I can ensure you that you have not travelled back in time to 2006. Alfred Molina is in fact returning as Doctor Octopus for Marvel Studios‘ third crack at the web-slinger in the currently untitled Spider-Man 3.
Molina’s involvement in the upcoming Spider-Man movie was first rumored late last month, when GWW reported the actor had been spotted on set. His casting comes after the news that Jamie Foxx would be returning as Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were in negotiations to return as their respective Spider-Men as well.
Additionally, rumors circulating online today suggest that Kirsten Dunst and Emma Stone could also be returning as Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy. We’ll keep you posted if those castings get locked down.
Marvel and Sony had no comment, of course. However, Molina’s casting further fuels fan theories that Spider-Man 3 will see the Sinister Six finally grace a Spider-Man film. If they are going for the original lineup, all they need to do is cast someone to play Kraven the Hunter and bring back Thomas Hadden Church as Sandman. Otherwise, Scorpion (last seen as a civilian in Spider-Man: Homecoming) could be suiting up. Three Spider-Men versus the Sinister Six? That actually sounds amazing and would immediately get me on board with this whole multiverse idea.
But please, please for all that is good in this world, do not confirm that Morbius and Venom are part of the MCU. I do not want Sony’s Marvel films that do not have the Kevin Feige magic touch dirtying the MCU waters. That is all I ask.
Spider-Man 3 is currently expected to hit theaters on December 17, 2021.
Are you excited to see Molina back as Doc Ock? Do you want to see the Spider-Verse in live-action? Who else could end up making an appearance in the film? Give us your thoughts down in the comments!
