The teaser trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home is finally out. Directed by Jon Watts, the third installment of the Spider-Man series has been a highly anticipated one ever since Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker in a nerve-wracking cliffhanger of an ending. What’s better is that the person reporting the news was none other than J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson from The Daily Bugle.
As the MCU has branched out into a multiverse with several timelines, its arrangement with Sony and Disney acquiring Fox has opened up the possibilities for Spider-Man: No Way Home to take the same direction as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. And by that, we mean multiple parallel universes where multiple Spider-Men coexist at once.
Fans are eager to find out what happens to the fate of Peter Parker, but they are much more eager for a three-way Spider-Man reunion with Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield sharing the screen. And it seems like that day is not too far away.
As seen in the trailer, Benedict Cumberbatch is returning as Doctor Strange, who happens to be a key player in the MCU’s Phase 4 as the multiverse becomes a focal point in the plot. However, some very obvious observations in the trailer itself indicate that some of the most popular Spider-Man villains will return in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Here is every villain who will or may return to the screen!
Sinister Six
The MCU could just be putting its own spin on Marvel’s Sinister Six for Spider-Man: No Way Home as villains from each era are teased in the trailer.
The Sinister Six is a group of supervillains who try to band together and take down Spider-Man. The initiative was taken by Dr. Ock, who reached out to the villains who failed to defeat Spider-Man, namely, Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, Vulture, and Kraven the Hunter.
Apart from Kraven the Hunter, every other antagonist has appeared in the Spider-Man franchises, be it as a part of Sony or Disney’s Marvel.
The latest trailer teases the comeback of many such villains except Vulture and Mysterio, who have been the focal antagonists in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, respectively. Bringing them back for Spider-Man: No Way Home might feel a bit stale to many viewers, but the antagonists from Maguire as well as Garfield’s Spider-Man are coming back! And it might just introduce the Sinister Six.
So, who’s going to be a part of MCU’s Sinister Six?
Doctor Octavius
The most shocking and obvious revelation of an old-school Spider-Man villain joining the MCU has been Alfred Molina’s Otto Octavius, popularly known as Dr. Ock. He appeared in Sony’s Spider-Man 2 in 2004. The trailer for No Way Home confirmed his appearance towards its end when a mechanical tentacle is seen pinning itself to the ground as Molina’s Dr. Ock appears, saying, “Hello Peter.”
Despite having died in Spider-Man 2, Dr. Ock looks the same as he did 17 years ago. This could be possible due to him being alive in an alternate timeline. Compared to the other villains who are likely to return, Dr. Ock’s appearance has been featured much more prominently. It could either be due to his immense popularity compared to the other villains, creating more hype for the movie, or because Dr. Ock is the primary antagonist in No Way Home. As he is the one who took the initiative for formulating the Sinister Six, it only makes sense that the trailer puts him under the spotlight.
Even though rumors had been circulating about his apparent return for quite some time, the confirmation via the trailer has still made shockwaves all over social media. As Molina’s Dr. Ock confronts Peter in the scene, it is unknown whether he refers to Tom Holland’s Peter or Tobey Maguire’s Peter because, right after he says, “Hello Peter,” Holland suits up in his nanotechnology Spider-Man suit. So it’s not like Dr. Ock is seeing a suited up Spider-Man and guessing that it is Peter.
Fans are speculating how Dr. Ock recognized the new Peter as leaks have suggested the return of Maguire and Garfield. So it could quite possibly be Maguire himself. This situation could also be a product of clever editing that keeps the audience at the edge of their seats.
Green Goblin
Before the reveal of Molina’s Dr. Ock, the teaser features the same detonating grenade used by Williem Dafoe’s Green Goblin in Spider-Man 2002, alongside a menacing laugh, and the lines, “Be careful what you wish for, Parker.” It is not known what Peter wished for over here, but the answers to those mysteries should be unveiled as the release date comes closer.
Since the same actors as the Sony Spider-verse are returning, Williem Dafoe will likely be the one taking over the reins of Norman Osborn and Green Goblin. Similar to Dr. Ock, Green Goblin also died by the end of Spider-Man (2002), which was crucial in moving the plot forward as James Franco’s Harry Osborn turned against Spider-Man.
