The theories that Spider-Man 3 would be a Spider-Verse film began when Jamie Foxx shared an Instagram post confirming his Electro return alongside fan-art of the villain facing down three Spider-Men. It was a nice idea, but not one that seemed all that realistic.
Why would Marvel Studios tell this story in the wake of Spider-Man's secret identity being revealed to the world? Doctor Strange being added to the mix only helped fuel the fire, but the recent additions of actors like Alfred Molina, Kirsten Dunst, and Andrew Garfield have seemingly established the film as a Multiverse-spanning adventure.
There are a million reasons that's exciting, but only 10 characters we're eagerly anticipating seeing!
From Madame Web to the new Spider-Woman, there are some spectacular possibilities, and there's a strong chance these heroes and villains will be next to join the Spider-Man 3 roster...
10. The Venom Symbiote
Had Sony not been developing Venom when the last two Avengers films were being shot, you have to imagine there was at least a slim chance Spider-Man would have returned from space with a new black costume.
It would have been down to Kevin Feige to then tell the story of the Venom symbiote, but there's a way for Spider-Man 3 to do that as well.
Heading into the Spider-Verse, Peter Parker could quite easily come across the alien costume on another world. It could be the one Venom is set in or another altogether, but its introduction could be a way for Sony to lay the groundwork for Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Tom Hardy's Venom to meet in a crossover event set after Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
You have to admit, it would be rad to see this happen!
9. Spider-Woman
Sony has tasked Olivia Wilde with directing a Spider-Woman film, and with Spider-Man 3 positioned to bridge the gap between these different worlds, there's really no reason why Jessica Drew can't appear here first.
She could be a S.W.O.R.D. (or similar government agency) representative assigned to watch over Peter Parker or simply a hero on another world, but using this film to tease the upcoming spinoff would go a long way in increasing interest in it. Casual fans are unlikely to be familiar with Spider-Woman, so a glimpse of her here might be enough to do that.
Of course, this means Sony needs to cast the hero A.S.A.P.!
Jessica deserves the chance to shine on the silver screen, but we'd feel much happier with Marvel Studios being the ones to introduce her.
8. Rhino
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ended with Peter Parker, still mourning the death of Gwen Stacy, leaping into action against Paul Giamatti's unique spin of the Rhino.
The battle was one we never got to see, but if Tom Holland's web-slinger arrives on that Spidey's Earth right when the sequel ended, they could potentially team up against this formidable baddie. Giamatti is a talented actor, and if Marvel Studios can give Jamie Foxx's Electro another chance, there's surely more that could be done with Rhino.
We just hope he has a comic accurate battle suit this time around. After all, if Electro's skin won't be blue this time, then Aleksei Sytsevich can surely be similarly overhauled.
Just get him to work on that accent, okay?
7. Madame Web
No one can quite understand why Sony is making a Madame Web film, but perhaps Spider-Man 3 will explain it?
The wall-crawler is going to need someone who can guide him through the Spider-Verse after teaming with Doctor Strange, and Madame Web could be the one to send him on missions across the Multiverse (explaining Kevin Feige's comments about Tom Holland's Spider-Man having the power to swing between worlds).
As for that standalone feature, we would expect it to be an origin story.
Here's a crazy theory that could play into the idea of a Multiverse, however; what if Marisa Tomei ends up playing Madame Web? We could have a lot of fun with that one!
6. Silk
Sony has ambitious plans to expand its slate of Spider-Man films and spinoffs, including on television. The LEGO Movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are hard at work on creating some sort of small screen slate, with Silk believed to be the first of them.
Cindy Moon has kinda, sorta been introduced as a background player in the MCU, but the key point is that she was bitten by the same radioactive spider that gave Peter Parker his powers.
Given her very different powers and links to characters like Ezekiel and Morlun, there's a lot that can be done with Silk in any world. When the wall-crawler gets a glimpse into the Spider-Verse, this is someone he needs to cross paths with (especially if rumors that Silk is coming to Disney+ are correct).
Like Spider-Woman, we'd only anticipate this being a minor cameo.
5. Video Game Spider-Man
There have been some hard to believe rumors online that the video game Spider-Man will be part of this Spider-Verse adventure, and it does make sense on a number of levels...pun intended!
Sony exclusively distributes the Spider-Man games on its PlayStation consoles, and as Disney owns the merchandising rights to the web-slinger, they surely have some sort of stake in that. That likely means it's in everybody's best interests to promote the games with this film.
We could see Peter or Miles, but as Marvel Studios primarily uses visual effects to create Spider-Man's suit, it would be easy to have him swing by for a cameo.
It's probably best to keep his mask on after the recent controversy, however.
4. The Lizard
No one is exactly chomping at the bit to see more Lizard (another pun for you), but it would make sense given his personal connection to The Amazing Spider-Man's Peter Parker and the tease that never paid off in that film's post-credits stinger.
Curt Connors knows something about that Spider-Man's mysterious origin, and while addressing that in this threequel doesn't feel entirely necessary, it would put a neat bow on those two films.
The death of Michael Massee means Gustav Fiers won't be returning to pull the strings, but if Dane DeHaan's Harry Osborn really is coming back, then Lizard is likely to follow.
3. Miles Morales
Rumor has it that Miles Morales has already been cast in Spider-Man 3. If that's the case, it surely won't be long before some casting news surfaces.
A compelling theory is that Shameik Moore will lend his voice to a live-action Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Miles, a logical decision when that version of Spidey has already experienced what it means to delve into the Multiverse. Then again, we'd love seeing Miles in the MCU on a permanent basis!
His uncle, Aaron Davis, referenced Miles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and it's about time that pay off.
It's also about time Miles makes his live-action debut.
2. Venom
We're not sure how keen Kevin Feige will be to bring Venom into the MCU sandbox, especially when the 2018 film was something of a disaster from a storytelling perspective.
However, Venom made money, and Sony wants this crossover to happen.
Some sort of tease that Venom 3 will pit Peter Parker against Eddie Brock will likely be a priority for Sony, even if it's just a chance meeting that, as mentioned, sees the Tom Holland's web-spinner gain a symbiote of his own. Leaving the door ajar for a crossover frees Marvel Studios from many any unnecessary commitments to Venom, while giving Sony exactly what it wants.
It is about time these two share the screen too.
1. Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)
Fans have fond memories of Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus, no great surprise when Spider-Man 2 was so great. However, Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin was equally as memorable a baddie.
Norman Osborn happens to be Spidey's greatest villain in the comics too, so if the threequel is going to see a multidimensional Sinister Six assemble, an argument could be made that Gobby should lead it.
A comic accurate costume this time around would be welcomed, but given the way Sam Raimi frequently teased Norman's return from the dead, it would be fun to learn that he's spent the past decade tormenting Tobey Maguire's Peter (now setting his sights on the entire Multiverse).
Is there room for Green Goblin and Doc Ock in the same film? We hope so.