Trying to keep up with the rumors around Marvel Studios and Sony’s third Spider-Man film hasn’t been easy. What’s more, even the facts around the movie (the returns of Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina) make it hard to get a handle on just what is going on. Is it a full-blown live-action Spider-verse film? Is it a Sinister Six film? Is it both? While we could go on all day about what it might be, we now know at least something about it thanks to Tom Holland: it’s going to be a can’t miss event.
In an interview with Variety, Holland was asked if he could shed any light on the upcoming film. His response, while measured by Holland’s standards, was still informative:
What’s funny is like, I nearly told you then. You were so close to getting what you want.I can say that it’s the most ambitious standalone superhero movie ever made. You sit down, read the script, and see what they’re trying to do, and they’re succeeding. It’s really impressive. I’ve never seen a standalone superhero movie quite like it. And I’m just, you know, again, that lucky little shit who happens to be Spider-Man in it. We got a lot more shooting to do. We started before Christmas and shot for like seven weeks. We stopped for the Christmas break, and then we’re starting again. I’m just as excited as everyone else to see it, let alone be a part of it.
We’ve seen some pretty impressive standalone superhero films in the past and Holland, while occasionally prone to hyperbole, knows well that fans are going to take him at his word on this, so it’s safe to say that he’s not trying to overhype the film. His comments also allow room in our heads for our idea of just what is going on here to grow. Maybe, just maybe, all those wild rumors are true, to some extent, and we’ll see a Sinister Six, Spider-Verse, Daredevil, multiversal event unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Spider-Man 3 is still on track to swing into theaters in 2021.
Spider-Man‘s third Marvel Cinematic Universe entry is a mystery to many. The story is set to take place directly after Spider-Man: Far From Home. In that film, Mysterio exposed Peter Parker’s secret identity to the public and made him a wanted man. It seems that we might get some answers sooner rather than later. In a recent report by Variety, they were listing the most anticipated performances for 2021. In it, Tom Holland was particularly highlighted for the upcoming untitled Spider-Man threequel.
In it, they highlight that the setup and execution of the upcoming film will be quite similar to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which would continue solidifying the Multiverse storyline the casting news is suggesting. They don’t give away anything but do tease that their upcoming Variety Awards Circuit podcast on February 4th will include some teases and what we can expect from the project.
The film will see the return of director Jon Watts before he tackles the upcoming Fantastic 4 project based on a script by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. In their report, they do highlight once again that Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina are set to appear in the film. They will most likely reprise their respective roles from previous films. Now, the events in WandaVision may become the cause for how the story starts exploring a live-action Into theSpider-Verse storyline. Either way, fans will just have to wait and see what Sony and Marvel have up their sleeves when this film drops in December 2021.
Right now, WandaVision is on everyone’s radar, but Marvel Studios has been working hard on prepping their future projects. Some time ago, we covered set photos from the upcoming Disney+ Hawkeye series, which finally confirmed Hailee Steinfeld‘s casting as Kate Bishop. There hasn’t been much circulating since, but luckily it seems that Spider-Man 3 has taken to the streets to film a sequence between Tom Holland‘s Peter and Zendaya‘s MJ. As we cannot share those photos here, you can check them out by clicking this link.
That isn’t all, as we also got one more set video that confirms an old foe still left his presence known after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home. @atlanta_filming shared a video of a local newsstand that includes various small details. Of course, there are two posters that really stick out. There is the return of Mysterio through an “I Believe” poster alongside another one that states “Citizens to Defend Spider-Man”. So, it looks like New York City will be very divisive on the truth surrounding the accusations of Spidey being a killer or not. Mysterio may have died at the end of the last film, but his presence will haunt Spidey throughout the threequel.
I love these details on set and am curious if the camera will linger on it once the film finishes production. The newsstand also includes other references, such as a “We Remember” poster that pays tribute to those that got dusted from the Snap. The missing posters are also rather curious, which reminds me of Kraven’s Last Hunt. The story mainly focused on Kraven and Spidey, but it also included the cannibal villain Vermin. Hopefully, the film doesn’t take this dark angle. The set photos with Peter walking through the streets is also quite curious, as it would imply that the accusations may have gotten lifted at that time. He also seems to be on bad terms with MJ, so it could be him trying to make it up to her. We’ll see if we get some casting in the weeks, as more cast members join the production. It would be good to get some official news amongst all the rumors going around.
