Marvel Studios is in no way lacking with major new releases within the MCU in 2021; the team will soon be releasing a potential Oscars contender in theaters with Chloé Zhao's Eternals. Take all that into consideration, and there is still no movie in MCU history that's built up a level of anticipation like that coming with Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Over a month after its release, fans are in awe over the film's first official trailer, which shattered the record for most views in 24 hours that was previously held by Avengers: Endgame. That makes plenty of sense, however, considering the trailer showed signs of the MCU's Multiverse coming apart at the seams and bringing major players like Alfred Molina's Otto Octavius and even possibly Tom Hardy's Venom into play.
Although it could be assumed that a movie this big would have a similarly big marketing campaign, a la one of the Avengers team-up movies, Sony and Marvel have been quieter than expected on that front.
Merchandise leaks teased Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange along with the impact of Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio in the story itself. Even more recently, an expected source utilized an image that should keep No Way Home's hype train chugging along at full speed.
The Amazing Spider-Man Meets No Way Home
Uncovered by Twitter user @SpiderMan3News, an unexpected Spidey is featured on the Russian website for Skittles' promotional partnership with Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The website includes a link to the movie's first trailer, although the thumbnail notably features Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man instead of Tom Holland's.
The image itself is a flipped promotional still from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Was this a lazy marketing mistake, or a sign of something more?
Additionally, on the Russian website, part of the translated text that comes with the trailer reads "there is no way home."
More Evidence for Garfield's Spider-Man Return
Marvel and Sony have already teased a full-blown Sinister Six roster coming to Spider-Man: No Way Home; the first trailer alone featured teases for Green Goblin and the Lizard along with a full shot of Alfred Molina.
Additionally, there is a similar level of anticipation building with rumors of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield both playing their respective Peter Parkers in the film, teaming up with Tom Holland's hero.
Garfield in particular has spoken often about the likelihood of making a comeback as the web-slinger in this blockbuster, although he's been careful to avoid actually confirming anything one way or another. From commenting on the leaked image of himself to claiming he knows what happens in the movie itself, the British star has remained at the forefront of No Way Home's promotional tour despite no confirmation that he's involved.
For a film that doesn't even have an official poster released to the public, the next two months will be a wild ride to the finish line as No Way Home continues to build anxiety and excitement. Once Eternals makes its own bang in early November, the threequel will take center stage with nothing else standing in its way.
Spider-Man: No Way Home will debut in theaters on December 17, 2021.
