After receiving plaudits for her role as George Clooney’s daughter in the Oscar-winning dramedy The Descendants (2011), Shailene Woodley has revealed that her biggest role to date has now been cut from the film she was set to star in.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 21 year-old actress confirmed that her appearance as future Peter Parker love interest Mary Jane Watson in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has been taken out of the final cut. She explained that the removal of her character was due to long-term planning for the future Spider-Man sequels.

“Of course I’m bummed. But I am a firm believer in everything happening for a specific reason… Based on the proposed plot, I completely understand the need for holding off on introducing Mary Jane until the next film.”

While it must be disappointing for Woodley, it looks as though director Marc Webb will keep her footage and possibly use it for the third film which is due out in 2016. Her next major film sees her star alongside Oscar-winner Kate Winslet in the sci-fi thriller Divergent.

In the meantime, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be released in cinemas on May 2nd 2014.

EDIT: It has now been confirmed that Woodley is unlikely to appear in The Amazing Spider-Man sequels after it was revealed earlier today that the role of Mary Jane Watson is set to be recast.