It started with a joke. Tom Holland revealed the title of the upcoming Sony/Marvel “Spider-Man 3” film to be “Spider-Man: Phone Home.” Holland posted it, along with a first look to Instagram (see below). Then, ‘Spider-Man’ franchise co-star Jacob Batalon, countered with another supposed title, “Spider-Man: Homewrecker,” and another new first-look image from the film. Then, Zendaya got into the mix with “Spider-Man: Homeslice,” if you hadn’t already figured out this was a gag. The reality, director Jon Watts (and Sony and Marvel) actually revealed the title himself, the next day: “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” sticking with the ‘Home’-thematic title that has run throughout the franchise so far (‘Homecoming,’ ‘Far From Home’), and ominously teasing the multiverse elements that are sure to come.
Directed by the aforementioned Jon Watts (who will also direct Marvel’s “Fantastic Four” sometime in the future), “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” is written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The film stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, alongside Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx as Electro, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, and Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. Both villains, Electro and Doc Ock, are expected to be similar, but different versions of the characters seen in the previous ‘Spider-Man’ Sony films, “The Amazing Spider-Man” series featuring Andrew Garfield and the Sam Rami version starring Toby Maguire (many more are rumored; we shall see).
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Both Spider-Men, Garfield and Maguire, are also rumored to appear in the film, and the casting of former franchise actors reprising their same roles has certainly given the speculation more fuel. But Holland denied the two were in the film on Jimmy Fallon last night. “It would be amazing if they were [in Spider-Man 3], because they haven’t told me that yet and I am Spider-Man, and I’ve read the script from beginning to the end,” Holland said. “It would be a miracle if they could have kept that from me. But at the moment, there is no cameo from the two boys.” Though given all the actors sharing falsehoods yesterday, take with a grain of salt?
Also allegedly scheduled to appear in the film are Emma Stone and Kirsten Dunst as Gwen Stacy and Mary-Jane Parker Watson, respectively, though none of these rumors have been confirmed. Additionally, hearsay persists that Charlie Cox will reprise his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil from the Marvel Netflix series, but again, none of that is remotely official.
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But the multiverse entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe is definitely becoming a thing. The “Doctor Strange” sequel, ‘In the Multiverse of Madness,’ makes it explicit in the title, and Strange is already scheduled to make a confirmed appearance in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Furthermore, it’s already known that Disney+’s “WandaVision” lead into “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness,” so seeds of that inter-dimensional travel could be seeded into the show by the time the series is over (two weeks to go).
“Spider-Man 3” is currently set for a December 17 release by Sony Pictures with Marvel producing. The film is currently in production and expected to hit its release date. Still, there are questions about what will happen if Marvel‘s “Black Widow” is delayed in May and how, if at all, it will affect the separate, but still tied to Marvel, Sony release frame. Time will tell. Until then, enjoy the title and the first look images.
