Casting News: Alfred Molina to Reprise Doctor Octopus Role in New 'Spider-Man' Movie

(Photo: Getty Images)

Alfred Molina is set to join Tom Holland in the new Spider-Man movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Interestingly, the veteran character actor is understood to be reprising his villainous role as Doctor Octopus, which he previously played in 2004's Spider-Man 2 starring Tobey Maguire.

Rumors that Molina was returning to the Spider-Man movie first circulated last month when GWW reported that he had been spotted on set.

Alongside Tom Holland, he joins Benedict Cumberbatch and Jamie Foxx in the movie, which is set for release on December 17, 2021. Cumberbatch is reprising his Marvel role as Doctor Strange, while Foxx is reprising his role as the villainous Electra from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 starring Andrew Garfield.

It's been rumored that three generations of Spider-Man – Holland, Garfield, and Maguire – could appear in the movie, but this has yet to be confirmed by Sony. However, Molina's casting will certainly fuel speculation that the movie is conceived as a kind of "Spider-Man all-stars" event.

Jon Watts, who directed Holland in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming and 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, is also behind the camera on the new movie. Holland's co-stars Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon, and Tony Revolori are all expected to be returning for the new installment, too.

Are you excited to see Alfred Molina return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe?