In the months leading to its premiere, the anticipation surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home was sky-high due to the multitude of rumors attached to the movie and the ramifications caused by the ending of Spider-Man: Far From Home. One of the most talked-about rumors was the return of several cast members from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, such as Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, and the web-slinger himself, Tobey Maguire.
Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus was the first domino to fall in terms of confirmation. The Spider-Man 2 actor openly confirmed his involvement in an interview while revealing story details and the de-aging process that he went through for his return.
Rumors of Dafoe and Maguire's inclusion also emerged, thus cementing the Multiverse's presence in the film's narrative. No Way Home's second trailer eventually confirmed Dafoe's return as Green Goblin, with Tom Holland sharing an interesting behind-the-scenes story involving him and the veteran actor.
Despite insurmounting evidence of Maguire's appearance in the movie, Sony and Marvel Studios kept mum about the subject. The threequel's premiere ultimately confirmed the Spider-Man actor's return, leading to positive reception from fans and critics.
Now, the director attached to the Spider-Man trilogy has addressed the return of the aforementioned actors in No Way Home.
Sam Raimi Praises Spider-Man Trilogy Cast
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director Sam Raimi sat down with Variety to talk about Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, and Alfred Molina's return in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Raimi admitted that seeing the trio back in the MCU threequel was "so much fun" while also revisiting his theatrical experience while watching the movie. The Marvel director also offered high praise for Maguire, saying that he was "awesome as always:"
“It was so much fun. I love ‘No Way Home’ and the audience I was with went crazy. It was delightful to watch Alfred play his role, and Willem Dafoe, just seeing these guys take it to the next level. And Tobey was awesome as always. The best word I can say is it was refreshing for me.”
Will Tobey Maguire Return for Doctor Strange 2?
Sam Raimi's latest comments should further hype the buzz surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home, especially considering the director's ties to the threequel. Given that No Way Home served as a celebration of three generations of Spider-Man, it's fitting to see Raimi's remark.
It was previously rumored that No Way Home's production team consulted with Raimi and The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb about completing the backstories for Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's characters for the MCU flick.
It's unknown if this rumor is true, but the film's connection to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness suggests that the Marvel director would've been made aware of Maguire's return alongside the villains.
Given that Raimi's next project is the Doctor Strange sequel, the director's comments could fuel discussion about Maguire's potential comeback as Spider-Man in another film dedicated to the Multiverse. The pair had a great working relationship during the Spider-Man trilogy, and it would be fitting to see them reunite anew in the upcoming sequel.
On the flip side, the campaign for Spider-Man 4 has gained steam due to Maguire's return in No Way Home. If Sony decides to move forward with the project, many would agree that seeing Raimi back in the director's chair would be a fitting tribute.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is now playing in theaters worldwide, while Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to premiere in theaters on May 6, 2022.
