Despite endless rumors and speculation surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home, some lucky fans were able to remain unspoiled for the movie as it opened up the multiverse of Spider-Man in some exciting ways. But while some leaks outright spoiled some of the best surprises in the movie, there were other small hints to be found as well.
From early discussions of the sequel to other Marvel projects to early moments in the movie itself, these subtle clues didn't make it obvious what kind of multiverse fun the movie would explore but did suggest there might be something very special in store in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Early Casting News
While fans knew the likes of Tom Holland and Zendaya would be returning for the third Spider-Man movie, some of the other casting news was being kept oddly under wraps. Then came reports of both Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina reprising their roles as Electro and Doc Ock, respectively.
While the studios didn't comment on the casting, both actors ended up confirming their involvement. Though it was unclear if they would be playing new versions of their villainous characters, the fact that they were coming from the other Spider-Man franchises sparked a lot of attention.
Loki Breaks The Multiverse
With the inclusion of Evan Peters as Pietro Maximoff in WandaVision, fans thought it was confirmation of the multiverse coming into play in the MCU. That didn't turn out to be the case for that show, but Loki would follow through on the promise of introducing alternate realities in the cinematic universe.
Along with the variants and other versions of characters existing out in the multiverse, the finale of Loki's first season really embraced this ambitious idea. As the timeline splintered, huge repercussions were teased with the possibility of different timelines merging together.
What If…?
As the first animated series in the MCU, What If…? had the feeling that it was a fun way to explore new ideas in this universe, but that it didn't really have a big impact on the overall narrative of the cinematic universe.
However, it also explored the idea of the multiverse playing a larger role to come as The Watcher looked in new realities and the various versions of heroes fans love. It was another piece in the puzzle that suggested the endless opportunities of the multiverse would be explored in the future.
Alfred Molina's Loose Lips
While Jamie Foxx was premature in confirming his return as Electro (and the fact that he wouldn't be blue), it didn't compare to the information that Alfred Molina freely offered about his rumored return.
In an interview with Variety, Molina not only confirmed that he would be starring in the new Spider-Man adventure, but that he would be playing the same Doc Ock from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2. He went on to admit he would be digitally de-aged for the role and that the movie would undo Doc Ock's death.
Doctor Strange's Role
It seemed as though there was a trend in the solo Spider-Man movies that Peter Parker was teamed up with an older and more experienced MCU character, such as Tony Stark and Nick Fury. That trend seemed to continue with Spider-Man: No Way Home as Doctor Strange was confirmed to be involved.
However, the inclusion of Doctor Strange also sparked some interest as it had already been announced he would return for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With Strange tangling with the multiverse in his own movie, it further suggested such a story might play into Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Lizard's Silhouette
The early scenes of Spider-Man: No Way Home dealt with the direct aftermath of Peter's identity being revealed to the world and it would seem that would be the path the movie would take. However, when Peter attempts to have Doctor Strange reverse those events with a spell, the multiverse storyline really kicks off.
For fans who were not aware of where the story was going, this scene gives the first big clue of what's to come. When Strange's spell breaks loose and the multiverse is revealed, a silhouette of Lizard can be seen breaking through.
The Invisible Kick
Though the trailers for Spider-Man: No Way Home were willing to tease the fact that villains from other Spider-Man movies would be appearing, they still tried to hide some of the biggest surprises. Unfortunately, they underestimated how closely fans would be looking at each frame of the trailer.
In one particular shot, Spider-Man is seen swinging into action against three of the villains. However, despite the fact that Spider-Man is nowhere near him, it appears as though Lizard is kicked in the face, leading to assumptions that some mystery hero or heroes were removed from the shot.
"Hello Peter."
By the time the trailers for Spider-Man: No Way Home were released, Alfred Molina's return was a widely known secret, so it made sense that they were willing to feature him heavily in the footage. But even though his appearance was kept brief, it gave further hints.
The footage from the trailers showed Doc Ock greeting Holland's Spider-Man, saying "Hello, Peter." Later when he sees Peter's face, he claims he's not the Peter Parker he knows, adding to the speculation that Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man would appear.
The Daily Bugle And J. Jonah Jameson
The idea of the characters from other Spider-Man franchises seemed implausible just a short time ago. But it was actually Spider-Man: Far From Home that suggested this could be possible with a surprise appearance.
The fake video made by Mysterio was released by the Daily Bugle with J.K. Simmons reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson. However, the MCU's version was a new Jameson, setting precedent that the older franchises could play a role in the MCU.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage Post-Credit Scene
As the third Spider-Man adventure in the MCU was ramping up, Sony was also putting together their own Spider-Man cinematic universe, spearheaded by the Venom movies. There was a lot of confusion about how that universe fit in with the MCU, but a post-credit scene in Venom: Let There Be Carnage shed light on that fact while teasing big details about Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The scene finds Eddie and Venom on vacation when they suddenly find themselves transported to a completely different place where they see Holland's Spider-Man on the television. Though it wasn't clear what was going on, it seemed to suggest Venom found himself in the MCU.