With the news that Jamie Foxx is set to return to the role of Electro and the rumors of Alfred Molina reprising his role as Doctor Octopus, it seems that what started out as whispers become louder and louder. It’s hard to deny that the upcoming Spider-Man threequel will be a live-action Spider-Verse adaptation. One of the main questions many fans are wondering: who would be the main antagonist in this story? Especially if the film will reintroduce the pioneers of live-action Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Well, Joseph Aberl and I have a pretty good idea of what we’d want to see. So, we think that if these castings are real, Marvel Studios and Sony are possibly setting up multiple antagonists. This film could be our first live-action introduction to the Sinister Six.
Who are the Sinister Six?
In 1964, Marvel introduced the world to the Sinister Six. It was a team of supervillains determined to defeat Spider-Man once and for all. In the comics, Doctor Octopus had contacted five of Spider-Man’s enemies. These included Electro, Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, and Kraven to work together against their greatest foe. During their first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, each member would take on Spider-Man one at a time. Their goal was to wear him down until he could not defend himself anymore. In the end, their plan failed. Since, there have been multiple versions of the team over the years with different members such as Hobgoblin, Chameleon, Lizard, Rhino, Shocker, Scorpion, and Mr. Negative, just to name a few.
So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe of Peter Parker has only faced off against two main antagonists in his solo films, Vulture, and Mystery. There were a handful of secondary villains, which included brief appearances of Shocker and Mac Gargan. So bringing in the Sinister Six at this time would seem like an unlikely turn for the story to take. Not only are there not enough villains from Spider-Man’s lore in the MCU, but they would easily overpower the current version of Spider-Man, as he got pushed to his limits with one until now, so try to imagine him taking on six at the same time. Yet, what if the Sinister Six faced off against three different Spider-Men? Now, the story is expanding and opens up the question of who else may join the various Spider-Men into the MCU.
Multiversal Sinister Six
So, we want to explore the concept of a multiversal Sinister Six. We want to bring in villains from Spider-Man’s cinematic history. However, the iterations will not be the same characters that were in the previous films, but rather, just the same actors giving these iconic characters a new twist. Of course, we’ll also bring in some new faces. They will add some new twists to the upcoming threequel. So let’s kick it off with the main man leading the group.
1. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock
Edward:Alfred Molina‘s role as Doctor Otto Octavius was regarded as one of the most memorable performances of a supervillain in a comic book movie. But the last time we saw Alfred Molina‘s Doc Ock, he sacrificed himself to save New York by drowning alongside his fusion power generator. So if I were to reintroduce Molina into the MCU as Doc Ock, I would probably go the route they did with J Jonah Jameson by introducing the same actor portraying a different version of the character. He would be the one to bring together the Sinister Six.
Joseph: Alfred Molina‘s take on Doctor Octopus is one of the most iconic in comic book cinema history. The selling point about Spidey’s villains, especially in the original Sam Raimi trilogy, is their connection to Peter. He was the mentor that Maguire’s Peter always wanted until a day went wrong turned him into something else. I hope that we don’t get an actual “Doc Ock” in this film. I think he would make for a perfect man in the shadows, who doesn’t participate in the fights. Octavius is the brain behind the operations. He only shows his hand once the film nears its climax and may have an ulterior motive in taking on the Spider-Men.
2. Jamie Foxx as Electro
Edward: Jamie Foxx returning as Electro opens a pathway to many possible ways he makes his return. The last time we saw Foxx‘s Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), he absorbed so much energy that he exploded and just disappeared. However, there’s an essential law in Physics that may explain his reappearance. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It converts from one form into another. He may have reached a level that allowed him to travel from one dimension to another. But again, I believe this will also be another J. Jonah Jameson scenario where the same actor will portray a different version of the character.
Joseph: I was a fan of the energy that Foxx brought to the role. The nerd angle was pointless, but he did prove he could be quite a menacing threat given the right tools. I think this version might be Max Dillon from the mainline MCU, who ends up fusing with his Amazing Spider-Man counterpart after his explosion. A rift in dimensions can do a lot, so the moment Elektro turned into pure energy, he may have accidentally bestowed these powers to a different version of himself. It would be a fun way to connect both storylines while also not always falling back on it just being a different version of an existing character. He will probably be the team’s heavy-hitter who does their dirty work throughout the film.
3. Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio
Edward: I don’t think Mysterio is dead. Marvel would not waste a talent like Jake Gyllenhaal for a one-time role. I’m betting that Mysterio is still alive in some way or form. Hiding out and biding his time to enact his revenge against Peter. And, as one of the original members of the Sinister Six, it would be a perfect opportunity to bring him back.
