Dane DeHaan is in line to play Harry Osbourn in 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'.

The 'Chronicle' star has been shortlisted to play Peter Parker's troubled best friend and looks likely to join Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield in Marc Webb's sequel to this year's superhero smash hit.

Producers at Sony Pictures are searching for a ''dark and edgy'' young actor to match James Franco's chilling performance as Harry in Sam Raimi's triology, which was fronted by Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

The character is Peter's close friend and the son of Green Goblin alter-ego Norman Osborn, who eventually becomes his enemy.

The part of Harry was originally written for a big, athletic actor, but is now being reworked into something less predictable and much darker, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Other contenders for the coveted role include 'Supernatural' star Alden Ehrenreich and 'Melancholia''s Brady Corbet.

Leading man Andrew recently revealed the sequel was due to start filming in 2013 and he can't wait to reprise his role as the crime-fighting hero, especially since the iconic spider suit is being redesigned for his personal comfort.

He explained: ''It is a responsibility to play that role, and I don't take it lightly. I think there's so much to explore with that mythology and within the tension between living a double life, struggling with being good, struggling with choosing good behaviour over bad behaviour, with the pressures of a city on your shoulders.

''The suit is undergoing a redesign because I couldn't urinate [when I had it on] last time. So I'm less nervous because that's gonna be nice.''