Actor Alfred Molina Confirms Doc Ock Role in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

It has only been reported by major Hollywood trades and not yet confirmed by Sony or Marvel Studios, but actor Alfred Molina took it upon himself in an interview with Variety to confirm he is most definitely returning as Doctor Octopus in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

“'When we were shooting it, we were all under orders not to talk about it, because it was supposed to be some great big secret, but, you know, it’s all over the internet. I actually described myself as the worst kept secret in Hollywood!'

“'It was wonderful. It was very interesting going back after 17 years to play the same role, given that in the intervening years, I now have two chins, a wattle, crow’s feet and a slightly a slightly dodgy lower back.'

"When the actor asked Jon Watts, the director of 'No Way Home,' how the movie would bring Doc Ock back — since, as he pointed out, 'I died' — Molina said the director told him, 'In this universe, no one really dies.'

"He sat up straight in his seat. 'My basic physical move as Doc Ock, as the actor, is just this,' he said as he glared intensely at the Zoom camera and made a menacing noise. 'I just do that a lot, and the arms are doing all the killing and smashing and breaking. I’m just going —' he glared again — 'with a kind of mean look on my face.'"

Also, the interview covers how de-aging tech will be used, as it has been used in previous Marvel Studios films with Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson, to make Molina look 17 years younger.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME dives into the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Multiverse and hits theaters on December 17.