Spider-Man: No Way Home continues to make its impressive run in theaters, marking the fourth complete solo trilogy in MCU history. Following in the footsteps of 2013's Iron Man 3, 2016's Captain America: Civil War, and 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel's last movie of 2021 threw Tom Holland's Peter Parker into the most intense solo adventure in Spidey's cinematic history.
As more fans take in the biggest moments that this movie has to offer over its 148-minute runtime, the usual round of MCU Easter eggs and teases begin to make themselves more easily findable upon second, third, and fourth viewings. While some of these pay tribute to other franchises like the ever-popular Star Wars, others keep things right at home by referencing the history of Marvel Comics and movies alike.
Fans noticed the significance of the final battle taking place at the Statue of Liberty, which also happened in 2000's X-Men, and the Statue also paid tribute to one of the MCU's original Avengers in Captain America. Now, Marvel has revealed another interesting in-universe Easter egg with No Way Home's full screenplay unveiled to the public.
Ragnarok Nod in No Way Home
Deadline provided access to the full and complete final cut screenplay for Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is currently playing in theaters. One moment included an Easter Egg from 2017's Thor: Ragnarok.
On page 42, the action and dialogue detail the end of Doctor Strange's spell that's supposed to make the entire world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
As Peter and Strange are lifted to their feet, the script notes that Strange's apprentices upstairs are reaching for a shaking relic that "falls apart" as the spell reaches its most chaotic point.
The script specifically notes that this is the same artifact that Chris Hemsworth's Thor knocked over upon meeting Doctor Strange in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, causing it to fall apart.
"UPSTAIRS, ON THE APPRENTICES: One of them reaches for a shaking relic (the same one Thor knocked over in RAGNAROK). Too late. It falls apart."
"So Earth Has Wizards Now, Huh?"
The way the screenplay is written, it's unclear if there was supposed to be a shot of this unnamed artifact falling apart while Strange tried to contain the haywire spell he was casting. Even so, Marvel noting that this is the same specific item that fans in Thor: Ragnarok shows once again how invested the team is in maintaining its continuity.
In Ragnarok, there were no signs pointing to what this artifact actually did since it was only shown as something Thor used to unsuccessfully keep his hands busy upon meeting Strange. The stand he played with housed seemingly more than a dozen small and pointy spear-looking things, and it brought a comedic moment when he gave up on putting them back as he found out what Strange was all about.
While this wasn't the only Easter egg utilized in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it's one that likely never would have been found by simply watching the movie.
Viewers may have expected that this artifact would still be in the Sanctum Sanctorum regardless of how much time passed between Ragnarok and No Way Home, although Marvel noting its presence in the script provides a fun memory of that moment from Phase 3. Fans will be on the hunt for more moments like this, especially with both Thor and Spider-Man set for more adventures in Phase 4 and beyond.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is now playing in theaters worldwide, and the full script can be read here.