Joseph: So, Mysterio is a curious addition to this line-up. In a way, the version we got introduced to in Far From Home would not be the kind to listen to others. As such, he probably ends up working alongside Dock Ock to re-establish himself as the dominant hero of the MCU. I wouldn’t be surprised that he was hoping to make a return from the dead to build on that classic trope. He would then defeat Spider-Man to prove he is the true hero that Triple J claims. With the introduction of other multiverses, he uses this opportunity to add to his heroics, as he can never get enough. He could pretend he was under mind-control or was undercover to make his story stand out. Whatever role Gyllenhaal might have in this story, he certainly will leave some theatrics. Imagine Spider-Man’s accusations getting lifted and forced to work alongside Mysterio after the events of this film.
4. Michael Keaton as Vulture
Edward: This one seemed like a pretty easy add. We all know that Michael Keaton is returning in Morbius (2021) and possibly escape prison alongside Mac Gargan during that film. He’ll probably want to seek revenge against the person responsible for putting him behind bars in the first place.
Joseph: Vulture is the only hero who knew Peter Parker’s real identity before Mysterio released it to the world. I think he will be a reluctant villain throughout the film. Yes, Peter did put him in prison, but he also saved his life. There was no reason for him to keep his identity a secret. Now that it is public, there is no reason for him to hold that against him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to save Peter’s life. That way, they are even from the events in Homecoming.
5. Dane DeHann/Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds aka Hobgoblin
Edward: I’m going to be speaking on the prospect of Dane DeHann being the Hobgoblin in this film’s version of the Sinister Six. One of the most interesting aspects of Hobgoblin is that his identity was a bit of an enigma in the comics. Spider-Man (and the readers) were led to believe that Hobgoblin was the former fashion designer Roderick Kingsley. In reality, the mantle “belonged” to Ned Leeds, who was brainwashed by Kingsley. The rumors of Ned becoming Hobgoblin in this film truly are a remarkable idea and, while I would love to see Jacob in the role, imagine if Marvel added a unique twist. The Hobgoblin Spider-Man was facing was indeed Ned Leeds, but from another dimension, and portrayed by none other than Dane DeHann. It would allow Dane the opportunity to redeem his portrayal of the Green Gremlin, I mean, Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
Joseph: Nothing hurts more than your best friend betraying you. As interesting as it would be for DeHann to get a second chance at a Goblin role, it would take some time to explain. We spent a few films with MCU’s version of Ned, who deserves a bit more spotlight. Peter knows his best friend. He would trust him with his life. So, what if Spider-Man faces a Hobgoblin, who turns out to be a different version of someone Pete knows. Would he doubt his friend moving forward? Will Peter remember how important it is to balance his social life to ensure his friend never goes down that dark path. It would also become Peter’s lowest point when he realizes what his inaction could cause to the people he loves.
Joseph: Even if they do not give us a Sinister Six storyline, I want a live-action adaptation of Kraven. I do think he might be the connective tissue that starts the multiversal storyline. They may combine him with the character of Morlun, who has an obsession with hunting down Spider-Man. This version started working together with iconic villains throughout his multiversal travels. They managed to make his hunt easier, as each new Spider-Man added a new challenge. He let Dock Ock take control as he realized his strategic potential would make his life a bit easier so he can focus on the hunt.
Bonus Chess Pieces
Edward: The beauty of the Sinister Six is that these villains can swap with other villains. They are like pieces on a chessboard, and with such a diverse rogue gallery, it’s nearly impossible to pick which six will be a part of the group. As such, we included some additional villains in reserve. So if I had to make a couple of bonus picks for the team to swap out with any of the others that we decided upon, I’d have to go with Thomas Hayden Church as Sandman and Paul Giamatti as Rhino. These two characters need a second opportunity to shine and take on the web-slinger. Plus, Sandman is one of the original members of the first Sinister Six, so it only makes sense to bring him in for that role. As for Paul Giamatti as Rhino, well, I won’t lie, Paul‘s take on Rhino was cheesy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), but even with the little time screentime that he had in the film, you could tell he had a good time with the role.
