Spider-Man: No Way Home was a huge movie and, unsurprisingly, it went through a lot of changes during production (at least some of which were a result of the pandemic).
Now, thanks to concept artist Josh Nizzi, we can see that Marvel Studios considered swapping out the Mirror Dimension for Sam Raimi's classic Spider-Man trilogy when the MCU's Peter Parker clashed with Doctor Strange.
This early idea took the two Avengers to a few familiar locations, including Spider-Man 2's epic runaway train sequence and the half-built skyscraper where the web-slinger's final battle with Venom took place in Spider-Man 3. We also see Peter and Strange (kind of) recreate the iconic kiss from Spider-Man that saw an upside-down Spidey (Tobey Maguire) lock lips with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) in the rain.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland aren't smooching here, of course, as we instead see the former Sorcerer Supreme has been webbed up and left upside down as Peter tries talking sense to him.
It's a funny way to pay homage to one of the character's most iconic big screen moments, that's for sure, and other recent concept art showed these two in The Amazing Spider-Man Universe as well.
It's a very clever idea and one it would have been fun to see play out in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Then again, an argument could be made that all of this was a little too on the nose and obvious, lessening the impact of the Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man's surprise arrival on Earth-616.
Take a closer look at this spectacular concept art in the Instagram posts below.
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, for the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero's identity is revealed, bringing his superhero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk.
When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
The movie stars Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, J. B. Smoove, Benedict Wong, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, and Rhys Ifans.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is now available to buy wherever you get your movies.