Dafoe’s popularity as Norman Osborn resulted in him reappearing in the franchise in unusual ways, often as a memory that haunted Harry Osborn. However, with the endless possibilities with the parallel universes and the multiverse, this could be a timeline where Green Goblin never died. Or maybe this is the Green Goblin from a different universe, coming to Holland’s timeline.
Unlike Molina, there is no footage confirming Dafoe’s reappearance as of now. However, Green Goblin’s return is established as the scene features the famous Pumpkin Bomb, a signature Green Goblin weapon. A Spider-Man versus Green Goblin is likely, but there is no guarantee as to which Spider-Man will go against the goblin.
Sandman
The teaser trailer has teased the appearance of Sandman in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Even though there are no glimpses that confirm the return of Thomas Hayden Church as Sandman, a sequence of a sandstorm is seen, which means that Sandman could definitely return.
His character ties up to that of Uncle Ben’s death in Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, whereas MCU does not delve into the plotline involving Uncle Ben. Unlike the other antagonists mentioned so far, Sandman did not die as Peter forgave him.
A sandstorm is infused with electricity in the scene teasing his appearance, which teases another villain. And this one is not from Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and instead, from Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Electro
With the villains from Spider-Man making a comeback, why should those from The Amazing Spider-Man be left out of the party? Jamie Foxx is rumored to return to the franchise as Electro. This is teased during an action sequence that looks like Sandman and Electro are launching coordinated attacks against Spider-Man. Or maybe the two villains are at odds.
Foxx’s Electro-nic attire has not been confirmed yet, but his lightning is definitely yellow this time around. The Amazing Spider-Man had redesigned Electro’s look, turning him blue. However, Spider-Man: No Way Home stays closer to the classic Marvel comics where Electro sports a yellow and green suit while shooting out yellow electricity. The bolts seem to be striking the cop cars.
Sometime last year, Jamie Foxx had responded to rumors teasing his return as Electro as he confirmed them, and with the shots of the yellow lightning infused into the Sandman, fans are getting even more eager by the second.
Lizard
The trailer from No Way Home also teases the return of The Lizard, the main antagonist of The Amazing Spider-Man. The scientist who turns into The Lizard, a.k.a Curt Connors, was played by Rhys Ifans. Hopefully, he will be joining his other antagonistic peers and making a return to the franchise.
Although his presence is not as apparent as that of Dr. Ock, Green Goblin, and to some extent, Sandman and Electro, there is a quick moment more than halfway into the trailer as Peter is approached by a big, warped figure in a darkly lit scene. This dark lighting prevents the audience from figuring out whether it is The Lizard or not but its silhouette lines up with The Lizard.
Connors did not die in the movie and was instead arrested. It could be the same Connors, who is now out of jail, or it could be a different Connors from a different parallel universe.
Symbiote Spider-Man?
So, who’s going to be the sixth member of the Sinister Six? Contrary to the reappearance of Green Goblin and Otto Octavius being confirmed by the MCU, the primary antagonist of Spider-Man 3, Venom does not seem to have a prominent spot in No Way Home yet. But considering that MCU is bringing antagonists from each installment of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, a symbiote Spider-Man should be a part of the third installment.
A slight glimpse of this has been seen during a scene where Peter Parker is running through a cafeteria with his mask off. His Spider-Suit looks completely black. Now, this might be a lighting trick or a symbiote, Spider-Man. In the worst-case scenario, a scene can be added specifically for the trailer to make the audience think that symbiote Spider-Man is making a comeback. At the same time, the original movie has no indications of this scene.
It can be the symbiote itself or Edward Brock Jr. as Venom.
Rhino? Vulture? Mysterio?
If the sixth member is not Venom, it could be Rhino, Vulture, or Mysterio. Mysterio is unlikely to appear since he was the main villain in Spider-Man: Far From Home, so Michael Keaton’s Vulture and Paul Giamatti’s Rhino could also be the sixth member of the Sinister Six. James Franco may return as Harry Osborn, too, but his allegiance has always been dicey – not a villain but not exactly a hero.
Spider-Man: No Way Home will release on December 17, 2021.