So close: Spider-Man 4 binned a tease for a fan-favorite’s MCU debut

Here’s one for the proper Marvel nerds: Spider-Man 4 nearly planted the seeds for a fan-favourite character joining the MCU, but the hint never made it to screen. A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it prop – or rather, one you didn’t see at all – would’ve nodded straight at Harry Osborn. Not Norman, mind you, who Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has already tangled with, but his old mate Harry.

Spider-Man 4’s axed Coffee Bean card would have teased Harry Osborn’s arrival, had it survived the edit.

This comes from William Dixon, who worked behind the scenes as a graphics assistant and prop modeler on Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He decided to share some unused treasures on social media – X, if you’re still calling it that – and among them was a lovely little nod to the real fans. Dixon designed a loyalty card for The Coffee Bean, which diehards will recognise as the café haunt from the classic Spider-Man comics, especially back in the 60s and 70s. That was the local for Peter, Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy and, crucially, Harry Osborn.

Dixon gave his take on the prop, and here’s what he said about its connection to Spidey’s social circle:

Here’s what William Dixon shared in his X post: "I also designed a card for The Coffee Bean, a regular hangout spot for the gang back during the 60s & 70s Spider-Man comics. I like to imagine Peter was handed this by someone trying to promote The Coffee Bean, and he quickly forgot about it. He's a Delmar's loyalist."

If you’re piecing together why this matters – in the comics, Harry actually ditches Oscorp and buys The Coffee Bean, effectively making it his base of operations. So, that missing loyalty card? It’s a subtle ‘heads up’ for eagle-eyed fans, pointing straight at Harry’s potential to show up in the MCU, rather than roping in Norman again (who, let’s be honest, is a bit overplayed at this point).

Why Harry Osborn, Not Norman?

With Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) already popping up in No Way Home, you’d struggle to squeeze another take on the bloke without confusing everyone. Instead, Harry Osborn as Peter’s mate – then rival – makes the entire arc much more personal. In the old comics, they’re basically brothers-in-arms at university, before things go dark. Harry’s vendetta against Spidey kicks off after he discovers Peter’s role in his father’s downfall, which adds an emotional punch absent from Norman’s endless megalomania.

If Marvel and Sony ever go back to Harry, he’d actually have a fresh motive and proper relationship to play with. The events of Brand New Day (in comic canon at least) see Peter Parker getting a fresh start, and introducing Harry at this point would line up perfectly, setting the stage for all kinds of Spider-Man drama… if anyone in charge is paying attention, of course.