A new look at the original Green Goblin mask from 2001's Spider-Man proves just how accurate the villain could have been to the source material.
Prop collector Patrick Hearty posted their newest addition to Instagram: the original Green Goblin mask the film was considering before Willem Dafoe was cast and the costume went in a more tech-centric direction. Check it out:
Back in 2017, a screen test showing this very Goblin mask in action was released, showing its unique blend of animatronics and prosthetics. The mask was developed by Amalgamated Dynamics and Stan Winston Studios, but it was ultimately nixed for the sleek and static helmet that Dafoe wore in the film. Subsequent iterations of the character in films have moved even further away from the comic book design, with Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 featuring no proper mask for the character, though Dean DeHaan's version in the latter film did eventually obtain some goblin-like facial features.
Green Goblin has yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home teased that the latest franchise won't break the theatrical trend of including the villain. While Doctor Octopus is shown appearing in the MCU, only a Goblin Bomb rolling menacingly down a road hinted that Dafoe might be back. As such, it's not known if he'll end up with a new costume, possibly one more like in the comics.
It's already been hinted that Jamie Foxx's Electro won't be exactly the same as the version seen in Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Loki introduced the idea of variants into the MCU. As such, Dafoe's theoretical reprisal of the character could come with a different costume. Though the MCU began with more grounded takes on heroes and villains, it's begun moving things closer to the comics. Mysterio, for example, was long considered tough to adapt given his fishbowl-style helmet. But he arrived in Far From Home in a very comics-accurate costume. Perhaps the upcoming Spider-Man film will finally give Green Goblin fans a live-action take on the rogue's iconic look.
Spider-Man: No Way Home arrives in theaters on Dec. 17.
Source: Instagram