With Spider-Man: No Way Home featuring the return of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Electro, the actors behind these classic Spider-Man movie villains reveal what exactly is driving their characters in the upcoming film.
Appearing in the "Return of the Villains" vignette uploaded to the official Spider-Man YouTube channel, actors Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx -- who play Green Goblin, Doc Ock and Electro, respectively -- discussed the motivations ofr respective characters. "The Goblin believes in a world with losers and winners," Dafoe said. "Power is all that matters." Meanwhile, Molina mentions that Doc Ock's story picks up where audiences last saw him in 2004's Spider-Man 2, with the actor saying, "He's looking for revenge." Rounding out the villainous trio, Foxx explains, "Electro is like, 'The world did me wrong. Now I got this energy, I'm going to get mine.'"
20 years since his debut as Green Goblin/Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Dafoe touched on how his character will differ this time around during a recent "Villains Panel" discussion. "I liked the idea that I was returning to something that was the same, but different," he said. "It's a return to something I did before with that kind of history, but there's a spin on it." The spin Dafoe refers to could potentially be attached to theories of a second Green Goblin appearing in No Way Home, as suggested by a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the film's latest trailer. Fans have speculated this second Goblin could be Harry Osborn played by a returning James Franco, though this potential character's identity and motivations remain a mystery.
Molina, meanwhile, will similarly be reprising his role of Doc Ock after nearly two decades. Though the 68-year-old actor was initially hesitant to return to the iconic character, Molina said that advancements in technology have made him excited to revisit an old project in a new way. Molina also discussed what it meant to him to play a villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying, "The thing about grounded villains is that -- and that's what's so wonderful about villains in the Marvel Universe -- is that so many of them become villains almost reluctantly. Almost in spite of themselves, you know?"
Last seen in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Foxx revealed his decision to return to Electro was influenced by producer Amy Pascal explaining that Electro would be "a little more hip." "[Pascal] was explaining to me it was going to be hot," Foxx said, "and I didn't have to be blue and things like that." Electro might also be more friend than foe to New York's resident Web-Swinger this time around, as a short teaser trailer showed the lighting-clad villain say, "My old friend, Spider-Man." While this remark fits Electro's characterization in Amazing Spider-Man 2, it's unclear if he is addressing the MCU Spider-Man or if he's even aware of Spidey's multiverse counterparts.
Audiences will find out for themselves when Spider-Man: No Way Home swings into theaters on Dec. 17.
Source: YouTube