Spider-Man Theory: MCU Mysterio Is From An Alternate Universe

Amid all the theories and speculation surrounding Marvel Studios' first official film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's worth considering that Spider-Man: Far From Home's Mysterio could be from an alternate universe. This expanded universe involving multiple dimensions was the focus of Sony's animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and as far-fetched as it might seem to carry that same concept over to the MCU, it isn't completely implausible.

The way that Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) is presented in the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer proves that Marvel Studios is taking some creative liberties with the character. In the comics, his origins are decidedly tame. Instead of powers, he has illusions, and instead of fending off evil creatures, he's a down-on-his-luck multidisciplinary actor. So, the extent to which the source material is honored in the film remains to be seen, though there's a chance that aside from Beck cleverly misleading Peter, Spider-Man: Far From Home itself may end up pulling the rug out from underneath its own audience.

Mysterio is a worthy opponent for Spider-Man, which is exactly why fans have been hoping he'd finally get a shot on the big screen to prove his worth. Now, nearly two decades after Sony took the reins on Spider-Man (and 12 years since Sam Raimi nearly introduced Mysterio in Spider-Man 3), the Spidey vs. Mysterio face-off is finally happening. If this theory ends up coming true, then Quentin Beck's backstory won't just be unexpected, but forged in a completely separate universe than the one in which Spider-Man: Far From Home exists. He'll be a product of the Multiverse.

This Page: What We Know About Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home
Page 2: Could Mysterio Be Spider-Man From Another Universe?

Jake Gyllenhaal Isn’t The Mysterio You Expect

Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio in Spider-Man Far From Home

Mysterio's role in Spider-Man: Far From Home isn't quite as cut and dry as fans might have expected. Instead of playing the classic, mustache-twirling villain, he's actually positioned as a kind of hero. According to some details that have been revealed for the film - let alone how he's seen battling Hydro-Man in the trailer - he and Spidey actually work side-by-side to fight some newfound adversaries. Though it's no mystery that he'll eventually assume a more antagonistic role at some point in the film, his introduction is surprisingly good-natured.

Villains in the MCU have no doubt been hit-or-miss over the past ten-odd years, but they have - for the most part - fallen into a fairly traditional mold. Even if there are shades of good in them (see: Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Killmonger in Black Panther), the heroes have arguably been far more compelling and layered - until recently at least. With Mysterio, however, the MCU may be delving into wholly new territory. At once doing visual justice to the comics, but also subverting expectations with his eventual arc, Mysterio is shaping up to being something completely unprecedented in this cinematic universe. As a result, this opens the door for some exciting developments.

Jake Gyllenhall Was Almost Spider-Man In The 2000s

In order to dive headfirst into what is undoubtedly an out-there theory, some context about Gyllenhaal's involvement with the Spider-Man franchise will help. Prior to Tobey Maguire being cast in Sam Raimi's 2002 film, he had some competition. Everyone from Freddie Prinze Jr. to James Franco (who would end up playing Harry Osborn opposite Maguire) was considered, but so too considered was Gyllenhaal. Only, his brush with the Marvel universe wasn't a simple case of losing out on an audition. His nearly set-in-stone opportunity to play Spidey was dealt with a disappointing tease.

In 2002, Maguire had suffered some injuries on the set of Seabiscuit. So, to prevent an indefinite delay, Sony reached out to Gyllenhaal to replace him as Peter Parker for Spider-Man 2. As fate would have it, though, Maguire recovered from injuries quickly enough to remain in the film, and Gyllenhaal's short-lived shot at playing Spider-Man came to an end.

Now, there was no bad blood between Gyllenhaal and Sony, but it certainly became a casual talking point among Marvel fans about what might have been. In some alternate universe, perhaps there is a version of Raimi's Spider-Man films in which Gyllenhaal is starring as Parker; and, though that's hardly grounds for canon in the Spidey franchise, it's still casually part of the conversation. When Gyllenhaal was finally cast in a Spider-Man film - as a villain, no less - the irony didn't go unnoticed. But was his casting something Spider-Man: Far From Home's creative team did on purpose? Is the slight meta commentary actually more significant to the plot than Marvel is letting on? Considering how willing Marvel Studios is to think outside the box, it's definitely possible.

