We've updated this post with more of the rumored Spider-Man 3 casting additions!
Merry Christmas! 🎄
Avengers: Endgame was a stacked film, but Spider-Man 3 is shaping up to be every bit as star-studded.
Since the threequel's first casting addition, there has been speculation online about it being a Spider-Verse adaptation, and with each rumor and confirmed actor, the evidence continues to mount. It's a crazy thought, and one it's going to take a while to get our heads around!
There's clearly still a lot to be revealed about Spider-Man 3, but just how many characters will Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures manage to squeeze into one crossover event?
To bring you up to speed, we've managed to round up all the confirmed (at least from reliable sources) cast members along with those only rumored at this time. Cameras on the film are currently rolling in Atlanta, Georgia, and the hope is an official reveal is incoming. This should tide you over, though...
Confirmed: Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield)
Andrew Garfield only played Peter Parker twice, but his passion for the character were enough to make you think he'd been suited up as the web-slinger for longer than Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland combined.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 saw the actor go out with more of a whimper than a bang, while there's every chance he could have played Spidey in the MCU had he not upset Sony execs in Japan (it was reported that he missed a dinner due to illness, but caused great offence in the process).
Garfield has unfinished business with Spider-Man, and this threequel can help with that.
There's a story still to be told with this Peter, and it's not exactly hard to imagine him having spiralled after the death of Gwen Stacy.
Confirmed: Electro (Jamie Foxx)
Joining Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was Jamie Foxx as Electro. Despite being an Oscar-winner, the actor's performance is widely considered one of the worst ever seen in a Marvel film.
He's getting a second chance with Spider-Man 3, however, but won't be blue this time if his deleted Instagram post is anything to go by. In fact, it was that which set off all the Spider-Verse speculation after Foxx shared fan-art of three versions of Spider-Man facing down Electro.
You have to believe he now wants to redeem himself for that 2014 disappointment.
In leaked emails from the Sony Hack, it was made clear that Kevin Feige loved Electro, so he likely has something special planned for the Soul star in this threequel.
Confirmed: Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst)
As we recently explained, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding whether Kirsten Dunst would return as Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4.
The actress hasn't been too flattering when talking about the seemingly endless series of Spider-Man reboots ("Who cares?" she asked back in 2017), but has looked back at her time as MJ fondly.
That likely explains why she's happy to reprise the role.
At the end of the original Spider-Man 3, it was apparent that MJ was having doubts about her relationship with Peter, so exploring what became of their romance could make for compelling viewing. Given Raimi's involvement with the Doctor Strange sequel, Kevin Feige no doubt has his blessing to explore that, possibly teaching the MCU's Peter a big lesson along the way.
Confirmed: Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
The original plan was for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to be released before the next Spider-Man film, but that's either getting delayed now or Kevin Feige has rejigged the timeline.
No matter how that ends up playing out, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme will be joining Peter Parker during his trip into the Spider-Verse, and that makes sense on a number of levels.
Feige is known to be a fan of J. Michael Straczynski's Amazing Spider-Man run, and it was there Spidey's friendship with Strange was established. Why he would take Peter on this trip is hard to figure out, but it could have something to do with hiding his secret identity.
Here's hoping he's more than just a mentor, anyway.
Confirmed: Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina)
A very different type of Doctor, Otto Octavius is finally returning to the silver screen, with Spider-Man 2 star Alfred Molina once again playing the multi-armed baddie.
Like Electro, we don't know whether this is the same version of the villain from that 2004 classic or just the same actor delivering a new take on a familiar character. It all starts to get a bit confusing when you stop and think about it, but find a photo of Molina in 2020, and he still looks the part!
Doctor Octopus died in Spider-Man 2, so if this is the same Otto, that will need some explaining.
Ock is one of Spidey's most iconic foes, so we can only hope that Molina plans to stick around to torment the web-slinger in future as they could have some epic battles. There's also no one better to lead the Sinister Six.
Confirmed: Spider-Man (Tom Holland)
Has anyone made a "Tom Holland to cameo as Spider-Man in Spider-Man 3" joke yet?
Peter Parker went through a lot in Spider-Man: Far From Home, though the biggest blow Mysterio could have dealt came right at the very end of the film when he framed Peter Parker for murder and outed his identity to the world. That's not going to be easy for this Avenger to bounce back from.
Turning to Doctor Strange to put the proverbial genie back in the bottle is a logical next move for Peter, but it looks like he'll soon find more than he bargained for.
Last year, Kevin Feige said, "Spider-Man is the only hero with the superpower to cross between Sony and Marvel’s cinematic universes." Expect that to be explained here.
Confirmed: The Supporting Cast
(Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angourie Rice, And Marisa Tomei)
We're not sure how much time will be devoted to the franchise's supporting cast, but Zendaya's MJ is almost certainly going to play a pivotal role in how this story unfolds.
Jacob Batalon has slimmed down, and could get to see a lot more action thanks to that.
It's possible Angourie Rice's Betty could be working for TheDailyBugle.net's J. Jonah Jameson now, while we have no doubt that Tony Revolori's Flash Thompson is going to have something to say about his enemy, Peter Parker, being revealed to the world as Spider-Man.
