Alfred Molina Reveals 3-Film Doc Ock Contract in Spider-Man — Everything We Know

If you thought Doc Ock was well and truly finished after Spider-Man 2, think again. Alfred Molina – everyone's favourite tentacled menace – has just spilled a bit of backstage tea about his supposedly 'ended' Spider-Man contract, which turns out was never quite so straightforward.

Molina’s Contract: More Complicated Than We Thought

So here’s what’s actually gone on behind the scenes. Back in 2004 when he first played Doctor Octopus in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, Molina signed up for a three-picture option as the character. Now, most of us just assumed that once Doc Ock drowned himself and his fusion reactor at the end, that was the end of the matter – curtains drawn, villain dead, job done. Apparently not.

Molina only found out years later that Marvel had other ideas. He remembers then-chief Avi Arad saying something that pretty much sums up the whole Marvel ethos: "Well, no one really dies in this universe." Hard to argue – the Marvel graveyard’s more a revolving door, frankly.

Returning For No Way Home (and The Awkward Ageing Problem)

Fast-forward to the era of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. When Marvel actually rang him up for another go as Doc Ock, Molina admits his first thought was basically, 'I’m not as young or, frankly, svelte as I once was.' Here’s how he put it to Amy Pascal, one of the producers: 'I’ve got crow’s feet. I’ve got a double chin. I’m not a youngster anymore.' His words – not mine.

But director Jon Watts reassured him: that’s what digital de-ageing is for. Money well spent, I’d say, if you don’t want your supervillains to look ready for their OAP discount.

Will We See Doc Ock Again?

With yet another Spider-Man film on the way this summer – working title is apparently Spider-Man: Brand New Day – everyone’s wondering: is Doc Ock going to show up again? Molina seems as in the dark as the rest of us. He says he enjoys these films but isn’t looped in on any top-secret casting, and he honestly doesn’t know who’s even playing the villain this time round.

Now for the quote that says it all:

'I think we might have to just leave Doc Ock in a nice prominent place in the rogue's gallery of villains. If they came knocking on my door and said we’d love you to do it again, I would do it again, no doubt. I doubt if it’ll happen, though.'

So basically: never say never, but don’t go placing bets.

What’s Molina Up To Now?

Molina is currently starring in the new Netflix sci-fi series The Boroughs, which dropped (in full British: 'landed') on 21 May.