It’s finally official: Spider-Man 3 will adapt the iconic Spider-Verse storyline for the big screen.
Details about the highly-anticipated sequel to Spider-Man: Far From Home has been shrouded in secrecy. Up until now, we’ve only known a handful of details. For one thing, Tom Holland is obviously reprising his role as the amazing wall-crawler, who has been recently exposed after J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) revealed his identity to the world in the last movie. Jon Watts will return to direct after the wildly successful previous two installments. And the film will feature an appearance from Marvel’s own sorcerer supreme, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch).
However, that isn’t all that is going on with the movie. After several surprising casting announcements, it looks like the movie will be adapting the iconic “Spider-Verse” storyline that won Spider-Man an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018.
Fans have been suspecting that Spider-Man 3 was adapting the “Spider-Verse” storyline ever since Jamie Foxx was rumored to join the project in October. Originally portraying the electrifying villain Electro in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, fans’ heads went dizzy with theories since that film was separate from Holland’s Marvel Cinematic Universe,
But earlier today, Collider reported several other veteran Spider-Man actors that would be joining the project. For one thing, Alfred Molina is returning to play the multi-armed supervillain Doctor Octopus, a role he hasn’t revisited since his stunning debut in 2002’s Spider-Man 2. Kristen Dunst is reportedly reprising her role as Mary Jane Watson from that same franchise. And here’s the real kicker: Andrew Garfield is returning to portray Peter Parker from The Amazing Spider-Man.
These are exciting developments for several reasons. For one thing, we’ll finally see the conclusion to Andrew Garfield’s storyline that unfortunately ended on a cliffhanger. For another thing, we’re seeing Alfred Molina and Kristen Dunst in iconic roles we haven’t seen them in for several years now. But more importantly, Tom Holland’s epic trilogy conclusion will feature him partnering up with the spectacular Spider-Men that came before him!!! If you aren’t at least intrigued at the possibilities of these team-ups, you need to check your pulse.
What’s even more exciting is that with these casting announcements, we’re finally closer than ever to seeing the Sinster Six realized for the big screen. For those of you that don’t know, Sony has been trying to get a Sinister Six movie off of the ground for several years, ever since they rebooted the Spider-Man film franchise in 2012. But with Molina and Foxx returning, not only do they have villains from previous Spider-Man movies entering the picture, but also villains that are currently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Shocker, Chameleon, Vulture, Scorpion, and Mysterio. That doesn’t even get into other villains that still may be able to bring into the fold, such as Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, Rhys Ifans’ Lizard, Tom Hardy’s Venom, Jared Leto’s Morbius — even Woody Harrelson’s Carnage is a possibility.
Of course, a lot of this swirling casting news leaves more questions than answers on the exact premise of the film and what to expect from it. But by and large, Spider-Man 3 is quickly shaping up to look like a live-action Spider-Verse movie. A few details remaining uncertain, such as Tobey Maguire potentially joining as the Raimi films’ Spider-Man, as well Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales possibly making their own appearances. But for now, this is more than exciting enough news to digest on its own. It really raises eyebrows on the possibilities of the third Spider-Man movie and which directions it can go from here.
What do you web-heads think? Are you excited for a live-action Spider-Verse movie, or do you wish they just kept Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the friendly neighborhood? Comment below, let me know.
– David Dunn
SOURCE: Collider, The Hollywood Reporter
DAVID DUNN 