As for May Parker (Marisa Tomei), we're eagerly anticipating seeing what she makes of all this.
Rumored: Green Goblin/s (Willem Dafoe & Dane DeHaan)
Both versions of the Green Goblin (we're not going to count James Franco's weird take on the villain) have been rumored to return in Spider-Man 3, and it's Willem Dafoe's we're hoping to see back on the big screen.
Unfortunately, it looks a lot like Dane DeHaan's Harry Osborn will be back to terrorize the web-slinger, and giving his ambitions to form the Sinister Six in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, he could end up playing a key role in the formation of some sort of multidimensional spin on the team.
In the hands of Marvel Studios, he could quite easily receive an overhaul when it comes to his goofy appearance.
Something more along the lines of how the Goblin looked in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics makes most sense, but we're not sure we want to see this villain wasted as little more than a cameo.
Rumored: Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone)
Emma Stone is said to be close to signing on for a return as Gwen Stacy, but our gut is telling us that she won't be playing the Gwen who died in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Instead, Marvel Studios could have some fun with this talented actress by having her suit up as an experienced version of Spider-Gwen. Audiences are familiar with the character after Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but not even the comics have explored what an older Spider-Woman with Gwen under the mask might look like.
It's hard to think of anyone better to don that costume, anyway!
We can safely say that, if this pans out, seeing Stone in the MCU will be appreciated by everyone as she's a huge talent and long overdue for another superhero role.
Rumored: Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)
You can't have a live-action Spider-Verse film without Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker.
The actor has focused more on producing than acting in recent years, but this return would be every bit as spectacular and amazing as fans would hope. It will have close to fifteen years since he last played Spidey when Spider-Man 3 is released, and this weathered, experienced Peter could make for an interesting mentor to the MCU's Pete.
Our hope is that this will lead to Maguire's Spider-Man returning in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness because Sam Raimi getting his hands on the wall-crawler again is a must.
We want this to happen so badly, and we're sure you all do as well!
Rumored: Venom (Tom Hardy)
Tom Holland wants this to happen, Tom Hardy wants this to happen, and so does Sony brass if they have any sense!
A Spider-Man/Venom crossover would be a guaranteed hit at the box office, and logical next step for the Venom franchise after Let There Be Carnage is released next year. Putting Peter Parker in the black suit would give Disney, the owners of Spider-Man's merchandising rights, a lot of new options to play with as well.
If Hardy was going to cameo in Spider-Man 3, you'd think we'd have heard something a little more concrete by now.
Instead, it's little more than a hard-to-believe rumor, and unless he's the secret sixth member of a multidimensional Sinister Six (with Mysterio, The Vulture, Electro, Doctor Octopus, and Scorpion), we're not sure about this one!
Rumored: Daredevil (Charlie Cox)
As we were in the midst writing this, the news broke that Daredevil star Charlie Cox is locked in to reprise his role as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man 3.
It doesn't come from the trades, so we're labelling it as a rumor for now.
We'll need some time to process this, but it looks like Peter will have a great lawyer representing him in court when he's forced to defend himself against those allegations he killed Mysterio. Don't be surprised if that villain is still alive, and possibly responsible for stealing something from the Sanctum Santorum (and setting off the chain of events leading to the Spider-Verse).
As for Daredevil, we can only hope we get to see Cox suited up in a comic accurate costume, but bringing Cox back to play the Man Without Fear was the right decision.
Rumored: Sandman
Spider-Man 3 was released in 2007, and the technology used to bring Sandman to life was groundbreaking.
In 2020, it would likely be even better, and it's impossible not to get excited by what that could look like. However, we're not sure that the prospect of Thomas Haden Church returning as this baddie is quite as thrilling.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the actor's take on Flint Marko, but the reveal that he was Ben Parker's killer still makes us cringe. Sandman would undoubtedly be a fitting addition to the Sinister Six, but we're just not sure we need the reminder of that stupid plot twist.
Despite that, it sounds like he might just show up!
Rumored: Mysterio
Honestly, we're surprised it took this long for Mysterio's return to be rumored.
The villain may have "died" at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, but he is a master of illusion, and Quentin Beck making the decision to out the web-slinger and frame Peter Parker had to be more than spur of the moment thinking.
In the Ultimate line of comics, Mysterio travels between worlds, so we won't be shocked if he really does have a history with the Multiverse, especially as he knew so much about it when we last saw him! In fact, it's likely Beck who is behind this plan to bring this Sinister Six together.
Perhaps he's already wreaked havoc on the lives of the other Spider-Men on their worlds?
Rumored: Hobgoblin
One of the hardest to believe rumors is that we'll see Hobgoblin in Spider-Man 3 as well.
Bringing back some villains from the past is one thing, but adding a new one to the mix? That could be a step too far. In the comics, it's Roderick Kingsley who's beneath the mask, but Peter Parker's friend, Ned Leeds, was once framed by him.
With actor Jacob Batalon dropping a ton of weight for this threequel, perhaps he'll be the Hobgoblin of another world? That would open Spidey's eyes to the Multiverse, for sure. However, we can't help but think this would be a waste of a villain with the potential to carry an entire film.
We'll see on this one, but color us intrigued!