Spider-Man 3 is going to tell a grander story than we could have ever predicted. With actors like Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Foxx apparently locked in to reprise their past roles, you don't need us to spell out that this threequel appears to be heading into the Spider-Verse.
Marvel's Multiverse looks to be a major part of the studio's storytelling plans throughout Phase 4, and Spider-Man 3 could be a big test for the concept ahead of the Doctor Strange sequel.
With a film as big as this one, it's inevitable that there will be a lot of rumors out there.
It's too soon to tell you whether these are true, but we can safely say that while some are spectacular, others just plain suck. Whether it's something as exciting as a classic bad guy's return or as dismal as a dumb-sounding plot reveal, we'd love to hear your take on this lot...
10. Willem Dafoe Is Returning As Green Goblin
Sam Raimi used Spider-Man 2 and its sequel to tease Willem Dafoe's return as Green Goblin, but it seems Norman Osborn's resurrection could take place in this film instead.
What sort of role he'll play in the story is up for debate, but Norman being revealed as the mastermind of whatever threat Peter Parker is facing would be no bad thing.
In the comics, Norman has devoted his life to tormenting the wall-crawler, so having his Goblin take on the role of Morlun by travelling from Earth to Earth to kill Spider-Men would be a spectacular premise for a film like Spider-Man 3. Even if this is just a cameo, it will be appreciated.
We just hope he has a better costume this time around.
9. The Spider-Slayers
J. Jonah Jameson was reintroduced at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, and we'd like to see him take on a more active role in Spider-Man 3 than just being an online news reporter.
This rumor about the Spider-Slayers could be an indication that Jonah will play a part in bringing Peter Parker to justice, going so far as to enlist Spencer Smythe to create a robotic army for him.
There's every chance this could even tie into Scorpion's creation!
It may be a big, or small, part of this film, but the Spider-Slayers are long overdue a live-action debut, and this feels like the best possible time to introduce them.
8. Charlie Cox's Daredevil Return
One of the most spectacular rumors to grace this piece, using Spider-Man 3 to reboot Daredevil for the MCU...well, it's something we couldn't be more on board with if we tried!
Peter Parker will need a lawyer to represent him in court after being framed for murder, and while Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk could have taken on that role, bringing Charlie Cox back and giving him another crack at playing Matt Murdock is a fan-pleasing, genius decision.
The actor was saddled with dire material in the Netflix series, but made the best of it to deliver a killer performance.
We can only hope Vincent D'Onofrio (Wilson Fisk) and Jon Bernthal (Punisher) eventually join him because that trio managed to elevate Marvel Television's material significantly.
7. WandaVision Sets The Stage For Spider-Man 3
During Disney's Investor Day, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige confirmed that WandaVision and Spider-Man 3 both lead into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
This lines up with an early rumor that WandaVision will explain what leads to the wall-crawler heading into the Spider-Verse, making the Disney+ series essential viewing for Spidey fans.
Whether it's Wanda's doing or a sinister, outside force, something is clearly coming in the series that will explain what looks like a Phase devoted to exploring the Marvel Multiverse.
If WandaVision opens the door to that, Spider-Man 3 might just kick it down.
6. Miles Morales Has Already Been Cast
Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire sound like a lock for this threequel, while The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 3 alums Emma Stone and Kirsten Dunst are likely set to join them,
Will those be the only Spider-Men Tom Holland's Peter Parker meets?
Perhaps not. Miles Morales may have already been cast for this threequel. There's been speculation that one of the character's voice actors may have been asked to come on board, but not showing the diverse face beneath the mask would be a huge blunder, so we're hoping Marvel Studios might have found a talented unknown to bring Miles to live-action.
We're not banking on this happening, but boy would it be spectacular.
5. Mysterio Returns
In the Spider-Men comic, Mysterio was revealed to have found a way to travel between worlds. That meant he was able to battle Peter Parker on one Earth and Miles Morales on another.
Quentin Beck may have lied about being from elsewhere in the Multiverse in Spider-Man: Far From Home, bu-wait. Did he lie? He certainly seemed to know a lot about that idea, so we're wondering if he was playing the ultimate long con and never actually had an issue with Tony Stark.
After faking his demise to frame Peter and expose Spider-Man's secret identity, Beck might have a whole new plan in Spider-Man 3...one that involves creating an interdimensional Sinister Six.
His return would be a fitting creative decision that helps tie this threequel to its predecessor.
4. Kraven The Hunter Hunts Spider-Man
One of the earliest Spider-Man 3 rumors pointed to Peter Parker being hunted down, appropriately, by Kraven the Hunter.
It was reported that Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures were on the lookout for a "Joel Kinnaman-type" to play the villain, though it seems more likely he was wanted for J.C. Chandor's Kraven the Hunter film.
In Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley's Ultimate Spider-Man, Peter defeated Kraven with one punch. That led to him altering his DNA in order to become powerful enough to battle Spidey, and it's that which could serve as a fitting premise for the solo outing in the works at Sony.
So, it could work, but we'd rather see Kraven saved for something bigger and better than a cameo.
3. Dane DeHaan Returns As Green Goblin
It's bad enough that Jamie Foxx is returning as Electro after The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but at least we've seen enough of the Oscar-winner to know he stands a good chance of reinventing the villain.
There's nothing Dane DeHaan can really do with his Green Goblin, however, because even a total redesign won't make the actor a better fit for a villain who was clearly outside his comfort zone.
This Goblin's desire to form the Sinister Six means his invovlement would make sense for the story, but beyond that? This just isn't necessary, and there are vastly better ways to make use of Harry.
We're gonna take a hard pass. Sorry, Dane.
2. Ned Leeds Becomes The Hobgoblin
Coming from the same source that reported on Dane DeHaan's return, this rumor is a long way from spectacular.
If you know your comics, you'll know that even Ned Leeds becoming Hobgoblin on another Earth doesn't make sense. Ned was framed as being this villain, but it was always Roderick Kingsley beneath the mask. Having Ned take on the role does a disservice to both characters, but more crucially, the Hobgoblin moniker as well.
The villain should be used for much more than just a throwaway cameo.
When the Green Goblin is brought into the MCU, Hobgoblin can easily follow, and the mystery surrounding his identity would make for enjoyable viewing for fans and non-fans alike.
1. Spider-Man Meets Venom
This is the meeting we've all been dreaming of, huh?
If you loved Venom, that's probably true, and there's something to be said for how much fun it would be for Tom Holland and Tom Hardy's respective characters to cross paths. It's going to happen sooner rather than later, but let it play out in Sony's own Marvel Universe rather than the MCU.
Andy Serkis is hopefully going to put the franchise back on the right track with Venom: Let There Be Carnage, so this meeting deserves time to breathe in a film of its own.
Shoehorning it into Spidey's first trip into the Spider-Verse would be a mistake.