TOBEY MAGUIRE is being put through his paces as he goes through rigorous training for his part as superhero SPIDERMAN.

The Hollywood heart-throb has been working out intensively for the past two weeks, limbering up for his insect-inspired role. Director of the long-awaited movie SAM RAIMI says, "We're kicking his a** in the training room. He's working out every day with a stunt co-ordinator and with his yoga instructor.

"He's on special diets. He is undergoing a tremendous physical metamorphosis. He's got a great desire to see Spiderman up on the screen. He already had a good body but he's now developing the body of a superhero." And Raimi says Maguire is even studying spiders themselves. He adds, "Tobey's already been working with a wire man, he's got really good physical motion and I think he's studying right now how to move in an insectoid style so he's working on it." (MB/WN/RGS)

Source: WENN