Tobey Maguire was director Sam Raimi's first choice for the Spider-Man role

"The studio and filmmakers are deeply saddened and send condolences to all involved - we are co-operating with the authorities investigating the accident," Sony, the studio producing the movie, said in a statement.

It is not known if filming of the adaptation of the Marvel Comics' superhero movie will be postponed.

The film stars The Cider House Rules actor Tobey Maguire as the meek and mild Peter Parker who suddenly finds himself with superhero qualities when a radioactive spider bites him.

William Defoe and Kirsten Dunst co-star, but because the set was being built for a shoot later in the month, none of the cast were on set at the time of the incident.

This accident comes after a deadly accident on the set of The X-Files last August.

A crewman was electrocuted and six others injured while standing on scaffolding which was struck by an overhead power line.

Seven people were injured in London last month on the set of The Four Feathers, with Almost Famous star Kate Hudson.