Alfred Molina was ironically not Sony's first choice to play Otto "Doctor Octopus" Octavius, but he proved he was the right choice. Although he only played the character in two films, with 20 years in between those outings, the actor is as synonymous with Ock as any actor who has turned in a stellar performance as a comic book character with decades of legacy and lore to their name.
Interestingly, a third turn as the metallic-armed scientist might be in the cards, with Spider-Man still going strong at theaters after all these years. Moreover, Molina recently revealed that the option for more appearances was in his original contract. It was just never picked up.
Way back in the early 2000s, when the British thespian first signed on to be in Spider-Man 2, he inked a three-picture deal. Or so he was told. The climax of the film kind of didn't leave room for a return, since Otto sacrificed himself and sank to the bottom of the Hudson River and all.
"When I did Spider-Man 2 for Sam Raimi back in 2004, I remember at the time they had me on a three-movie option," Molina revealed to Variety. "The contract said that should they choose to renew that option, they had the right to bring me back. When I shot the scene where Octavius dies and sacrifices himself, I said to the producers, 'Well, I guess my option is null and void.'"
Longtime Spider-Man film and TV project producer Avi Arad tried to reassure him death is never permanent in comics or their film adaptations. While that is true, audiences didn't see Molina as Ock again until No Way Home hit screens. By then, he was older and unaware of the capabilities of digital effects.
Then, when they asked me to come back, I remember saying to Amy Pascal, 'I’ve got crow’s feet. I’ve got a double chin. I’m not a youngster anymore,' and the director, Jon Watts, said, 'Don’t worry, we can fix all of that with technology,'" Molina recalled. "So I jumped in, and No Way Home was great fun."
He is up for more fun playing the villain as an antihero, saying, "Honestly, if they came knocking on my door and said we’d love you to do it again, I would do it again, no doubt." However, Molina doesn't know what the future holds for old Otto and his mechanical arms. "I doubt if it’ll happen, though," he added.
Molina admitted he loves the new phase of Spidey films from Marvel, but he knows nothing about what Brand New Day has in store, not even the villains. While Doc Ock won't be breaking the threshold of the multiverse, Scorpion, Tombstone, and The Punisher are entering the fray. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink also makes her MCU debut in a mystery role that could portend the arrival of mutants.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31, 2026.
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