film will be shot entirely in New York State.

A reboot of the film franchise, the first "Amazing Spider-Man" film, focusing on superhero Peter Parker's formative high school years, grossed more than $752 million worldwide.

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone will reprise their roles as Parker and Gwen Stacy for the second film, and Jamie Foxx will play the villain, Electro.

The news comes as Nassau becomes a more prominent East Coast film locale, bolstered by support from local and state officials offering tax incentives. Last week, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano hosted a two-day tour of both Grumman and Gold Coast for 15 film industry officials.

SEE PHOTOS50 movies that have filmed on Long Island

Since 2009, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency has awarded Grumman Studios tens of thousands in property tax breaks as the studio transforms into soundstages the former warehouses used by Grumman Corp. to build lunar modules.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo also broadened a tax credit for film and TV crews that do most of the production in-state.

In addition to "The Avengers" in 2011, the Angelina Jolie action flick "Salt" was filmed at Grumman in 2009. In 2012, the film industry brought in an estimated $90 million in economic benefits to Nassau as it hosted 650 production days -- more than any New York City borough except Manhattan.