Spider-Man: No Way Home went through quite a few different iterations, largely because the pandemic presented Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures with more than a few challenges (which is why Thomas Haden Church and Rhys Ifans were never on set).
Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's cameos were relatively last-minute and, had Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness not been delayed, America Chavez was going to play a key supporting role in Spidey's threequel. Now, we see more of Michael Keaton's scrapped return as Adrian Toomes, a.k.a. The Vulture.
Past concept art has shown Peter Parker visiting Toomes' home with Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, and Electro in tow, and a new piece shared by Josh Nizzi confirms the villain would have eventually suited up.
"Here is an early team-up idea I did that never happened in No Way Home," the artist explains in the Instagram post below. "I really hope the Vulture returns someday, very happy to have been able to work on that design along with Phil [Saunders] and Ryan [Meinerding]."
We're assuming The Vulture would have helped Peter fend off those Sinister villains from the Multiverse, likely betraying the wall-crawler in the final battle. Alternatively, we could picture him making a heroic sacrifice if he was truly reformed after the time he spent behind bars.
Rather than returning in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Keaton played The Vulture again in Morbius. After mistakenly being sent to that world, a surprisingly calm Toomes was freed from prison and later attempted to recruit the Living Vampire to his team. It had to do with Spider-Man, we think...
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.