The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man 3 film (which will likely go by a different name when it actually hits theaters on December 17, 2021) is heavily rumored to be a "Spider-Verse" movie that will tie all the Spider-Man live-action movie franchises together. Now there is even more evidence that's going to happen, as Alfred Molina is confirmed to be reprising his role as Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus.
Molina portrayed Doctor Octopus in the acclaimed Spider-Man 2 film from Sam Raimi. Octopus was killed at the end of that film, so it's entirely possible that Molina is playing a completely new version of the character as opposed to the same one from the Raimi films. Regardless, Molina's casting is huge news, especially considering how much critics and fans alike praised his performance in Spider-Man 2.
Molina isn't the only previous Spider-Man villain that's set to return in the upcoming Spider-Man 3 movie. It's also been confirmed that Jamie Foxx is playing Electro, a role he previously portrayed in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Jamie Foxx has said that this version of Electro won't be blue, suggesting that it could be a somewhat different take on the character. However, more concrete details aren't available at the time of this writing.
Another major character confirmed for the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel is Doctor Strange, once again played by Benedict Cumberbatch. What's interesting is that the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is actually directed by Sam Raimi, who helmed Spider-Man 2. Perhaps Spider-Man 3 will set up the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the appearance of characters like Molina's Doctor Octopus and Foxx's Electro is the first hint the MCU will make to its "multiverse."
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see if other theories about Spider-Man 3 come to fruition. One of the biggest rumors is that both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire will be reprising their roles as Spider-Man in the movie as well, though that has yet to be confirmed.
Before MCU fans worry too much about Spider-Man 3, there will be some other things to watch first. The WandaVision TV series will premiere on Disney+ on January 15, and will serve as the first MCU offering since Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019. A number of other MCU Disney+ shows will premiere in 2021 as well, plus there's the Black Widow movie, The Eternals, and much more on the slate.
Spider-Man 3 will premiere in theaters on December 17, 2021.
Source: Hollywood Reporter