The Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer finally confirms what was long speculated: the return of Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. He first appeared in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 but wasn't seen again following a heroic sacrifice at the end of the film. As a result, it's unclear whether or not this Doc Ock is the same one from the film or an evil variant. Nevertheless, it seems this Octavius is on the villainous side of things and, like his 2004 counterpart, could be planning something big. But in this case, his master plan could involve him becoming the Marvel Cinematic Universe's brand new Spider-Man.
In 2013, writer Dan Slott and artist Humberto Ramos introduced The Superior Spider-Man. The comic is a follow-up to an arc in The Amazing Spider-Man where Peter Parker and Doc Ock switch bodies, as the latter was dying from a degenerative disease. Doc Ock lets his true body die with Peter inside. Now, in control of Peter Parker, he lives a new life as a better Spider-Man, a superior one, in fact. However, while Doc Ock does become a more efficient crime fighter, it's hard for him to fight his violent urges, and he nearly beats some villains to death. As he continues to tarnish Peter's morals and relationships, a part of the original wall-crawler is still alive in his body. As the series progresses, Peter fights to regain control and even finds ways to help Octavius become a better person and hero.
Peter is still very early in his superhero career in the MCU. However, with Doc Ock showing up, this puts him at a great risk either in the present or the near future. In the Raimi universe, the technology was still far behind what's been established in the MCU. Even so, that doesn't mean that scientific advancements weren't possible. With basic components, Octavius created sustainable and renewable fusion, even though he struggled to contain it. By crossing over into the MCU, the genius will have access to greater advancements in science that he could easily learn about and adapt to his schemes.
Furthermore, it's confirmed that Octavius knows who Spider-Man really is, which puts Peter and his loved ones at risk. This has already been shown by both Mysterio and Vulture, who not only discovered Peter's identity but also immediately threatened his loved ones. Should Octavius take over Peter, it would be the ultimate lesson in why his identity needs to be a secret. With this knowledge and his desire to defeat Spider-Man, Octavius can use the technology that this new universe provides to extend his life by taking over Peter's mind. Now, in a new world with a Spider-Man that is still young, Doc Ock has the time and ingenuity to trick Peter and take over his body as part of a larger scheme.
In the comics, Octavius is also always planning. Whether he is orchestrating a way for the Sinister Six to kill Spider-Man, or learning how to defeat his foes as the new Spider-Man, Octavius is always a step ahead. If the rumored appearance of the Sinister Six in No Way Home is true, Doc Ock could be the one leading them. Not only is this perfectly in line with his comic counterpart, but it also gives Octavius time to size up the new Spider-Man and understands his strengths and weaknesses. Once his associates have helped in providing that information, he can make the final move to take his mind over.
An evil version of Spider-Man could be ideal for this new phase of the MCU, especially with Abomination, US Agent and Yelena Belova potentially becoming the Dark Avengers under Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Adding their own Spider-Man would be perfect for the overarching theme. Plus, Doc Ock's plan could also bring context to the film's title, No Way Home, as Peter would lose control of his mind with no way back home to his body. For now, Doc Ock's future is unwritten, but considering the range of his genius and potential for evil, the MCU may be getting a new web-slinger.
To see if Doc Ock will become a Superior Spider-Man, catch Spider-Man: No Way Home in theaters on Dec. 17.