Spider-Man: No Way Home has debuted its awesome, brain-scrambling new trailer as it prepares to introduce the live-action multiverse. Peter Parker himself, Sir Tom of Holland, delighted fans by making a surprise appearance at a special preview event, which you can watch below.
.@TomHolland1996 calls #SpiderManNoWayHome the "most cinematic and theatrical superhero movie that has ever been made" and says it "exceed expectations in every way" at today's trailer premiere event https://t.co/HJKeAnSfBc pic.twitter.com/RGnOg03KZB
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 17, 2021
Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is about to change as Peter, with the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), implodes the time-space continuum. The chaos comes after Peter attempts to expunge the results of his identity being leaked to the wider world. Bad idea, as New York becomes invaded by a host of much-loved and menacing villains. Scroll down to check out our trailer breakdown encompassing key reveals and hidden nuggets.
1. It's the multiverse, Jim... but not as we know it
We've known for a while that Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus is in No Way Home. This is excellent and exciting, as he's arguably the best live-action Spider-Man villain so far, despite originating outside the confines of the MCU in 2004's Spider-Man 2. At the outset of the No Way Home trailer, it becomes evident that Doc Ock thinks he's fighting his incarnation of Peter Parker/Spider-Man – that would be Tobey Maguire. However, he's visibly confused to discover he's actually battling Tom Holland's Spidey, uttering the words: "You're not Peter Parker."
The multiverse approach in this movie becomes apparent. It's the villains who enter the world of Tom Holland's Parker, as opposed to him venturing into theirs. That said, this could still happen later in the movie – the shot of Peter flying through the inverted Manhattan cityscape suggests as much.
Regardless, it allows for a sense of discombobulation on the part of the baddies, and will presumably allow the terrific Molina to build on the complexity of his Spider-Man 2 portrayal, which was scary and tragic by turns.
2. Peter and Doctor Strange are at loggerheads
It's the Sorcerer Supreme's magic spell that allows for the multiverse villains to materialise. In the previous trailer, it was clear that Doctor Strange was willing to perform this favour, albeit a very dangerous and risky one, for his former Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame ally Spider-Man. After all, he's just a kid and deserves his life back.
However, this latest trailer darkens the brew somewhat. As far as putting the genie back in the bottle is concerned, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange disagree, to the point where they end up attacking one another. Peter protests: "There must be another way" but Strange disagrees. Maybe we're seeing another Avengers: Infinity War scenario whereby Strange has read the runes and gleaned an infinitesimal chance of success. What's the betting that, in order to return these villains to where they belong, Peter will have to sacrifice everything?
With the return of Willem Dafoe's mocking Green Goblin, Peter's emotional dichotomy becomes clear, as the latter sneers: "You're struggling to have everything you want while the world tries to make you choose." Holland has already described No Way Home as "dark" and "bittersweet", and given his official Spider-Man contract ends with this film, we reckon there's an emotional endgame in store.
3. The legacy of the Avengers is keenly felt
Furthering Holland's philosophy that this will be a somewhat melancholy experience, we get a brief shot of the Statue of Liberty emblazoned with Captain America's (Chris Evans) shield. It's evident that the wider world is still grappling with the legacy of the Avengers initiative, honouring the group's tenacity in defeating Thanos (Josh Brolin). Is there an implicit suggestion that Spider-Man will struggle to live up to the legacy of his former comrades?
4. Spider-Man gets a new, magical suit
Why is Peter wearing a black suit? And why is it being powered by one of Strange's magical wristbands? All will become clear before long.
5. Electro gets a new design
Jamie Foxx's appearance as Electro in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (another non-MCU movie) was met with a tepid response. He's back in No Way Home as one of the invasive multiverse villains who make Peter Parker's life very difficult.
We don't see much of him, but it looks like the somewhat awkward Blue Man Group costume has been replaced with something sleeker. Electro also says, "You're not going to take this away from me." Is he referring to how he was thwarted from killing Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) in his own universe? And is this moment of reckoning going to pose a danger for Tom Holland's Peter?
6. Sandman and Lizard are in the movie... which raises questions
Doctor Strange fleshes out the multiverse dynamics by explaining that these villains are the ones who died fighting their respective Spider-Men. That's all well and good when looking at Doc Ock and Green Goblin – they both met their fate in climactic confrontations with the heroic Spidey. But the trailer also re-introduces Sandman, last played by Thomas Haden Church in 2007's non-MCU-affiliated Spider-Man 3. He survived the end of that movie by turning good and helping Spider-Man save the day... so what's he doing here?
Likewise, the nefarious Lizard, last seen in 2012's non-MCU movie The Amazing Spider-Man (played by Rhys Ifans), makes an appearance in the No Way Home trailer. He also survived his respective film, which makes his appearance puzzling. No doubt the trailer has been edited in such a way to remove key bits of contextual information.
We're also confused by Strange's apologetic revelation that these villains are "ghosts" and that their fate "is to die while fighting Spider-Man". Why is he apologising for the death of the bad guys? Again, there's clearly some important information that's been snipped out of the trailer.
7. There may be more villains to come
Doc Ock warns Peter against "chasing ghosts", and later in the trailer, we get more of a sense of an expansive odyssey. Doctor Strange implies that multiverse villains have emerged all over the world, so maybe this will be Spider-Man's impetus as Phase Four of the MCU proceeds?
8. There's a clear nod to the tragedy of The Amazing Spider-Man 2
It wasn't the best Spidey movie, but The Amazing Spider-Man 2 did hit an emotional chord with the death of Emma Stone's Gwen Stacey. There's a visual reference to that wrenching scene in the trailer for No Way Home, as Peter's beloved M.J. (Zendaya) plunges to an unknown fate. We reckon that this will be the moment where Garfield's Spidey atones for his past tragedy by rescuing the great love of Holland's Peter Parker. Now, that would be an introduction.
9. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are smartly kept off-screen in this new trailer
Who wants all the surprises spoiled in this trailer? Some recent leaked (and, frankly, rather suspect) 'screenshots' seemed to confirm that both Maguire and Garfield would be present in No Way Home. But this trailer, sensibly, isn't giving anything away.
Again, we reckon Garfield will ride in to save the day when M.J. is at the risk of death. As for Maguire? That's anyone's guess. At the end of the trailer, Doctor Strange appears apprehensive about the arrival of yet more characters, uttering: "They're coming." Might this signal the arrival of the past Spider-Men? And if so, what's with the air of vaguely threatening portent?
Spider-Man: No Way Home now has an earlier UK release date of 15th December. Keep your eyes peeled to Cineworld and the blog for tickets going on sale. And if we missed anything in the trailer, let us know your eagle-eyed observations @Cineworld.
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