Alfred Molina Opens Up About Doc Ock’s Future
One of the most popular rogues in the Spider-Man film franchise, Afraid Molina’s Doc Ock might go down in history as one of the most tragically layered villain stories of all time. A nuclear physicist and Peter’s mentor in Spider-Man 2, Doctor Otto Octavius had the ambition to create a clean and sustainable nuclear fusion reactor. A clean energy goal not unlike billionaire Tony Stark’s Arc Reactor in the Iron Man series.
The biggest tragedy behind Octavius’ past in Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man series was that, though his intentions were truly noble, his inability for anything less than greatness cost him everything. As Doc Ock’s mechanical arms, the devices meant to help stabilize his reactor, lost their inhibitor chip, the device’s A.I. began taking over his personality. Thus began Molina’s tenure as a Spider-Man villain favorite, as his stellar portrayal of a brilliant mentor turned murderous sociopath, was among one of the original Marvel film universe’s favorite tragedies.
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For a long time, fans thought this would be the end of the story. At least until the metal-limbed scientist had his story arc both returned and redeemed in Spider-Man: No Way Home, after a solid seventeen years. With the Spider-men all brought together again, in yet another beloved portrayal, Doctor Otto Octavius not only survived but, surprisingly, also pivoted into a mentorship role yet again; finding redemption and even a cure. Putting to rest a long-loved story fans didn’t know needed a happy ending.
But with the Multiverse of Madness on the way and the potential of more Spider-Man films, is there a possibility we’ll see a return of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man?
Apparently not, according to an interview with Molina that was shared on the Household Faces with John Ross Bowie podcast. Although the actor loved working in the original Sam Raimi trilogy and even more so enjoyed getting to be on set for the No Way Home Spider-Reunion, there’s still a pretty solid case Molina said that he wouldn’t return:
“What makes this movie interesting and different from the previous one is that, here we see the full redemption, certainly of Doc-Ock, which makes me think that maybe they may be putting him to bed. Because I don’t think you can be a good person with a moral compass who turns into a villain, and then comes back to being the decent person he was and then [back again]… I don’t think that would happen”
It would be difficult to bring Doc Ock back as he’s already had not just one, but two redemption arcs. First, featured in the original Spider-Man 2, in sacrificing himself to save the city after regaining control of his body. Then of course, in No Way Home, where he’d regained control of his body and spent the latter half attempting to redeem his mistakes, as he was now completely free of his nefarious mechanical arm’s influence.
It’s difficult to see Molina returning in a Spider-Man movie and somehow setting up a third redemption. At least, not this current timeline’s iteration of Doc Ock. Still, it wouldn’t be that unfathomable to see Molina return in some way, given that Sony’s got their own plans for the franchise outside of the MCU. If the Spider-Team in Into The Spider-Verse gets to have a sequel, who knows if the Spider-Men, along with their respective villains such as Octavious, will reunite once again.
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Source: The Direct