8:04pm UK, Sunday July 11, 2004

The hotly-awaited Spider-Man sequel is set to swing into London on Monday.

The Hollywood blockbuster has already broken box office records in the US and movie experts predict it will do the same in Britain.

180-Spiderman Movie

Webbed Wonder: Spiderman

Tobey Maguire returns as the reluctant superhero and his alter ego Peter Parker.  

This time around he battles evil in the shape of evil Dr Octopus, played by British actor Alfred Molina.   

Kirsten Dunst is back as Spidey's love interest Mary Jane Watson.   

All three stars will be at the UK premiere in London's Leicester Square, along with director Sam Raimi.   

The original Spider-Man swept away previous box office records on its release in 2002 and grossed more than £500m worldwide.   

Critics believe the sequel is even better. Spider-Man II took £18m on its opening day in America and crossed the £120m mark in a record eight days.   

In the new film, Parker is sick of leading his double life and on the verge of hanging up his Spider suit.   

But he is called into action when a freak accident turns scientist Dr Otto Octavius into Dr Octopus, a metal-tentacled super-villain hell-bent on world domination.   

The film opens in the UK on Friday.