WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, in theaters now.
In the first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home, Alfred Molina took the spotlight with his return to Doctor Octavius. However, with a mixture of trailer hints and actor leaks, it appears Doc Ock won't be the only villain to make their appearance in the film. With multiple villains now potentially taking on Peter Parker, here's a look into which one may take centre stage as the film's "big bad".
Without analyzing the trailer, it seems like Doctor Octavius will be taking the role of the central villain. Not only is he seen the most, but Doctor Octavius is arguably the smartest out of all the rumoured villains in the movie. Also in the comics, Doc Ock is the one who forms the sinister six and becomes their most well known leader, which could very much happen in No Way Home, despite six villains not being confirmed... yet.
While Willem Dafoe has not been confirmed to reprise his role of the Green Goblin, the pumpkin bombs seen in the trailer seem to herald the character's return. Green Goblin may not be the most powerful of the villains in terms of weaponry, but Norman Osborn (his real identity) is definitely the richest and most influential out of them all. He may also have the biggest grudge against Peter Parker, as he and his son Harry Osborn both met their end opposite Spider-Man in the Sam Raimi trilogy.
Jamie Foxx has been confirmed to return as his character from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Electro. Other than a very brief clip of electricity in the trailer, though, and a few dubious images online, nothing else has been said or shown about him. While very powerful, there's nothing to suggest that he will be taking the spot as the top villain, although he will undoubtedly have a burning hatred towards Spider-Man.
Perhaps the most subtle reveal in the trailer is a hulking figure briefly seen chasing Peter, which many speculate to be Lizard from The Amazing Spider-Man. Much like Doctor Octavius, Lizard ranks among the most intelligent of the villains, being scientist Dr. Curt Connors. Then again, it would be surprising to see Lizard as the leading big bad, as he lacks the power and command many of the other villains listed here have.
During the mid credits for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Venom is seen to be somehow transported into the MCU. While this doesn't confirm his appearance in No Way Home, the fact the first thing Venom sees is Peter Parker makes it seem very likely he'll appear. Despite the end credits scene suggesting a sudden hatred towards Spider-Man, it would be surprising to see Venom as the biggest villain, as usually Eddie Brock attempts to keep Venom's more base deeds in check.
So far every MCU movie which has featured multiple villains has ended up focusing on one, while the others take a back seat. For example, Crossbones makes an appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but ends up being put aside for Baron Zemo. However, with the amount of major villains appearing in No Way Home, it appears the Sinister Six could very likely be formed. There, interestingly enough, may be the answer.
Sure, there are still two villains unaccounted for, but perhaps for the first time in a film like this, there is no mysterious benefactor or overriding villain at the head of the table. Perhaps the Sinister Six -- brought together to be, as a whole, greater than the su of its villainous parts, is the main antagonist in a way similar to how The Avengers are a cohesive team.
See who may -- or may not -- emerge as the main villain when Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters Dec. 17.