What Key Details About Tobey Maguire’s Enemy Are Revealed in the Spider-Man: No Way Home Trailer?
The Green Goblin’s Pumpkin Bomb
Longtime fans of Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man movie know what it means when a pumpkin bomb goes rolling across the screen. Our first glimpse of Willem Dafoe returning as Green Goblin, albeit from a distance. This will be the first time he has returned to the role since 2002. Almost two decades later, and he’s still one of the most beloved villains in a comic book movie for a reason.
Finally, we get our first close-up look at Norman Osborn, a.k.a. Green Goblin. His suit appears to be virtually unchanged since 2002’s Spider-Man, at least this version, as he hovers on his glider. Both Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx (not seen here) were already known to be in the movie and others had been rumored. However, we can now say for certain that Willem Dafoe is back as Norman Osborn, aka The Green Goblin. Unless that is someone else’s pumpkin bomb anyway? Though the design remains elusive for now.
According to the latest Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer, it’s a veritable who’s who of villains: Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) from the Spider-Man trilogy; Lizard (Rhys Ifans) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) from The Amazing Spider-Man movies. Thus far, there are no hints at those other rumored characters, but this is just the first trailer. Both Sandman and Rhino are rumored to appear, but the main hype is over the heroes.
Spider-Man has battled many powerful foes throughout the Sam Raimi trilogy of films; such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, The Sandman, and Eddie Brock (a.k.a. Venom), and has suffered significant losses, such as his uncle Ben Parker and best friend Harry Osborn. The latest Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer features Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, the Lizard, Sandman, and Electro.
How Does Spider-Man: No Way Home Connect to Previous Spider-Man Films?
Spider-Man: No Way Home serves as a significant connection point to previous Spider-Man films, particularly through the involvement of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, who have all portrayed Peter Parker at different times over the past 20 years.
Tobey Maguire opened up about his experience filming Spider-Man: No Way Home. He revealed that he developed a ‘real connection’ with actors Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland. Maguire described his time on set as a ‘special’ experience, stating, ‘Working with Andrew and Tom was so dear to me, it really was special – a very rich experience for me, all around.’ He felt that this experience ‘kind of reinvigorated’ his interest in performing.
Moreover, Maguire shared that returning as Spider-Man was ‘really beautiful.’ He expressed his gratitude for being part of the project, saying, ‘When they called initially… I was like, ‘Finally!’ I just feel grateful—I was really open, immediately, about coming to do this. Not without nerves!’
Additionally, Maguire remarked on how ‘amazing’ it was to work alongside Alfred Molina and Willem Dafoe again. He appreciated them as both great talents and lovely humans, mentioning, ‘It was a blast–it was like a reunion.’
For context, Tobey Maguire’s last appearance as Spider-Man prior to No Way Home was in 2007’s Spider-Man 3, creating a fourteen-year gap between his roles. A fourth film was planned with both Maguire and director Sam Raimi, but it was never made.
In a notable moment from No Way Home, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man states, ‘I’ve seen you two’ after entering a portal opened by Ned and MJ. This line references his experience in his own universe, bridging connections with characters from both Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, featuring Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, and Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man duology, where Zendaya plays Michelle Jones (MJ).
Why Is Spider-Man: No Way Home a Milestone for the Spider-Man Franchise?
Spider-Man: No Way Home is significant for the franchise for several reasons:
- It introduces the multiverse, which paves the way for future storylines and crossovers in the MCU.
- The film’s ending sees Peter sacrifice his identity to save the world. This decision sets up a fresh start for the character and alters the timeline of the MCU.
- No Way Home shifts the MCU’s post-credits scene approach. It provides context immediately for Phase 4 projects, diverging from typical MCU teases and setting up potential future storylines.
- The film is filled with nostalgic references to previous Spider-Man franchises, sweeping audiences off their feet and changing the face of the MCU as fans know it.
- Lastly, the plot’s ending provides the MCU the perfect conclusion to its biggest crossover to date, while also helping set up an exciting future for the superhero franchise.
Character Development and Themes:
- No Way Home reveals that Peters 2 and 3 have something in common that Peter 1 doesn’t: an Uncle Ben. While Peter 1 made an oblique reference to the death of Uncle Ben when he debuted in Captain America: Civil War, No Way Home retcons that hint to give him his own Uncle Ben death scene.
- This time, it’s not Uncle Ben who tells Peter that “with great power comes great responsibility.” Instead, it’s Aunt May who tragically gets side-swiped by Green Goblin’s glider. This loss deeply affects Peter.
- Between MJ and Ned rallying to his side and Spider-Men from other universes commiserating about their personal tragedies, Peter grapples with shared grief and support. This aspect emphasizes the importance of community and connection in overcoming personal struggles.
- Moreover, exploring what happened to Peter 2 and Peter 3 post their respective franchises enriches their character development. Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker 2 is portrayed as more well-adjusted, showcasing growth and a happy ending with Mary Jane Watson.
Franchise Continuity:
- Spider-Man: No Way Home also wraps up the unfinished business of the previous iterations of the franchise. For instance, Peter 2’s intervention to stop Peter 1 from killing Norman not only saves the Green Goblin but also echoes back to Uncle Ben’s death.
- This act serves as a growth moment for Peter 1, preventing him from giving in to rage and seeking revenge.
Future Considerations:
- This outcome may illustrate a case of Sony and Disney hedging their bets regarding Spider-Man’s cinematic future. Spidey nearly exited the MCU after the release of Far From Home, and No Way Home almost followed a different plot as a result.
- Future Spider-Man movies in the MCU might draw from classic Amazing Spider-Man stories of the ’70s and ’80s. This era portrayed Peter juggling superhero adventures, a college career, and a chaotic romantic life. We may finally see classic supporting characters like Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn introduced.
Conclusion:
In summary, Spider-Man: No Way Home serves as a critical milestone for the Spider-Man franchise, unifying past narratives, presenting character growth, and laying the groundwork for future stories in the MCU.