Joseph: So, I want to go left-field with the reserve members. I would love to see them embrace villains outside of the pre-existing films. Just like how The Mandalorian brought animated characters into live-action, I would love to see them introduce the PlayStation 4’s version of Mister Negative, who was played by Stephen Oyoung. His character would be quite a visual distinction from the rest and it would be intriguing to embrace the multiverse in all its facets. Why stop there? We could see The Spectacular Spider-Man‘s Lizard appear, whose appearance is followed by Josh Keaton‘s Spider-Man shouting something before the reptile ends up in the MCU. In a multiversal storyline, it seems like anything is possible.
Marvel Studios sat out 2020 much to the despair of MCU fans; however, one possible timeline for the studio’s release pattern in 2021 could mean we’d only have just a few content-less Friday’s in the next year!
2021 will kick off with the first episode of Marvel Studios Legends on January 8th, catching fans up on the adventures of Wanda, Vision and maybe the rest of the returning cast members. The following week, WandaVision would begin its 8-week run (which does not necessarily mean 8 episodes and that really shouldn’t be that controversial of a statement) which would conclude on March 5th. Additionally, we’ll almost certainly get our first look at Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings during this time, with the February 7th Super Bowl being on likely opportunity.
While we have no confirmation of a Marvel Studios Legends episode for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, it seems like a safe bet and if we bet on it happening, March 12th, pinned between the end of WandaVision and the beginning of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, seems like a pretty safe date. So March 12th recaps the zany adventures of Sam, Bucky, Zemo, Sharon and crew and then The Falcon and The Winter Solider would follow, beginning on March 19th and running for six weeks (this was CONFIRMED in the Disney Investor Day Fact Sheet), concluding its run on April 23rd.
Apri 30th would be a great time to tell the story of Natasha Romanoff with a Marvel Studios Legends episode dedicated to the Black Widow. While this is a Disney Plus series, there’s been no indication that the series will only tell the tales of the characters appearing in the Disney Plus series and in Nat’s case, there’s plenty to tell. This would give old fans and new viewers alike the opportunity to be prepped and ready for Black Widow when it FINALLY hits theaters on May 7th. Black Widow also provides Marvel Studios the opportunity to push out the first look at Eternals. Expect a trailer for the project a week or two before Black Widow’s May 7th release. ***NOTE***Should Marvel Studios films open overseas earlier than in the U.S. date, this part of the hypothetical schedule hits a bit of a speed bump.
The Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series, Loki, is next up. Loki is set to release in May, meaning Marvel Studios will have two projects out at the same time and as long as Black Widow remains a theatrical release, they’ll want as many butts in seats as possible. To that end, they’ll definitely give Black Widow a little room to breathe. Theatrical releases often make 50% or more of their total box office on the first weekend and rarely do “big money” after the second weekend. With this in mind, they might look to release a Loki-centric episode of Marvel Studios Legends on May 14th (there’s certainly a LOT to tell) and debut the first episode of Loki Season One the following Friday, May 21st. All indications at this point are that the Hiddleston-led streamer will run for 6 episodes, meaning it’ll wrap up on June 25th.
At this point, it looks like Marvel Studios could realistically release new content EVERY Friday for the first six months of the year save New Year’s Day…and then comes July 2nd, which will launch the 4th of July holiday weekend in the United States. It’s possible that the studio takes the weekend off, has something special in the works for the Fourth (it is Steve Rogers birthday, after all) or, I suppose they could release an episode of Marvel Studios Legends dedicated to the MCU’s brief and confusing history of the Mandarin and the Ten Rings. The last one makes a bit of sense because, on July 9th, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings is going to rewrite that history when it debuts in theaters.
The further down the road and into 2021 this hypothetical schedule goes, the harder it is to predict, but why stop now? Next up for Marvel Studios is What If…?, their first animated project. The only available info on the project is that it’s set to be released next Summer and, according to several reports, is expected to consist of 10 episodes. Placing it on the schedule under the assumptions that they’ll give a theatrical film at least one weekend all to itself and that they’ll release What If…? one episode at a time as well, the animated series could debut on July 16th and conclude on September 17th.
In thinking ahead, that long gap serves a fairly important purpose if the goal is to provide new content every Friday: it allows Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye to “catch up.” The starts of both of those series were severely delayed by the pandemic and are currently scheduled for “late Fall.” If production continues without delays and the calendar fills out as predicted above, the two series could stream on either side of Eternals.
According to the Disney Investor Day Fact Sheet, Ms. Marvel comes first and could start its six-episode run on September 24th. It’s possible that the studio could push out a Marvel Studios Legends episode about Captain Marvel given the connection between Kamala Khan and her, but it’s also possible they just start right up. If they do, the Season One finale of Ms. Marvel would stream on October 29th.
