Spider-Man: No Way Home is set to showcase the Marvel return of Tom Holland's web-slinger in a thrilling Multiverse adventure. The upcoming MCU threequel is filled with leaks and rumors in the leadup to its theatrical release, and one of the most talked-about speculations is Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's return as their respective Spider-Men.
Ever since the Multiverse became part of No Way Home's conversation, Maguire and Garfield's comebacks have been a consistent topic among Marvel fans. Leaked set photos from the threequel's production further dialed up hype since it featured the two aforementioned actors in costume as their web-crawlers.
The fun didn't stop there, as Holland addressed the rumored return of the pair in several interviews. The MCU veteran has denied numerous times that Maguire and Garfield are appearing in No Way Home, but he also gave conflicting answers and interesting teases in some interviews.
Now, as the film's premiere inches closer, an intriguing hint about Maguire and Garfield's return has emerged.
Marvel Teasing Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield's MCU Comebacks?
Facebook user Reggie Nelson, via @CaptainBayeee, uncovered evidence that Marvel is cryptically teasing Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
A screengrab from the Side Quest section of Marvel Contest of Champions shows three different missions involving Spider-Man's villains. By looking closely, the chapter names of each quest appear to collectively reference the three live-action Spider-Men actors.
Each side quest's title phonetically imitates the first names of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland. The first chapter is titled "To Be or Not To Be," which references "Tobey" not once but twice. Chapter 2's title, "And Rue the Day," cleverly hints at the "Andrew" in Andrew Garfield, while the third chapter, called "Tomfoolery," explicitly includes "Tom."
For each chapter, it's also worth pointing out that the villains featured are ones who fought the respective web-slingers. Chapter 1 has the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus from Maguire's universe, Rhino and Electro highlights Chapter 2 for Garfield's world, and Vulture and Mysterio take the spotlight in Chapter 3 for Holland's MCU.
In addition, the official description of the side quest also alludes to No Way Home's holiday setting:
"A Sinister Celebration
Relive some of Spider-Man's greatest big screen battles...with a holiday twist."
"Coincidence? I Think Not!"
This could serve as a hint that Marvel is slowly teasing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Many would agree that the reference is obvious to any Marvel fan, but this isn't the first time that Marvel Contest of Champions included an MCU reference in its updates.
The Marvel game often lines up its additional content with movie releases. A good example is last November's Eternals, where Ikaris and Sersi, who were voiced by Richard Madden and Gemma Chan, joined the game.
This development further proves that this new side quest is directly related to No Way Home. However, it's quite intriguing that a tease involving Maguire and Garfield is included.
This could be Marvel's tribute to the Spider-Man franchise as a whole, potentially honoring previous iterations of the web-slinger due to the appearance of Multiversal villains like Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin in the threequel.
On the other hand, it could be a fun nod to all the leaks and rumors involving the web-crawling pair, and it would likely pay off down the line when No Way Home either confirms or debunks their presence.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is set to premiere in theaters on December 17, 2021.
