Putting this here as well, since it belongs more in this thread:
My first hope would be to have Andrew Garfield as Spider-man and the two films he has been a part of to be cannon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He's perfect in the role and even with mediocre writing has become definitive in the part. However, with that looking unlikely --
CAST YOUNG. Use the Harry Potter model. Young, cheap, talented unknowns. Get them young and controllable. Lock them for 8-9 picture deals and take the new series slow. Build to the stories you want to get to (Venom/Symbiote, Death of Gwen Stacy, Sinister Six, Goblin legacy). Keep him in high school for 3-4 films. Cast a 15-16 year old. Have Peter, Gwen, Harry, MJ, Flash, Liz, Eddie Brock etc all in the films from the start. Can even use Spectacular Spider-man as a template of how to successfully build the world. Treat Norman Osborn like Harry Potter did Snape. Cast an acclaimed actor in the role with promise of future pay off.
There's no reason that Spider-man can't be done in an episodic saga-like franchise, much like the Harry Potter film series.
It just makes sense. Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield -- both quality actors ... but neither were A-List, Box Office draws. The star is SPIDER-MAN. Treat it as such. Save money on the cast by casting 15-16 year olds to play 15-16 year olds. This will give the series the credibility as well as the longevity that it will need to tell the stories they want to tell without things appearing rushed or crammed.
Also, introducing all the major players in the first film or two would make for a less crowded feel.
Doc Ock shows up in film 2? Well, we saw him as Osborn's lab assistant in film 1.
Eddie Brock gets the black suit and becomes Venom in film 4? Well, we saw him work beside Peter in an internship at the Bugle and saw their friendship deteriorate from friendly rivalry to bitter dispute.
Norman Osborn becomes the Green Goblin in film 3? Well, we saw him introduced as a mentor and father figure to Peter's best friend in the films 1 and 2, so their battle will have more emotional weight. As will Gwen's death.
The Green Goblin reappears in film 5, making audiences fear Norman has returned from the grave? It's even more shocking when it's revealed to be Harry because we've GROWN with the character for 4 films.
When Mary Jane and Peter get together in film 4 it will be EARNED because we will have seen MJ go from the party girl in the first 3 films to becoming sobered and more human after Gwen's death. And Peter and MJ go from friends and confidants to something more.
After introducing various villains, the Sinister Six can be introduced organically and not in a rushed, perfunctory fashion.
-R