The new trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home has broken records on YouTube, as it beat Avengers: Endgame’s record of most views in a 24-hour period. The No Way Home trailer received over 135 million views in its first 24 hours, and there are many reasons why.
The trailer raises even more questions about the movie than fans already had, which is saying a lot. But between the reveal of Doctor Octopus, Peter Parker’s new mentor, and incorporating the mirror dimension, the No Way Home trailer is everything fans wanted and more.
Doctor Stange Will Be Peter’s New Mentor
There has only been one Doctor Strange movie, but it’s hard to believe that it has been five years since it was released, as the hero has been such an important character in the Infinity Saga. It seems like that will continue, as he’ll be taking over from Tony Stark as Peter’s mentor.
Though Marvel's Redditors think Dr. Strange is generic, it seems like there will be a few surprises when it comes to the character. Some have speculated that Doctor Strange isn’t actually his real self based on the unusual way he acts in the trailer, and it looks like he’s even fighting Spider-Man on top of the train.
The Electro Tease
Electro’s role in the movie has been heavily discussed ever since it was announced back in October of this year. The reason isn’t that it‘s a new MCU take on the character, but because it’s the return of Jamie Foxx’s Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Electro’s return sparked some hilarious memes, as well as beginning the excitement of the multiverse.
Although Electro doesn’t appear in the trailer, there are sparks of lightning that hit several police cars, which harkens back to a very similar scene in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. However, what makes it exciting is that it’s yellow lightning bolts instead of blue, and this has led to speculation that Electro's look will be entirely redesigned.
It’s Set During Halloween
The MCU has rarely taken advantage of seasonal holidays. The only time this has happened is Iron Man 3, where fans were given a Christmas setting, However, Spider-Man: No Way Home will change that. Based on the trailer, the movie is set during Halloween and it’s the perfect movie to do it.
As the Halloween theme is usually connected with family movies, the Spider-Man series is the closest to the family movie genre that the MCU has ever gotten. There are even Halloween decorations modeled after Doctor Strange, which lays the way for the exciting possibility of seeing other MCU heroes' likenesses used as Halloween merchandise.
It Teased Mephisto
Mephisto has been long talked about as the next big bad to replace Thanos, as there were hints in WandaVision and Loki. Though general audiences might not have heard of the character, Mephisto is an evil shapeshifter and one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel comics.
The character is essentially Marvel’s take on the devil, and he is hinted at in the trailer, as there’s a banner of Peter Parker with devil horns when civilians are protesting against Spider-Man. There’s even a storyline in the comics where Peter makes a deal with Mephisto to erase everyone’s memory of the web-slinger, which further adds credence that Strange might be an imposter.
Sanctum Sanctorum Mystery
There are loads of questions raised in the trailer, whether it’s what’s going on with the multiverse or why Peter and Stephen are fighting on the train. But one of the most casual mysteries seen in the trailer is related to Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.
When Peter visits the Sanctorum to speak with Strange, the place is covered in snow. There are many theories surrounding this, such as Strange not having yet fixed the hole in the roof that the Hulk made in Avengers: Infinity War. However, that can be quickly debunked because it’s perfectly sunny outside in the scene.
Combining The Mirror Dimension With Web-Slinging
One of the biggest appeals of Spider-Man movies and why so many of them have been successful is because of how adrenaline-fuelled they are. There’s a sense of speed with the web-slinging that Iron Man flying or Thor throwing his hammer just can’t rival.
When it comes to Doctor Strange, the mind-warping Inception-like mirror dimension is the best CGI effect in the MCU. Now, those two worlds are colliding, and there are going to be action scenes that combine the mirror dimension and the countless abilities that Peter’s spider suit can offer.
Happy Is Involved In The Action Again
Despite being Tony Stark’s right-hand man, Happy has become more connected to Spider-Man than the Iron Man. After his small part in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Happy had a much more action-oriented role in Far From Home, as he was on the ground helping the teenagers escape the drones.
The trailer for No Way Home sees him once again on the ground, this time looking terrified in his car. However, it isn’t clear how much of a presence he will have, and based on the trailer and Doctor Strange’s pivotal role in the movie, it seems like Happy might take a backseat.
The Green Goblin Is Back
Although the announcements of every character’s return from each of the different series have been well documented, the Green Goblin’s return was Marvel Studios' best-kept secret. Other actors could play the Green Goblin, but Willem Defoe’s depiction was terrifically hammy in Spider-Man, and it seems like he’s back in No Way Home too.
In the trailer, the Goblin’s pumpkin bomb rolls out from a cloud of smoke. While it hasn’t been officially announced that it’s Willem Defoe who is back gliding on the hoverboard, it’s the actor’s iconic laugh that’s heard from behind the smoke.
Doctor Octopus Is Back
Alfred Molina’s return as Doctor Octopus was another announcement that came months ago and had fans jumping for joy. Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 is one of the most universally praised takes on a comic book villain, and it’s why the film is the perfect superhero sequel.
In the No Way Home trailer, the villain doesn’t seem to have changed one iota in look or character. Molina has been de-aged in the new movie, so Otto looks exactly like he did 17 years ago. But the most exciting part of the whole Doc Ock package is his hair-raising delivery of “Hello Peter” when he meets Spidey on the bridge.
It Hints At Gwen Stacy’s Introduction (And Death)
The George Washington Bridge is an iconic monument in the Spider-Verse, as it’s where Gwen Stacy was murdered by the Green Goblin in the comics.
In the trailer, Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus’s introduction is on that very bridge, and that means Gwen Stacy could be introduced in the movie (and of course, there’s the possibility of her death too). However, the MCU hasn’t always followed the comic books beat for beat, so it could be hinting at the death of another one of Peter’s close friends, or even MJ.