Rhys Ifans Appears as The Lizard, Gets Arrested for Misdemeanor Battery After Spider-Man Panel

The Amazing Spider-Man panel at Comic-Con took an interesting turn yesterday after a 3D screening of the trailer and some raw footage that gave fans a first look at Welsh actor Rhys Ifans as The Lizard, a crocodile-like monster emerging from the sewer through a bathroom stall and frightening several young girls. Ifans also made a surprise appearance on the panel, but the biggest surprise of all is what reportedly happened after the panel, when Ifans was arrested for misdemeanor battery after allegedly shoving a female security guard.

According to The Wrap, who spoke with police after the incident:

Ifans, who smelled of alcohol, became irate when a member of his entourage was unable to enter the hall for lack of proper credentialing, police said. He shoved the guard, and was allowed to participate in the panel, but the guard subsequently made a citizen's arrest. "He was aggressive and belligerent," Lt. Andra Brown said of the Welsh actor. "He was... berating everyone from the security staff to the United States of America."

Ifans was released after being cited and must now pay a fine for the incident (or contest it) although The Wrap's police contact added that Ifans said "the U.S. sucks and he doesn't want to come back."

Before the arrest but after the alleged shoving, the panel kicked off with a random fan in a Spider-Man costume grabbing the question and answer microphone off the floor -- only to take off his mask and reveal his true identity: Andrew Garfield. "This is my first Comic-Con and this is the coolest moment of my life," said the Amazing Spider-Man star, who gave a heartfelt speech about being a fan like anyone else and told con-goers how how "Spider-Man saved my life." He was joined by Emma Stone, director Marc Webb and producer Avi Arid on stage after a screening of a 3D version of the Spider-Man trailer, as well as late-comer Ifans.

Fans also got a better look at the Spidey suit, which was redesigned in order to highlight just how skinny Garfield is. "Because how great is it seeing a skinny guy beat the crap out of bad guys?" Garfield asked the panel, which enthusiatically agreed.

You can read more about Garfield's intensive training for the role, his fear of large crowds, and his conversations with former Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire in the panel report from Moviefone.

And just in case you missed if, here's the first official teaser trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man, due out in 2012.