Willem Dafoe Opens Up About Returning As Green Goblin For ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

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Willem Dafoe Green Goblin Spider-Man No Way Home

Willem Dafoe has opened up about returning as Green Goblin for Spider-Man: No Way Home, how the initial pitch came about, and what he thought of the film itself.

Willem Dafoe first appeared as Green Goblin in the 2002 film, Spider-Man. He went on to reprise the role ins Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 but was seemingly done with the role after Sam Raimi left the series. Then, last year, rumors began to surface that his character would be the main antagonist of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

These rumors eventually turned out to be true and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin was Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s biggest show-stealer. His actions in the film directly lead to Peter Parker’s new status quo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and nearly destroyed it in the process. As a result, many now view Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin as the best villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even above other favorites like Thanos, Kilmonger, and Kingpin.

While speaking to Variety, Willem Defoe opened up about how Marvel and Sony approached him to reprise the role of Green Goblin in the new Spider-Man film and how the early conversations panned out:

“It’s always a little difficult when you die in a movie to come back in any sequels. I thought I was finished. When they initially said, ‘Would you like to reprise this role?’ I thought, ‘Really? How does that happen?’ I was kind of stupid about it. And they walked me through and it sounded kind of cool so I told them what I was interested in. They said what they were interested in. Our ideas pretty much matched up.

Now keep in mind at that stage you don’t necessarily have a script because they’re working on it and they’re also working on the participation on these other characters that they’re bringing back. So it was a real leap of faith but I knew Amy and I liked Jon a lot when I met him and ah…yeah. There was enough attractive things that was interesting. Getting in that suit and the action sequences and…it was a continuation. So it was fun and I’ve very happy that it’s been so successful.”

Willem Dafoe then went on to praise the people behind Spider-Man: No Way Home, citing how they gave themselves to these movies in a big way:

Because sometimes when you see big movies you know…you can imagine. I’m used to working on all kinds of movies and sometimes I get a little jealous. They sometimes seem so over…you know…they have such resources that I get jealous and if the people aren’t sincere and if they aren’t believers it feels like such a waste and feels so cynical. But I can say, and maybe I drank the cool-aid, but…you know. These are people that are believing in what they’re doing and giving themselves to it in a very full way. I’m not just talking about really good actors. I’m talking about the effects people, the camera department – they’re all very top level. And then when you have the resources and possibility of making a popular film, that’s all pretty attractive.”

Here is the synopsis Spider-Man: No Way Home:

“For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.”

Directed by Jon Watts from a script written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, Marvel’s No Way Home stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Martin Starr, J.B. Smoove, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Benedict Wong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Foxx, with Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, and Tom Hardy.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is now playing in theaters. Stay tuned for all the latest news surrounding the future of the Spider-Man franchise and be sure to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.

Source: Variety

Trey Griffeth

Trey Griffeth

Lover of video games, comics, and movies! Writer of all things that involve them!