One week later, on November 5th, Eternals would make its LONG awaited degut in theaters. By introducing an entirely new group of characters, Eternals seems unlikely to be preceded by an episode of Marvel Studios Legends, though anything and anyone could show up in the film.
***NOTE*** after finding some new evidence, this paragraph was changed to reflect Hawkeye as a 6-episode series, so it would end on Christmas Eve.
Following the pattern previously laid out around theatrical releases, November 12th could be a nice Friday for the Clint Barton episode of Marvel Studios Legends. Set photos have indicated that Hawkeye, the studio’s final 2021 project, takes place during the holidays so kicking it off on November 19th would give fans episodes on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Ever. All signs point to this one being a 6-episode season, meaning we’d wrap up before the calendar turns over to 2022. Assuming no production delays, Marvel Studios would have the opportunity to jump right into She-Hulk and continue taking over the world of entertainment.
Currently set to release on December 17th, 2021, Spider-Man 3 (which is scheduled by Sony and NOT Marvel Studios) throws a monkey wrench into the thought process of not having a film premier compete with an episode of a streaming series, but there are so many workarounds for that issue (Hawkeye taking a week off, the release date for the film being moved since production got off to a late start, Hawkeye not even starting until after Spider-Man 3) that it really becomes a non-issue.
While the chances of this hypothetical release calendar coming to fruition are approximately 3,720 to 1, the point of this wasn’t to plant a flag so we can do some chest-pounding later, but to extrapolate one possible release schedule based on the idea of having new Marvel Studios content on as many 2021 Fridays as possible. Right or wrong (and let’s be honest, this is almost certainly wrong), an exercise like this makes visible the scale of the studio’s plans and the role that Disney Plus plays in them: Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios will own at least a portion of the news cycle nearly every weekend for the foreseeable future.
So, yesterday I was trying to figure out who the strange Beekeeper might be in the latest WandaVision trailer. There I stated that I believe the main antagonist might end up being Mephisto. So far, we haven’t explored the character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He also has much potential connection to other franchises, such as his cameo in Loki‘s trailer. There, we can see a devil-like person in a stained-glass window in the background. So, it seemed like a good guess that these shows might be connected. Yet, it started to make me wonder if he’ll have a major role throughout the series.
To some degree, I think Nightmare and Mephisto will become one character. He might serve as the primary antagonist in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now, he may also jump from this film into another, the still-untitled Spider-Man 3. Now, why is it noteworthy connecting Spider-Man with Mephisto? Most might have already realized it the moment the webhead was mentioned, as he was featured in the storyline One More Day. It is one of the most unpopular stories told in comic history, but the set-up might already exist for it.
Now, they won’t be adapting the story one-for-one. WandaVision seems inspired by multiple storylines, such as House of M, Vision, and the Scarlet Witch, as well as the suburban storyline of Vision. So, One More Day may play a small part in the story. Plus, the whole point of the original was that Mephisto made a deal with Peter. He took off his mask in front of the world during the Civil War storyline. It ended up getting Aunt May shot in the process. It came at the cost of his marriage to Mary Jane. MJ also makes sure that Peter’s identity would remain a secret. Now, I believe if they adapt aspects of One More Day, they will only focus on two things: his secret identity and a deal with the devil.
So, how would the story come together? Mephisto was free the moments the Infinity Stones got destroyed by Thanos. Without a body and waiting for those that inherited their powers to return, he remained in hiding. Now that Wanda was brought back through the Blip, he was able to enact his plan. She inherited the abilities of the Mind Stone, so she would also be connected to her other half, Vision. He manipulates her, which leads to the events of WandaVision. He manages to regain a physical body and his strength, so he enacts his plan. He aims to let horrors from the multiverse infiltrate the mainline universe, which ends up as the main plot for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Yet, his actions also create a Spider-Verse event that forces Peter to face an onslaught of enemies from different universes.
Peter reaches his breaking point. After having faced various enemies, he ends up coming across Mephisto. So, in his desperation for a normal life, he made a deal with the devil. He wakes up in his bed. Aunt May and Ned are all here, but something feels off. The radio talks about incidents that he can’t seem to recall. Spider-Man is still called a menace by J. Jonah Jameson, but no one mentions his real name anymore. He comes to realize that no one has ever heard of Tony Stark or the Avengers. The deal he made came at a price. He was in a completely different universe that was similar to his own. Now, he either had to accept his new reality or try to find a way back to the place he once called home. The movie ends with a fitting title: Spider-Man: Home One Day.
