Back in December, we told you that Irrfan Khan (In Treatment) had joined the cast of Marc Webb‘s forthcoming, as yet Untitled Spider-Man Reboot as Nels Van Atter, alongside Annie Parisse (Fringe, The Tested) who is playing Van Atter’s wife. Nels Van Atter was rumored to be the film’s second villain.

In the comics, Van Atter was Mendel Stromm’s research assistant, and an employee of Norman Osborne. He was used in high-tech experiments, and served as a test subject for a chemical that was developed by Osborne and Stromm, which turned him into a red beast with fangs and claws known as Proto-Goblin.

In a recent interview with Indian Express, Irrfan Khan revealed that he won’t be a masked villain, nor will he be turning into a monster in the film.

Khan said,

“While he is looking forward to Spider-Man, the 48-year-old confesses, that initially he wasn’t keen on the project. “I didn’t want to be part of this violent American fantasy. But both my sons were excited and kept insisting that I take it up.” But the intricacy and freshness of the script finally won. Even then, Irrfan Khan placed one condition before (Marc) Webb – he didn’t want to be a masked villain or become another creature.”

[The Shakedown]

I almost took offense to the “”I didn’t want to be part of this violent American fantasy” comment but, Khan has appeared in other “violent” films like Hisss and Acid Factory, so I think he’s just trying to look sophisticated to his Indian brethren. Quite frankly, I’ll be happy if Proto-Goblin (or any other Goblin) stays away from Spidey films for awhile.

The Untitled Spider-Man Reboot starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Julianne Nicholson, Chris Zylka and Annie Parisse is slated to hit theaters on July 3rd, 2012