by Pierre Lorenz on April 21, 2021

Following the leaking of growing amounts of information about the upcoming MCU adventure "Spider-Man: No Way Home" in recent weeks and months, Doc Ock actor Alfred Molina recently spoke out in an interview with Variety. Unusually frankly the meanwhile 67-year-old chatted with the trade magazine about his until then not yet officially confirmed role as Doc Ock and the multiverse in the film. He is going to play the exact same character as in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2". Lots of fans will still remember the end, when he apparently sacrifices himself in the Hudson River. This is exactly where "No Way Home" is meant to pick up, because as Molina explains, Doc Ock actually didn't die in this scene, which is why this scene will be resumed in the new film. In order for this to run smoothly, Molina is to be digitally rejuvenated, since between "Spider-Man 2" and "No Way Home" there are almost 15 years apart. Another surprising aspect is the importance of his role in the new MCU film, as it is not going to be just a small appearance by any means. On the one hand, we have a Spider-Man whose identity is known to the whole world, and on the other hand, we have a Doc Ock who has to deal with the collapse of the multiverse. Especially the latter would be perfect for an introduction of Doctor Strange, who has already been more or less confirmed. This meeting of the different worlds is then of course predestined for the various villains, first and foremost Doc Ock and Electro, who then in turn have to be fought by the various Spider-Men. Therefore, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" can be seen as a sequel to Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2", Marc Webb's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" and Jon Watts' "Spider-Man: Far From Home" all at once. Plus, rumors are still circulating that Willem Dafoe will appear as Green Goblin and Charlie Cox as Daredevil. If the site Murphy's Multiverse is to be believed, Jon Favreau will also return as Happy Hogan. That's one of the less surprising pieces of news, though. After all, by the end of "Far From Home", there's plenty to suggest that he and Aunt May are a couple, not to mention that he makes a pretty good surrogate father for Peter Parker.

So what do you think of these recent developments? Are you looking forward to a more central role for Doc Ock, or would you have preferred someone else like the Green Goblin to take the spotlight? Feel free to let us know in the comments! "Spider-Man: No Way Home" will be released in theaters on December 17, 2021.