Ahead of its release, we knew that J.K. Simmons, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina and more would be reprising their roles as the past villains, but fans are eager to know who else might be returning.
James Franco had an incredibly prominent role in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, going from best friend, to villain, to hero across those movies.
Franco has had many public critics over recent years after multiple accusations of sexual misconduct were made against him as well as several lawsuits. With so many characters set to return, many will be curious as to whether Marvel took the plunge on bringing Franco back too.
**Spoiler warning for the plot of Spider-Man: No Way Home
James Franco’s Role in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Franco played Harry Osborn, son of Norman Osborn and best friend to Peter Parker in the original Spider-Man trilogy. He eventually took on the identity of the Green Goblin after his father died, but soon redeemed himself by helping Peter in the final battle of Spider-Man 3. He actually died in that fight, but the death of a character hasn’t stopped other characters from returning for No Way Home.
Neither iteration of Harry Osborn appears in Spider-Man: No Way Home (Dane DeHaan played him in The Amazing Spider-Man 2), but we do hear about Franco’s version of the character. Hearing his story also has a direct influence on the events of the plot of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
When Norman Osborn (Dafoe) arrives in the new Spider-Man world he seems mad, bumbling about not having Oscorp or knowing where Harry is.
Later on, Tobey Maguire, who has also arrived from the same universe as Norman, Doc Oc and Sandman, talks to Ned about his best friend. Ned wants to know if he has a “guy in the chair” like he is for his Peter Parker (Tom Holland).
Peter (Maguire) informs him that he did have a best friend, but that friend eventually turned evil, tried to kill him and then died himself trying to save Peter.
Ned is visibly shaken by this news and in what must come as a surprise to his Peter (Holland), he tells him that he promises not to become a villain and try to kill him. This all sounds very specific and, now that Ned has some magical abilities, could be foreshadowing of things to come. It also could be a double bluff by the MCU makers to keep viewers on edge for the future of Holland’s Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is out in movie theaters everywhere now.
