Former Doctor Octopus talks about his experience returning to Spider-Man: No Homecoming

Alfred Molina, who previously played Doctor Octopus in Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 2, will reprise the role in Spider-Man: No Homecoming. Although Marvel actors are usually subject to strict confidentiality agreements, Molina seems happy to share his experience of making his debut in the MCU.

In an interview with the media, Molina said: "It is very interesting to play the same role again after 17 years. After so many years, I now have a double chin, fat and crow's feet, and my waist and back are also slightly uncomfortable."

The following contains spoilers.

Molina discussed with Spider-Man: No Homecoming director Joe Watts how Doctor Octopus could return after his death in Spider-Man 2, and the director told him: "In this universe, no one really dies." The director also told Molina that the opening of Spider-Man: No Homecoming would continue the story of Doctor Octopus from "that time" in the river. This may refer to the scene where Doctor Octopus sacrificed himself to pull the reactor into the river.

Watts consoled Molina for his concern about his age by saying that Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson had spent many years in Marvel movies and their images had not changed much. But Molina still couldn't let it go.

"In The Irishman they made Robert De Niro's face look a lot younger, but when it comes to the fight scenes you can tell it's an old man... He looks like an old man! That's what worries me."

However, Molina said that when he starred in the old version of Spider-Man 2, he also used a robotic arm to do most of the weightlifting (actual effects, not CG special effects). Molina said: "At that time, the killing, smashing and destruction scenes were shot with a robotic arm." The actor only needed to stand behind and watch the mechanical movements.

Molina is not the only actor returning in Spider-Man: No Homecoming. Jamie Foxx, who played Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, also returns in this film. This has led fans to speculate whether Spider-Man: No Homecoming will adopt the multiverse setting to integrate the universes of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland. However, Holland denied the reports that the first two generations of Spider-Man actors will appear in this film.