Check out the details revealed and what may be in store for the Webslinger in the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer out now!
What just happened?
As we reported earlier, an incomplete prototype trailer of the Spider-Man: No Way Home film coming later this year was leaked. Social media platforms were abuzz with activity sharing the video, whether it is on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter. Even with the very low resolution copy of the trailer, fans could ascertain most of the plot elements. Not long after, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures sought out social media accounts and websites featuring the leaked trailer, blacklisting them and issuing copyright strikes. However, it may have been too little too late. Fans had a taste of the trailer and were calling out for the full version to be released.
— CinemaCon (@CinemaCon) August 24, 2021 The official trailer was indeed scheduled for release during CinemaCon at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. But there was no official word from Sony Pictures that it would become available for public consumption after that event.
Be careful what you wish for
In an unprecedented move by Sony Pictures, the company decided to release the official trailer publicly through YouTube quickly after the CinemaCon debut, not waiting for the event to end on August 26. The official Marvel Entertainment YouTube channel also followed suit. You can check the high-definition Sony Pictures trailer below: While Marvel Studios/Disney has done this before when the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer leaked back in October 2014, this is the first time that Sony Pictures has done something similar. Although Marvel Studios/Disney and Sony Pictures were quick to police the leaked trailer, there would be no clear way of completely preventing it from being shared continuously. But the decision of having the official trailer available appears to be the right choice. The Sony Pictures Entertainment YouTube version swiftly hit millions of views. As of the time of this writing, the Spider-Man: No Way Home official trailer has clocked in over 20 million views.
Hello Peter
With the release of the official Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer, we can now glean some of the specifics regarding the film’s main plot and characters:
The film picks up almost immediately after the end-credits with Peter and MJ being chased through Times Square. After the Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) shockingly revealed Peter’s secret identity, civilians, press, and authorities pursue the duo, including helicopters. The ramifications of the bombshell reveal will be the focus of the first half of the film. Peter Parker will be vilified for the murder of Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) from Spider-Man: Far From Home.
There will be investigations and inquiries. Aside from Peter, his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), and MJ (Zendaya) will be questioned by the authorities as to what they know. In a moment of epiphany (or desperation), Peter approaches Doctor Stephen Strange. Although Peter does not understand how magic works, he takes a chance that there might be something the Master of the Mystic Arts can do to make the world forget about his dual identity. Strange, perhaps as a favor for Spider-Man’s assistance in saving the universe in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, agrees to cast a spell that can accomplish Peter’s request. However, Doctor Strange’s fellow sorcerer and ally Wong warns both of them that this is dangerous.
This is a variation to the Marvel Comics story One More Day where Peter makes a deal with Mephisto to save the life of Aunt May, but at the cost of everyone forgetting his secret identity, including his marriage to the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson (and, by extension, losing their future daughter). As Strange is casting the spell, Peter keeps interrupting as he had apprehensions about the spell being all-encompassing, wishing to have at least his close relationships to retain the knowledge of his alter ego. Peter’s mixed intentions causes Doctor Strange’s spellcasting to go wrong, which has negative repercussions to the multiverse.
Based on the scenes that follow, reality is unraveling, as alternate universes collide, creating havoc. In the end, signs of old villains from other Spider-Man films pop in, including possible nods to Electro, the Sandman, and the Green Goblin, culminating in the arrival of Doc Ock (Alfred Molina) greeting his nemesis with “Hello, Peter”.
But with these revelations come more questions. Why would Doctor Strange agree to perform the magical ritual after Wong warned of its danger? Is Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox) from the Netflix Marvel show confirmed as Peter’s legal counsel? What changes did the spell have on the MCU Spider-Man’s history? Given that he still has his Iron Spider suit designed by Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), does this mean Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) retain their memories of him? Was Doctor Octopus talking to the Tom Holland Peter Parker? That seems odd, unless he was actually addressing the Tobey Maguire version. On that note, where are Tobey and Andrew Garfield? If they are in the movie, the trailer certainly did a good job of not showing clear signs of them.
Now that everybody knows
Given the astounding reaction to the official trailer and buzz being generated, fans wonder why Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures waited this long to even release a teaser trailer. With Spider-Man: No Way Home arriving in theaters in less than 4 months, what will the full trailers show? Will they finally confirm the Spider-Verse crossover speculations? We will do whatever a spider can to keep an eye out, that’s for sure. Directed by Jon Watts, Spider-Man: No Way Home stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Toni Revolori, Angourie Rice, Alfred Molina, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Benedict Wong. The film will be swinging into your friendly neighborhood theaters on December 17, 2021.
