Alfred Molina opens up about Doctor Octopus’ return in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 star, Alfred Molina, has opened up about the return of Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
During an interview with Variety, Alfred Molina opened up about his return to the role of Doctor Octopus for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home. The veteran star told the outlet that he was “under orders” not to discuss any matters regarding the upcoming superhero film.
However, Molina not only confirmed his involvement in the Tom Holland-led movie, he went into detail about what it was like working on Spider-Man: No Way Home and how he returned to one of the most prominent roles in his career. He commented:
"“It was wonderful. It was very interesting going back after 17 years to play the same role, given that in the intervening years, I now have two chins, a wattle, crow’s feet and a slightly, a slightly dodgy lower back.”"
Molina admitted to having concerns over reprising the role of Doc Ock as it had been some time since he first portrayed the character, though he did reveal that No Way Home director Jon Watts assured him they could use de-ageing technology.
However, the four-time Tony Award nominee did highlight the potential limitations of that filmmaking technique, despite its excellent use on actors with the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson in MCU films Captain America: Civil War and Captain Marvel respectively, citing The Irishman as an example:
"“They made Robert De Niro’s face younger, but when he was fighting, he looked like an older guy. He looked like an older guy! That’s what, that’s what worried me about doing it again.”"
In hindsight, however, Molina recollected that it was mainly “the tentacles that do all the work!” Therefore he will probably ease back into the role well without having to put as much physicality into it as the final product will undoubtedly suggest.
Which version of Doctor Octopus is Alfred Molina playing in Spider-Man: No Way Home?
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The most interesting part of the conversation was the revelation that Molina will seemingly be playing the same version of Doc Ock that he played in Spider-Man 2, suggesting that No Way Home would somehow bring the character back. And this has no doubt excited fans at the possibility of seeing him reprise that exact role – given that he was widely considered one of the best comic book movie villains of all time.
Molina isn’t the only familiar Spider-Man star set to appear in No Way Home as The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s Jamie Foxx will reportedly reprise his role from that movie as Electro (though it has not yet been confirmed if he will be playing the same version he previously played or a new one altogether). There are also rumors of villains from other Spider-Man movies appearing in the film too but these remain unconfirmed.
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What do you think about what Alfred Molina said on his return as Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: No Way Home? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.