Alfred Molina doesn’t have time for Marvel secret-keeping. When word got out that he was playing Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: No Way Home, reprising the role he played in Sam Raimi’ Spider-Man 2, speculation was it was likely just some multiverse thing and this wouldn’t be exactly the same Doc Ock. There’s plenty of reason to believe that, considering the character’s babyface turn at the end of the movie, sacrificing himself to save Peter Parker and all of New York City. But in a new interview with Variety, Molina actually says otherwise, and that this new film continues that same version’s story right where it left off…
“When we were shooting it, we were all under orders not to talk about it, because it was supposed to be some great big secret, but, you know, it’s all over the internet. I actually described myself as the worst kept secret in Hollywood! It was wonderful. It was very interesting going back after 17 years to play the same role, given that in the intervening years, I now have two chins, a wattle, crow’s feet and a slightly a slightly dodgy lower back.”
The question now is how is this Doc Ock even around in the first place considering his death, he was told by director Jon Watts, “In this universe, no one really dies.”
I mean, that’s sorta true for the world of superheroes in general, but when their are multiple realities involved it’s especially true. Molina went on say the film picks up at “that moment” when Doc Ock sacrificed himself.
Molina won’t be alone in jumping back into the spider’s web. Jamie Foxx is returning as Electro, although he promised to not be a blue light bulb this time. There’s also talk of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield suiting back up as their versions of Peter Parker. It’s all super weird and confusing, not unlike what Warner Bros. is doing with The Flash. Somebody has figured out that simply adding a multiverse component is an easy way to keep retired properties alive and well, so don’t expect it to stop any time soon.
Spider-Man: No Way Home opens December 17th.
