Willem Dafoe Kills Hope Of MCU Green Goblin

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Willem Dafoe's Spider-Man: No Way Home return kills any hope of Green Goblin having a future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe–but his performance is worth it. Dafoe's return as the iconic villain came nearly two decades after he originally played Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man. Despite the character's death in the 2002 movie, he returned as Green Goblin for both sequels. No Way Home's use of Dafoe's Green Goblin is only possible through the multiverse, and while he isn't from the MCU's main timeline, there's now no reason for the character to be introduced in another fashion.

Thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home's multiverse story, the movie explains that some people from different universes who know Peter Parker is Spider-Man come to the MCU as a result of Doctor Strange's botched spell. Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, and Lizard join Green Goblin in finding their way to a universe where Tom Holland's Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Doctor Strange's proposed solution is to send the villains back to their original universes where they are destined to die, but Spider-Man has another plan. He wants to help cure Spider-Man: No Way Home's multiverse villains of what makes them threats for the chance that it'll save their lives. While some are receptive to this news, Dafoe's Green Goblin is anything but. Norman Osborn's other personality goes to any extremes necessary to prevent going back to his original universe.

Dafoe's Green Goblin pushes Holland's Spider-Man to the edge in Spider-Man: No Way Home and is a highlight of the entire film. Many hoped that the multiverse could mean Dafoe sticks around in the MCU to play Norman Osborn/Green Goblin moving forward. This is unlikely as Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending sends Dafoe back to the Raimi universe. As a result of this decision and information provided in the movie, Green Goblin doesn't appear to have any future in the MCU - but it's an easier pill to swallow after Willem Dafoe's stellar performance.

Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin Steals No Way Home

Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man No Way Home

It is not hyperbole to say Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin is one of the best parts of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Although he isn't brought into the story until the end of the first act, he steals every scene once he appears. Not only is he incredibly powerful and a huge threat to Peter, but Dafoe effortlessly falls back into his twisted and maniacal Green Goblin performance. It is nice to see Alfred Molina's Doc Ock again or how Jamie Foxx's Electro was reinvented, but they don't come close to matching the very specific energy Dafoe brings. His ability to switch between Norman Osborn's more sympathetic and confused mindset and the menacing Green Goblin personality is seamless.

Part of the magic behind Dafoe's Spider-Man: No Way Home performance is the decision to remove the Green Goblin mask from the equation. The mask is an iconic part of his look from Sam Raimi's trilogy, and while many viewers are fond of the helmet, there is the criticism that it hides Dafoe's naturally compelling face. Once Norman smashes the mask in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Willem Dafoe is allowed to truly shine in his Green Goblin performance. His wide, glassy eyes and creepy smile are on full display from that point on without the Green Goblin costume's mask. His fight with Spider-Man in the halls of Happy Hogan's apartment building perfectly illustrates the magic of Dafoe's ability, as his terrifying smile grows larger as Peter repeatedly punches him in the face.

No Way Home Confirms Oscorp Doesn't Exist In The MCU

Norman Osborn yelling at the OsCorp board of directors in Spider-Man 2002

Spider-Man: No Way Home also leaves the status of Norman Osborn in the MCU unknown, as it confirms Oscorp does not exist. Once Dafoe's Norman ends up in the MCU and destroys the Green Goblin mask, he searches this new world in a confused state to try and find remnants of his life. However, he discovers that someone else is living in his house, and there is a hint that something terrible happened to Harry Osborn in the MCU. The other finding that messes with Norman is the discovery that Oscorp doesn't exist in the MCU. Oscorp Technologies was Norman's pride and joy in Raimi's Spider-Man franchise, so the discovery that it isn't even around is devastating to him.

The confirmation that Oscorp isn't in the MCU is a big deal. It doesn't directly mean that Norman Osborn doesn't exist, but it solidifies that he isn't quite as accomplished of a businessman as Dafoe's version was. The lack of Oscorp's existence could be tied to the dominance of Stark Industries in the MCU. There aren't many major rivals to Stark's enterprise, as Tony's business and resources likely monopolized the tech, weapons, and science landscape. That could leave no room for Oscorp to thrive in the MCU's past. This also debunks the popular theory that Osborn is the new owner of Avengers Tower and transformed it into Oscorp Tower.

No MCU Green Goblin Could Work Now

spider man no way home trailer green goblin mask(1)

There isn't space or a need for Green Goblin in the MCU now after Spider-Man: No Way Home. Instead, Marvel can take Norman Osborn and the Goblin villain mantle in different directions. If Norman still exists in the MCU, having his story unfold in a new way is more exciting. He can rise to power following Tony Stark's Avengers: Endgame death and fulfill parts of his comic story that previous movies haven't even come close to touching. The MCU could push Norman Osborn to be more of the evil Iron Man-type, having him become the leader of the Thunderbolts, S.H.I.E.L.D., or H.A.M.M.E.R. and wear the Iron Patriot armor. This would potentially allow the shared universe to progress towards an adaptation of Dark Reign or Seige centered around Norman Osborn. All of this is possible without retreading Norman's Green Goblin story and pitting Spider-Man against a new version of a villain he's already defeated.

Instead of going down the Green Goblin route in the future, the MCU can once again go in a different direction and possibly fix past movie mistakes. If Norman Osborn doesn't become Green Goblin, there's a chance the MCU's Harry Osborn could take on the mantle instead. James Franco and Dane DeHaan's versions of Harry both became Goblins, but neither one of them was particularly well-received. The MCU could use this opportunity to try and get Harry Osborn as Green Goblin right. If that isn't something Marvel or Sony wants to do, the Green Goblin mantle as a whole could be put aside in favor of Hobgoblin. There has been much speculation that Ned Leeds could become the Spider-Man villain in the future, a fate Spider-Man: No Way Home even jokes about. Ned's Hobgoblin would be a fresh change of pace for the overall Spider-Man movie franchise and give Holland's web-slinger a tragic villain for the next trilogy.

Dafoe Is So Perfect As Green Goblin That It Doesn't Matter

Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2002 and No Way Home

Although there will be some level of disappointment from audiences if the MCU doesn't include a proper Green Goblin as a major Spider-Man threat, the character isn't needed anymore. Green Goblin is already responsible for pushing Holland's Spider-Man to the edge. He was the one who killed Spider-Man's Aunt May and gave Peter his biggest personal tragedy. This created a darkness in Peter as Spider-Man: No Way Home focused on him overcoming his pain and feelings of vengeance to still be a hero. Throughout this story, Willem Dafoe proves he's the perfect Green Goblin.

While audiences may have accepted a recast and a new Green Goblin actor since it had been 14 years since Dafoe played the role, his return in Spider-Man: No Way Home puts his incredible performance at the forefront of the audience's minds once more. There's no way someone else could step in and match Willem Dafoe's energy, so not using Green Goblin again is actually the best choice. Norman Osborn could still have an MCU future if that is what Marvel Studios and Sony want, but the studios might also wisely decide to avoid any Green Goblin comparisons with a recast moving forward. If that's the case, Spider-Man: No Way Home Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin return is a great way to cap off the character's big-screen presence.

More: How Every Spider-Man Villain Is Different In No Way Home