The possibility of a 'Spider-Verse' plot for Spider-Man: No Way Home has been in the air for longer than the film has been titled. The Spider-Verse burst onto the scene in 2014 with a comic mini-series by longtime Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott. 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took the concept even further and is arguably the best spider-film ever released. Considering there have been 8 spider-centric feature films in the past two decades, the fan appetite clearly exists.
Because of all the previous exposure, it makes sense for Marvel to introduce an MCU multi-verse in a Spider-Man film. Spider-Man: Far From Home first teased the MCU multi-verse. The movie didn’t actually feature the multi-verse, but it caused a burst of fan theories and excitement by having J.K. Simmons reprise his role a J. Jonah Jameson.
No Way Home Rumors
Casting announcements for No Way Home have only boosted the rumors. The studio has announced that Jamie Foxx will be playing Electro — though apparently a different, non-blue version of the character from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. On top of that, fan-favorite Alfred Molina will be portraying Doctor Octopus once again. How this version of Doc Oc will relate to the version seen in 2004's Spider-Man 2 remains to be seen.
While Tom Holland and others have denied the involvement of previous Spider-Man actors like Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, fans aren’t giving up hope. They might not need to. Recently an image of a t-shirt given to the cast and crew of No Way Home has been making rounds online. Savvy fans of The Amazing Spider-Man clocked an image of Garfield’s spider-suit on it. The picture can still be seen on the Twitter page Spider-Man: No Way Home News.
Marvel's Standpoint
Marvel hasn’t openly revealed anything about No Way Home or the involvement of actors previously seen in other Spider-Man franchises. As incredible as a 'Spider-Verse' plot for the film could be, it would definitely be a risky move. 2007’s Spider-Man 3 took a lot of heat for over-stuffing its plot with villains — Hobgoblin, Sandman, and Venom were all introduced over the course of two and a half hours. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 made a similar mistake — packing in three villains and trying to launch a spider-film universe to the detriment of the film itself.
Then again, those films weren’t made by Marvel Studios, and they were both pre-Endgame. Marvel knows how to tell cohesive, gripping stories filled with dozens of characters and multiple running threads. If ever there was a time for a live-action Spider-Verse and an opportunity for fans to see their favorite Spider-Men return, it’s now.
A Multi-Verse of Possibilities
How could the Spider-Verse play out in No Way Home? After the events of Far From Home, Peter’s secret identity has been revealed, and he’s been framed for the crimes Mysterio committed. It’s very possible that Peter will need to go on the run. Perhaps in Spider-Man’s absence the MCU versions of Doc Ock and Electro will reveal themselves from the shadows and team up to take on New York City. Or — since we’re already playing with alternate realities — perhaps the duo aren't villains in the traditional sense. It makes sense that catching a Spider-Man on the run would call for some seriously super-powered government agents. Uncle Sam sponsored super-villains, anyone?
Of course, Marvel is known for frequently subverting audience expectations. With a Charlie Cox cameo all but confirmed, maybe No Way Home won’t take Peter on the run at all. Instead, with the help of a familiar lawyer, Peter could work to clear his name right at the beginning of the film. He might be innocent of Mysterio’s crimes, but he’s still a minor acting as an unregistered superhero. Citing the Sokovia Accords, the government could order Peter to stop being Spider-Man altogether. That again opens the door for Doc Ock and Electro to make a big play.
Either way, an under-supplied Peter will be facing off against two major villains with no way to contact the Avengers. Luckily, he has a local connection — Doctor Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch’s involvement in the film has already been confirmed. To help Peter, Doctor Strange opens the multi-verse searching for heroes who’ve fought Doc Ock and Electro in the past. Enter Garfield and Maguire, either acting as coaches for Holland’s Spider-Man or suited up and ready to join the fight themselves.
Cost/Benefit
Of course, all of this is just speculation. Any 'Spider-Verse' plot would be loaded with characters and moving pieces. One wrong move could end up tanking multiple franchises and disrupting the success of the MCU's Phase 4. But there would be some real benefits in connecting all the Spider-Man franchises and opening the door to appearances from previous actors.
For one thing, Sony still holds rights over Spider-Man and all his related characters. They have Venom: Let There Be Carnage coming out later this year and a Morbius movie scheduled for 2022. It doesn't look like Spider-Man will be reverting back to Marvel any time soon. That said, the Sony/Marvel cooperation has worked extremely well for both companies. By introducing the Spider-Verse, Sony can continue to make movies alongside the MCU without any continuity concerns.
By bringing back the previous on-screen Spider-Men, Sony also leaves the door open for a revival of a past franchise. The original Spider-Man series was cut short, and fans have been dying to see Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4 ever since. The Amazing Spider-Man also died too early, after the lackluster performance of its second installment. Hard as it may be for some to believe, there are die-hard fans who would love nothing more than to see Garfield's Peter protecting New York once again in an Amazing Spider-Man 3. If nothing else, Sony might be able to give Tom Holland the break he needs.
Marvel isn't likely to say anything more about No Way Home until much closer to its December 17th release date. Until then, fans can dream.