Willem Dafoe in Talks to Return as Green Goblin in Marvel Films

LOS ANGELES, CA — Willem Dafoe is reportedly in discussions to reprise his iconic role as Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, in an upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project. Although no official announcements have been made, insider reports indicate that conversations are ongoing.

The speculation arises as the MCU continues to delve deeper into its multiverse narrative. According to a post from industry insider @scooper on X (formerly Twitter), “Willem Dafoe is in talks to come back as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin.” Details surrounding which film he may appear in remain undisclosed, with possibilities including ‘Spider-Man 4‘ or future Avengers installments following ‘Secret Wars.’

Dafoe first brought the character of Norman Osborn to life in 2002’s ‘Spider-Man,’ where he met his demise in a fashion true to the comics. His return as a spectral figure in ‘Spider-Man 2’ and ‘Spider-Man 3’ followed, before he reprised the role in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ In that film, Osborn kills Aunt May and nearly pushes Peter Parker to commit murder, leaving viewers questioning whether his return created a new timeline.

The conclusion of ‘No Way Home’ saw Norman cured and sent back to his original reality, opening the door for further developments in his character arc. When asked about the possibility of returning during a promotional interview for his upcoming film ‘Nosferatu‘ in 2024, Dafoe stated, “We’ll see. We’ll see. I could come back. Listen, Tom [Holland] was great to work with, and the whole series of Spider-Man films that I did were great fun. Great fun.”

Earlier, in a 2023 interview, Dafoe expressed, “If everything was right, sure. I mean, that’s a great role. I liked the fact that it’s a double role both times. Twenty years ago, and fairly recently, both times were very different experiences, but I had a good time on both.”

The potential for Dafoe’s return has investors and fans buzzing with anticipation about how the character could factor into the unfolding happenings in the MCU. Given the ambiguous ending in ‘No Way Home,’ it beckons the question of whether audiences could see him again in ‘Spider-Man 4’ or in larger multiverse events like ‘Avengers: Secret Wars.’

As Dafoe’s involvement is yet to be officially confirmed, the excitement surrounding his potential return only adds to the intrigue of future Marvel projects.