It’s pretty much confirmed that the MCU’s third Spider-Man movie will have one incredible cast list. Besides the names coming back from the previous two movies (that include J.K. Simmons‘ J. Jonah Jameson), we’ll get Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), Alfred Molina (Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus), and perhaps Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man) returning from the Sam RaimiSpider-Man trilogy. As for the Marc Webb films, Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man) and Jamie Foxx (Max Dillon/Electro) will be reprising their roles while Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) is still in negotiations. Besides all these, Benedict Cumberbatch is also set to show up as Dr. Stephen Strange, Kraven the Hunter is rumored to be makingan appearance, and Charlie Cox will finally bring his take on Matt Murdock/Daredevil into the MCU.
These seem like a lot of characters to cram into a single feature, especially one that is not an Avengers movie where the focus is expected to be on multiple characters. We’ve already seen how Marvel Studios successfully managed to deal with the increasingly large ensembles they had to work with from Captain America: Civil War to Avengers: Endgame, but to focus too much on characters other than Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man on his own movie could be seen as a disservice to what is arguably the best Peter Parker ever to be put on screen and also the version of the web-slinger the franchise should be converging on both now and in the forthcoming years.
But Marvel Studios’ record when dealing with large casts does make it seem like, in the end, this might not be that big of an issue, as long as they manage to follow their own unwritten rules from previous projects.
INTRODUCE AUDIENCES TO CHARACTERS IN ADVANCE
Even though we’ve gotten a few event movies in the MCU that came with large casts, most of those characters weren’t exactly being introduced in said features. The fact that Marvel took the time to debut almost everybody in their own movies made the team-ups all about the interactions between previously introduced personalities, allowing for the movies to have a faster pace while still allowing audiences to be emotionally invested in most of the characters. That’s part of why those movies worked so well, even if the prospect of having 10+ characters sharing the screen at once seemed like a preposterous one, to begin with.
This is most likely something that Spider-Man 3 doesn’t need to worry about too much. The Raimi and Webb series were both well-received, people are familiar with their characters, even if both series ended on a more sour note. When seeing Garfield, Dunst, or Foxx onscreen, audiences won’t need much to instantly understand who they are and what they’re all about. This should allow for the movie to flow seamlessly while packing a huge emotional punch.
HAVE A CENTRAL FOCUS AND LIMIT SCREEN TIMES
Avengers: Infinity War was one of the biggest movies ever and going into it Captain America was one of the MCU’s biggest stars. And yet, his screen time wasn’t even in that movie’s top 10. That didn’t stop it from becoming the success that it was because it was understood that the movie should stay true to the story it meant to tell while being almost indifferent to the characters driving it. Steve Roger’s presence managed to bring more weight to the story being told but without pulling rank and asking for more protagonism, something that might have hindered the final product. As such, the success of Spider-Man 3might be defined by how much Marvel manages to hold back on the time devoted to cameos from previous Spider-Man movies. This should still be Tom Holland‘s movie and the place in which we find his Peter Parker should allow for his continuous growth into someone who can deal with his own issues, without Tony Stark or Nick Fury around to help out. Spider-Men from other timelines could be there to guide him towards the path he needs to be on, but never to hold his hand and/or deal with his problems in his place. So, even though I wouldn’t assume these cameos to be equal to Benedict Cumberbatch‘s in Thor: Ragnarok, I also wouldn’t be expecting they’ll turn out to be much more than that. Even though celebrating legacy characters is never a bad thing, one should not do so at the cost of relegating the franchise’s present (and future) to the sidelines.
It’s a little over a year until Spider-Man 3 is released, so there is plenty of time to try and begin to make sense of how all of this will come into play, and if it will end up being worth it. Marvel Studios has an excellent track record in terms of understanding how best to develop its movies, but they are now dealing with characters that mostly don’t belong to them. And it does seem like a huge gamble to focus on a Multiverse storyline with these many Sony characters at a time when the MCU has already enough characters that could easily help bring the Multiverse into focus on a non-Spider-Man centric film, thus making its own character grow. This makes it seem that in case the movie turns out great, it’s Sony that’ll gain the most, even if not considering the money involved. With Sony’s interest in developing its own cinematic universe based on the Marvel characters they own, this project might end up being a huge boost to those interests. For Marvel Studios, it’ll be just another regular Thursday. But in case the movie ends up feeling bloated, with a convoluted storyline that earns it a bad reception, that dark cloud will mostly fall on Marvel Studios, hurting their brand. This way this project is surely looking like a bigger risk for the MCU than even Infinity War and Endgame, as the ceiling seems a bit lower than the one those projects had, and the floor isn’t exactly higher.