Page 2: Could Mysterio Be Spider-Man From Another Universe?

Theory: Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio Is Spider-Man From Another Dimension

The MCU is no stranger to villain twists. Ben Kingsley wasn't really Mandarin in Iron Man 3, Captain America: Winter Soldier reveals that S.H.I.E.L.D. was infiltrated by Hydra all along, etc. So, given that there is clearly plenty of misdirection surrounding Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home (which is fitting, considering his character's entire M.O.), fans can definitely anticipate something unexpected to flesh out at some point in the film. That said, the level of unexpectedness may be on a level even fans of the MCU won't be prepared for.

The title for Spider-Man: Far From Home is clearly referring to Peter traveling overseas with his classmates in Europe, but it could theoretically apply to Mysterio as well. Just like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, where it's revealed that there are other Spider-people sprinkled throughout the Multiverse, it isn't completely impossible for there to be a Multiverse within the MCU. And, if that ends up being the case, it's not completely impossible for Quentin Beck to have originally existed in a universe outside of the one in the MCU, only to end up stuck here for reasons unknown. It's a loose theory based more on possibility than probability, but it's a theory nonetheless.

In fact, the theory can go a step further to consider that Quentin Beck isn't exactly the character with whom comic book fans are familiar, but an alternate Spider-Man himself (to add some fuel to the fire, Gyllenhaal called his character "heroic" and even trolled fans by stating he thought he was playing Spidey in the film). And, by some complicated set of circumstances, Beck may find himself stuck in this universe - making him, not Peter, the character who is truly "far from home." In fact, he may have even been far from home for some time, not only void of his former Spider-Man identity, but forced to play second fiddle to Peter. And, if ever there have been motives for villains throughout the history of fiction, envy is as classic as it comes.

Mysterio is all about illusion and misdirection, and there are already theories suggesting that his battle with Hydro-Man in the trailer is little more than a staged attack; a way to save the day and earn credit as hero. So, if the Multiverse theory does end up playing out in Spider-Man: Far From Home, then the staged attack would certainly hold more weight, considering he'd want to pivot the attention away from Petter and essentially dethrone him as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. It'd also be a fun meta reference to Gyllenhaal's entire experience with the Spider-Man franchise, considering he came so close to actually being Spider-Man, only to have the opportunity taken from him. Obviously, he took the role of Mysterio in good spirit, but it would still be a fun, self-referential approach that could actually play into the growing cosmic side of the MCU.

Would This Spider-Man Twist Be Too Much For Far From Home?

The Elementals in Spider-Man Far From Home

While there is clearly such a thing as going too far in a movie, the MCU has a kind of open door policy for the bizarre. Of the many things it's normalized, talking raccoons, thunder-summoning gods, and a green half-giant are just scratching the surface. It's a world in which the impossible is the new norm. So, while the meta concept of having Gyllenhaal playing the character he lost out on two decades prior in a different universe, only to take on the role of villain simply out of a spite may seem too tongue-in-cheek to swallow, stranger things have happened in the MCU. In fact, Sony basically eased audiences into this idea already just this past December.

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, it's officially canon that other iterations of Spider-Man exist in different dimensions - in the Multiverse. It's not canon in the MCU, but the foundation has certainly been set; and that's not even taking into account the fact that the MCU has breached cosmic territory and doesn't seem keen on slowing down. A fun in-joke that also doubles as a unique take on a villain isn't quite as outlandish as the theory might seem at first glance.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is a movie that won't only feature a web-slinging teenager hired by a secret government agency, but giant creatures forged out of the elements, a theatrical dome-headed super villain, and a possible love story no one saw coming (see: Aunt May and Happy Hogan). Is allowing cross-dimensional travel into the mix such a stretch? Marvel Studios has been deliberately branding their films with more unique identities that exist outside of the simple "superhero" umbrella, so really thinking outside the box with a concept like this might actually be so bizarre it could actually work.