The first long-awaited trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home confirmed a few ongoing rumors about the return of characters from previous cinematic franchises. While the secret about Alfred Molina's return as Doctor Octopus leaked early, the trailer also teased a few other villains that have fans excited about the third entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's franchise.
Unfortunately, some fans aren't as happy to see the focus on their return as Doctor Strange and Spider-Man head to the multiverse in No Way Home. There are a few reasons why bringing old movie characters back isn't always the best idea for a franchise like the MCU's Spider-Man.
10 Doesn't Allow The New MCU Franchise To Stand On Its Own Feet
Spider-Man made his first appearance in the MCU in 2016's Captain America: Civil War before starring in his own solo franchise. The MCU version of the character has frequently dealt with criticisms about his reliance on superhero mentorships with other MCU characters that detract from the comic character's independence.
The third entry in the franchise is again relying on a mentor in Doctor Strange to help carry the movie while also bringing in successful versions of past characters. While exciting to see the connected universe, it doesn't appear to give Spider-Man too much credit as a solo hero.
9 They Could Just Be A Distraction From The Real Threat
The first trailer teased a number of interesting plot threads that included an odd-acting Doctor Strange as well as the reveal of Spider-Man's secret identity that made him a wanted man by authorities. However, it was hard to look at too much else once Doctor Octopus and the familiar weaponry of the Green Goblin made an appearance.
While the return of the villains could lead to the formation of the Sinister Six, it's also possible they could be a red herring to distract from the real threat. Seeing all the build-up for what could amount to a large cameo could be disappointing to fans on both sides of the discussion.
8 The Old Movie Characters Might Not Be The Original Cinematic Versions
The first season of Loki explored alternate versions of characters from different timelines that were referred to as "variants" by the Time Variance Authority. The TVA originally attempted to correct the alternate timelines and erase these variants before Loki became involved.
So while fans are undoubtedly excited to see the return of Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man 2, it's also possible that these versions will just be variants of the characters. It's a potential bait-and-switch of the characters that may or may not work with some loyal fans.
7 Forces The Use Of De-Aging Technology That Can Sometimes Be Distracting
The first look at Alfred Molina's return as Doctor Octopus in the No Way Home trailer revealed that the character had been de-aged to more resemble the character from 2004's Spider-Man 2. While Marvel Studios frequently uses this technology and it has advanced incredibly over the years, it can still be distracting to some fans.
Regardless of the technology's advancements, the potential to take away from the actor's performance still exists. If other returning actors also require de-aging as well then it might be a mess to look at on-screen with the other effects.
6 Failed Characters From Past Franchises Don't Always Need AÂ Second Chance
It's easy to see why fans are excited about the return of characters like Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man 2, which is largely considered to be one of the best comic book movies ever made. The same goes for the possible return of Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, who was teased with the inclusion of a pumpkin bomb.
However, there's also the possibility that Dane DeHaan's Harry Osborn from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 could return as the less favored Green Goblin instead given the small tease. Even Jamie Foxx's return as Electro failed to create a huge stir among fans and served to raise questions about why Marvel Studios would return to that version of the character.
5 Takes Away The Chance For Fans To See New Adapted Villains On The Big Screen
The MCU franchise has so far excelled in bringing villains like Vulture, Shocker, The Tinkerer, Mysterio, and even versions of Hydro-Man and Molten Man to the big screen, as they had never been previously adapted to live-action. There was excitement among fans about the new Spider-Man movies because of the possibility of seeing the MCU's take on a new villain.
Unfortunately, with the return of Doc Ock, a Green Goblin, Jamie Foxx's Electro, and rumored movie villains like Sandman and the Lizard, it doesn't seem as likely that fans will get a newly adapted villain on the big screen this time.
4 May Potentially Overshadow New Villainous Characters Built Up In The MCU
Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home introduced a number of new villains, though there were also a few villains who were teased and built up for future appearances. Homecoming introduced characters like Donald Glover's Aaron Davis to tease his eventual debut as the Prowler, while Michael Mando made his debut as Mac Gargan.
Gargan was set up with a grudge against Spider-Man and a tattoo that teased his eventual debut as Scorpion that has yet to develop. Even the potential reveal of Far From Home's Dmitri (played by Numan Acar) as the rumored Chameleon is a potentially lost thread due to the return of old villains.
3 Could Force The MCU Spider-Man To Actually Compete With Other Versions
There is an ongoing debate among fans over which cinematic version of Spider-Man is the best adaptation of the character. While it's usually up for the fans and the movies to decide for themselves, rumors of the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as multiversal Spider-Men in No Way Home could bring this debate to life.
While it's potentially exciting to see the Spider-Man pointing meme brought to life on the big screen, it also puts a lot of pressure on the MCU's Peter Parker to prove himself against his predecessors if they do actually appear.
2 Potentially Removes The Possibility Of MCU Adaptations Of These Characters
One of the biggest issues with reintroducing old movie characters to the MCU universe is that it potentially eliminates the possibility of seeing the MCU takes on these characters. Villains like Vulture and Mysterio were given complete overhauls to fit with the shared universe that was already established.
While new villains were introduced, fans were still interested in seeing the MCU's take on Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin. Though with the return of the old villains it makes it even more unlikely that new versions of these characters will also appear in future phases of the MCU.
1 The Movie Expectations Have Been Hyped To A Nearly Impossible Level
The anticipation over Spider-Man: no Way Home was build to near-impossible levels well before the trailer arrived, as news about returning characters fueled more and more rumors. The return of Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx led to the rumored return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in No Way Home as well.
Fans keeping hope alive that characters from the Netflix universe like Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock/Daredevil are still canon swear they saw him in the trailer. Doctor Strange's odd behavior even has some fans continuing the call for Mephisto. With so many rumors fueling the buzz for the movie, it's reached an almost impossible level of expectation that is sure to disappoint some fans.