Collider is also reporting that Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary Jane Watson, presumably from the original Sam Raimi trilogy. They are set to appear in the untitled Spider-Man 3 sequel alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, and Marisa Tomei. Benedict Cumberbatch is also reprising his role as Doctor Strange alongside Jamie Foxx, who will return as Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. They have also pointed out that there is a deal going on to have Tobey Maguire reprise his role as well. Emma Stone also seems to be in talks, but it is uncertain in what capacity given her pregnancy. Spider-Man 3 is still due to hit theaters on December 17th, 2021, so we still have quite some time to see if more details get revealed by then.
Earlier today, Tom Holland uploaded a behind the scenes picture to his Instagram.
The image depicts Tom, wearing his suit costume from the last film, Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), while wearing a “double mask”, providing a look behind the scenes and confirming that production is well underway for the upcoming MCU-based Spider-Man sequel. We should note that the actor, along with Jacob Batalon and Zendaya, have all arrived the past week in Atlanta for the production of the untitled Spider-Man 3 sequel and that most of the Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home (2019) cast are expected to return, along with the incorporation of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange and Jamie Foxx, who will be reprising his role as Electro for this film.
Rumors about the plot of the film have run rampant with everything from Spider-Slayers to a Multiverse that includes Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returning as their versions of Peter Parker but, unfortunately, this photo doesn’t give anything away in terms of plot spoilers.
‘Spider-Man: Something with Home in the Title’ is expected to premiere in December 2021.
“People need to believe…and nowadays…they’ll believe anything.”
It’s that time of year again. The third installment of the MCUSpider-Man franchise has officially undergone production. People have started to grow anxious, waiting for any sort of detail they can get their hands on. But with so many rumors, theories, and speculation floating around, it’s hard for people to tell the difference between what’s real, what’s rumored, and what’s just plainly false. So I’ll be introducing a new series for Murphy’s Multiverse I’ll call “Grounding.”
Grounding Techniques are more commonly used to help a person alleviate negative symptoms, usually during panic attacks, PTSD flashbacks, overthinking symptoms. It helps the person focus on what is happening around them physically with something they can feel with one of their 5 senses, therefore knowing it’s real. I’ve decided to use the same principle but to help us understand what we TRULY know about a certain production and discern what’s been confirmed & what’s pure speculation.
real: SPIDER-MAN 3 PICKS UP AFTER THE EVENTS OF FAR FROM HOME
The last time we saw Peter Parker was during the post-credit scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).Spider-Man was framed for the murder of Quentin Beck aka Mysterio and his identity was exposed to the entire world, before leaving us with a massive cliffhanger that has had fans expecting more. It is more likely than not that this plot point will be addressed in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel and we’ll know the immediate reactions of the people around him and the world. Will he be branded a murderer? Will people defend the friendly-neighborhood web-slinger? Only time will tell.
rumor: SPIDER-MAN 3 will follow a Spider-Verse storyline.
Spider-Verse fanart by @spdrmnkyxxiii
This is perhaps the biggest rumor floating around social media and all news sites. Ever since Jamie Foxx’s casting in the film as Electro and his deleted Instagram post teasing a possible Multiverse storyline, fans of the franchise and many sites have run rampant, speculating the idea that Spider-Man 3 will perhaps become a Spider-Verse film that many fans have been clamoring for Marvel/Sony to do. All fans are waiting for is the headline that reads:
BUT WAIT! LET’S NOT GET OUR HOPES UP JUST YET.
The idea of this movie being a Spider-Verse film is a concept that has pretty much been teased ever since the comic event debuted back in 2014 and has even been explored in Spider-Man media like Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and the Animated Series long before the comic run. And while the idea of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returning to the franchise could make Spider-Man 3 an event that could potentially rival that of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, we cannot get ahead of ourselves with something that isn’t tangible just yet. Garfield is currently in NYC, filming the upcoming musical film; “Tick, Tick…Boom.”, and Maguire hasn’t necessarily been seen that much outside of his home in California, so, let’s just keep ourselves grounded and understand that there has been no confirmation that either Maguire or Garfield have signed on to this project.
