One actor has pulled ahead in the race towards Marvel's "Spider-Man." According to Latino Review's Umberto Gonzalez's Instagram, Asa Butterfield is -- and has been -- Marvel Studios' top choice for the role of Peter Parker when the character joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Butterfield was included on the rumored shortlist that emerged last week, but this new report indicates that the other four actors -- Timothee Chalamet, Nat Wolff, Tom Holland and Liam James -- are possibly out of the running.

Butterfield already has an impressive film resume, having starred in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" and the big budget "Ender's Game" adaptation. Unlike the previous two big-screen Spider-Men, the 18-year-old Butterfield is actually close to high school student Peter Parker's age; Tobey Maguire was 26 and Andrew Garfield was 28 when they made their Spider-Man debuts.

It's not yet known when Spider-Man will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's rumored that the character will appear in 2016's "Captain America: Civil War," which begins shooting in Atlanta in a few weeks. The first installment in the new Spider-Man franchise hits theaters on July 28. 2017.