The upcoming third instalment [1] in Marvel's Spider-Man [2] series is shaping up to be a massive crossover event — but maybe not the way you might expect. Of course, the main characters [3] from the previous two movies are all set to return, starting with Tom Holland [4] as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, but it's the latest casting news, including major players from previous iterations [5] of the franchise, that has us all suspecting that a multiverse of Spider-Man (Spider-Men?) is on its way.
Along with the confirmed cast members, there are tons of rumours flying around that the upcoming third movie will be a multiverse story, similar to the animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. For instance, Collider reports that the main players from both previous Spider-Man film franchises are inking deals to return [6], claiming that Andrew Garfield and Kirsten Dunst [7] are already on board and that Tobey Maguire [8] and Emma Stone [9] will be back as long as scheduling allows it. Those particular rumours have yet to be confirmed by major industry sources, but you can take a look at who has been confirmed so far in the gallery ahead!
Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Following last year's deal between Marvel and Sony [10], Holland's version of Peter Parker will continue to sling his webs in the Marvel universe for now, returning to headline his third solo film.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange
For the third film in the Spider-Man series, the "mentor" role previously filled by Tony Stark will be taken over by Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. He'll appear in this movie ahead of his own sequel, 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Zendaya as MJ
Zendaya [11] is expected to be back for the third movie as Michelle Jones, aka "MJ," Peter's classmate and love interest.
Marisa Tomei as Aunt May
It wouldn't be Spider-Man without Aunt May, and Tomei's version of the character is set to return for the upcoming third movie.
Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds
Loyal BFF Ned has been right at Peter's side throughout the whole adventure so far, so it's no surprise that Batalon's character will be back for the third movie.
Tony Revolori as Eugene "Flash" Thompson
Revolori has had a supporting role as Peter's classmate and rival Flash through the first two movies, but longtime fans know he has a complicated fate awaiting him if the movies follow his arc from the comics.
Jamie Foxx as Max Dillon/Electro
Back in October, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Foxx would be reprising his role [12] as Electro. The mechanics of Foxx's return are still unclear, since he was last seen as the villain Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 back in 2014, where he faced off against Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man in a different universe than the current version.
Alfred Molina as Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel is digging way into the archives for this bit of casting [13]! Molina memorably played Doc Ock in 2004's Spider-Man 2, the second (and best-received) movie in Sony's original Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire [14]. Like Foxx's character, it's unclear how or why this iteration of Doc Ock is back and facing off against a different version of Spider-Man.