real: Doctor Strange will appear in Spider-Man 3
The Sorceror Supreme and the Master of the Mystic Arts has been confirmed to appear in the third installation of the MCU Spider-Man franchise. His purpose? “Putting [Benedict] Cumberbatch in the mentor role that was previously occupied by Robert Downey Jr., who played Tony Stark/Iron Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and by Samuel L. Jackson in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the latter reprising Nick Fury”, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter, who broke the news 3 weeks ago. While his upcoming sequel has to do with the Multiverse and there have been rumors that he might appear in WandaVision (2020), that’s all it is. A rumor. No one knows for sure if he will be the one who will guide Peter through this multiverse business or if he will just show up for a small cameo. Speaking of rumors…
Rumor: Charlie Cox’s Daredevil will appear in Spider-Man 3 as Spider-Man’s lawyer
Now listen, I love Charlie Cox. I loved him as Daredevil and as Matt Murdock in his Netflix series. But there have been 0 confirmations that Matt Murdock could appear in this film. People have been speculating it and including it in their theories because if Spider-Man will be judged and tried in court for murder, he would need legal representation. And of course, people would immediately think of Matt Murdock as the first pick for Spider-Man’s lawyer. But even if the lawyer thing was true, we need to understand that the rights to Daredevil do not come back to Marvel until December of this year, and Spider-Man 3 has already started production. There are still chances that he could show up. After all, Spider-Man didn’t join Captain America: Civil War (2016) until very later on in production. So we’ll have to wait and see.
Real: Jamie Foxx’s Electro will appear in Spider-Man 3
Perhaps the casting that arose the most questions was Jamie Foxx being cast once again as Max Dillon aka Electro, to reprise the role in the upcoming Spider-Man 3 sequel. He has even confirmed in a deleted Instagram post that he will not be blue in this one, as well as teasing a possible Multiverse storyline in this film, which has not been confirmed at all. It is very important to note however that this is the first time Marvel Studios has reused a villain that has already existed in a previous iteration of a Spider-Man film. They had tried to keep themselves from using the same characters in previous films by using the likes of Vulture, Mysterio, The Tinkerer, Aaron Davis, Shocker, and more in the previous 2 Spidey films, so casting Electro and let alone Foxx is something that’s really interesting to think about.
rumor: Kraven The Hunter, Venom & others can appear in Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man’s rogue gallery is something definitely worthy of being mentioned as having some of the most recognizable villains in all of comics lore. When people saw the post-credit scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) where Peter’s identity was exposed to the world and was accused of being a murderer, people assumed that Peter’s story would take a turn for our hero to go “on-the-run”. It is a very popular trope in Spider-Man comics and many people turned to the idea of Kraven the Hunter being the next villain in this film, taking on the role of a bounty hunter who would take on the hunt for Spider-Man. While the idea is certainly possible and something I myself have theorized, in the end, we need to understand that this is all entirely speculative. However, it is important to note that it is a rumor with a basis that could potentially become true. Unlike the rumor where Tom Hardy will cameo as Eddie Brock in this film. That’s just pure speculation.
real: most of the supporting cast from the previous MCU Spider-Man films will return.
The Hollywood Reporter had also mentioned in their Electro report that “most of the supporting cast from the previous movies are expected to be on the call sheet when cameras roll in Atlanta this fall.” If this film picks up right after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), chances are we going to see the likes of MJ, Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, Betty Brant, Aunt May, and Happy Hogan return as the supporting cast for this film, since all of these actors had active supporting roles in both films. And we still need answers to so many questions that the Far From Home cliffhanger left us. Will Ned be slightly skinnier in this film since Jacob Batalon has been seen working out and losing weight? How will MJ react to the news of Peter being a murderer? How will Flash react to the news of Peter Parker being Spider-Man? Will Betty Brant report it all for the Midtown High news? ARE AUNT MAY AND HAPPY DATING OR NOT? Speaking of supporting casts…
rumor: most of the supporting cast from the previous Spider-Man films can return
Now, of course, with the idea of Spider-Man 3 being a Spider-Verse film, people have run rampant with the idea of who from the supporting casts of the other Spider-Man films could potentially return for this film. Just like the Andrew and Tobey news, we all need to take it slow and understand that this is all rumored and that there have been no official confirmations that any of these actors could return.
REAL: SPIDER-MAN 3 IS SCHEDULED TO PREMIERE ON DECEMBER 17, 2021.
RUMOR: SPIDER-MAN 3 WILL PREMIERE ON DECEMBER 17, 2021.
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