Michael Keaton could’ve been part of the ensemble Spider-Man: No Way Home cast, if newly revealed concept art is anything to go by.
No Way Home was a monstrous success for Marvel and Sony, wrapping up Tom Holland’s trilogy while also giving past Spider-Men their chance at tying a neat bow on their arcs. The big inclusions were the returning villains such as Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx, Sandman, and Rhys Ifans, but there could’ve been one more in Keaton’s Vulture.
Concept artist Phil Langone has shared an early version of Norman Osborne’s turn back into Green Goblin, with it showing a different environment (a car garage) and one very different person in Adrian Toomes. The art shows him with his classic ruffle-necked jacket alongside fellow villains.
In the end, none of the villains Holland’s Peter Parker has fought before made their way into No Way Home. There had also been concept art showing Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio in the final battle, but he was nowhere to be seen in the end product. Arguably a flaw in the film is Holland never gets to revisit Vulture, who had been such a highlight in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Curious too was how close the threequel was to having a Sinister Six situation, with it just lacking one more villain. Keaton did end up making a bizarre appearance in Morbius months later which has continued to baffle many. Perhaps Sony are still holding out on the Sinister Six movie they’ve been after for years.
Keaton could still return in future Marvel films, with his character (in the MCU canon) still in jail. Or unleashed in the universe of Morbius. Who knows. Multiverse shenanigans.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
