Spider-Man: No Way Home is less than three months from arriving in theaters, and the excitement surrounding the film is quite easily on a par with Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
Rumors have been swirling about the Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel since before the title was even revealed, and we continue to get almost weekly rumours, leaks, and hard-to-believe claims about where the web-slinger's next adventure will take us. We're clearly about to head into the Multiverse, but what exactly will the ramifications of that be?
It may very well involve multiple Spider-Men, an interdimensional Sinister Six, and a status quo change for Peter Parker that sees him appear in more than just the MCU. However, along the way, we've had leaks that make sense along with many that are bordering on being nonsensical (that doesn't mean they're not true, though).
With that in mind, we're taking a closer look at the Spider-Man: No Way Home leaks to figure out which of them make the most sense, and how many just don't add up for some reason...
Makes Sense: Sinister Six Escape
Numerous plot leaks and rumors all seem to have one thing in common, and pertain to the formation of the MCU's Sinister Six. We still don't know how Doctor Strange crossed paths with them or what brought these bad guys to this reality, but the fall of the TVA could quite easily have forced the Sorcerer Supreme to step up in their absence.
Speculation aside, it's been said repeatedly that Peter Parker, still reeling from what happened with Mysterio, meets these Variant supervillains in Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum and frees them after learning their deaths all came at the hands of different Spider-Men.
That's why Spidey clashes with Strange, and likely has something to do with that weird artefact in the trailer.
Regardless, Norman Osborn is the one who manages to manipulate Peter into freeing them, because being returned to their own realities means they will die at the hands of their Spider-Man. We'll get to the members of this Sinister Six a little later.
Makes Sense: Daredevil Reborn
Marvel Television no longer exists, and Marvel Studios is now in charge of everything we see on the small screen. That's why those Netflix shows ended so abruptly, though there are many fans who are desperate to see at least some of the actors who play those characters return.
Charlie Cox's Daredevil is right at the top of the list, and there have been rumors for months now that Matt Murdock will serve as Peter's lawyer in the film.
There couldn't be a more perfect opportunity to bring the Man Without Fear back, though it has been said we shouldn't expect Matt to suit up (that's reportedly being saved for Disney+'s She-Hulk). Cox has issued multiple denials, but also dropped comments that appear to be teasing something with Marvel Studios.
This one is far from confirmed, but if Cox's Daredevil doesn't return here...he probably never will.
Makes Sense: Andrew Garfield And Tobey Maguire's Role
With the five supervillains on the loose (the sixth reportedly shows up a little later in the proceedings), Spider-Man finds himself totally overwhelmed. We don't know why Doctor Strange doesn't get more involved - perhaps he's trying to teach Peter a lesson? - but it seems like he will at least find some help for his web-slinger.
That comes in the form of two Spider-Men familiar with these villains. It's been said that Tobey Maguire's Peter has given up being a superhero because he has a family now (his wife, Mary Jane, and a daughter) and reluctantly returns to help stop his old foes.
Garfield's Spidey, meanwhile, is the opposite. He's given up his life as Peter, fully embracing being Spider-Man in the wake of Gwen Stacy's murder at the hands of the Green Goblin.
They're not introduced until the second act, and both have lead roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home. We have a feeling that their choices in life will be extremely helpful to the MCU's Peter.
Makes Sense: Six Big Bads
We've kept you waiting, but here's the so-called scoop on this film's Sinister Six. Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, and Electro will reportedly receive the majority of the spotlight, though The Amazing Spider-Man's Lizard and Spider-Man 3's Sandman are also expected to factor into this adventure.
Neither of them died at Spidey's hands and appeared to make peace with him, so they could simply be reluctant participants dragged along for the ride by Otto and Norman.
Leaked images and various rumors have confirmed these villains will receive overhauled costumes (we're unsure how that will be explained, but it might not need to be). Green Goblin is getting a mix of green and purple and Electro has ditched the blue skin and wears a green and yellow grounded suit like in the Spider-Man game. The Lizard is getting purple pants and a labcoat, but neither Doc Ock nor Sandman are expected to change too much from when we last saw them.
Oh, and as for that sixth member of the group, rumor has it that Paul Giamatti's Rhino will show up a little later in the film, presumably looking more like he does in the comics.
Makes Sense: Another Iron Man Tie-In
The Sinister Six isn't just out to kill Spider-Man and cause destruction. In order to escape their untimely deaths, they're searching for Tony Stark's arc reactor as that contains what they need to travel through time and realities and save themselves from what we saw happen in Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
We probably shouldn't be surprised about Iron Man being put front and center in another MCU Spider-Man film, but it has been said that Uncle Ben will be directly referenced this time given what a crucial role he played in the lives of those other Peter Parkers.
The final battle is said to take place at the Statue of Liberty, though that's now holding a Captain America shield (perhaps to pay homage to the fallen Steve Rogers if he's believed dead).
We don't want to spoil too much, but expect a major death at this point in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Makes No Sense: Uncle Ben
One very weird, very hard to believe rumor suggests that we'll finally meet the MCU's version of Uncle Ben...played by Tobey Maguire. This sounds like something we'd see in The Flash TV show where John Wesley Shipp played Barry Allen's father in one reality and the original Flash in another.
There's no reason to suspect this couldn't work in the MCU, but it sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Kicking the film off by revisiting Peter's relationship with his uncle makes sense, especially as it sounds like we're finally going to hear that iconic "With Great Power..." line in this reality. However, regular filmgoers are likely to be beyond baffled, wondering why Spidey's uncle is another Spider-Man and how he's then somehow alive later in the film. It could all get a bit jumbled.
We're not doubting the intelligence of the regular non-comic book reading audience, but this is a lot for anyone unfamiliar with the source material, Loki, and What If...? to digest.
Makes No Sense: Venom Cameo
A photo recently started doing the rounds showing Tom Hardy wearing a Spider-Man: No Way Home hat. We're by no means doubting the validity of that image, but the speculation that it confirms the actor's involvement in this threequel feels more than a little far-fetched.
We have no doubt whatsoever that Tom Holland's Spider-Man will cross paths with Venom in the not too distant future, Marvel Studios bringing Eddie Brock into the MCU in such a direct way...we're not buying it.
Whether this movie ends by giving Spidey the ability to travel through different realities as a protector of the Multiverse or just establishes that there are multiple versions of him across that remains to be seen. Regardless, Sony wants to start using Spider-Man, and that's why we'll get a Venom crossover post-Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
We could buy a post-credits scene, but don't bank on him joining the Sinister Six!
Makes No Sense: (Some Of) Those Leaked Photos
A low-quality version of the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer surfaced online nearly 24 hours before the official one was released, and that's opened the door to countless other low-res leaks.
Some are almost certainly real, including an unfinished shot of four Sinister Six members in Doctor Strange's Sanctum and shots of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Electro. However, the imagery that has most intrigued fans focus primarily on Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men.
One supposed shot of them standing side by side in their costumes is said to be a blatant fake as Garfield's head is transparent, though it appeared to be confirmed as real when a 4K video followed. Since then, it's been said that it was a clever deepfake created entirely from scratch (meaning that's at least one thing Andrew hasn't lied about in interviews).
Others have argued that's not possible and the person is just looking to take credit for a real leak. Honestly, unless it's released by Sony, it might be best to just ignore it at this point.
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