Judging by a recent interview Alfred Molina gave, it seems the actor doesn’t quite grasp the secrecy around being part of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
In a new interview with Variety, Molina discussed in fairly deep detail his return as Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus. The actor last played the role in 2004 in Spider-Man 2.
We do wish to warn you there are Spider-Man: No Way Home spoilers from this point forward.
While Marvel Studios is known for keeping its secrets, Molina was very open about why he was willing to discuss the role without a formal announcement having been made. “When we were shooting it, we were all under orders not to talk about it, because it was supposed to be some great big secret,” Molina said with a laugh. “But, you know, it’s all over the internet. I actually described myself as the worst kept secret in Hollywood!”
Molina described that in his early discussions with the director, Jon Watts, he was told that his story would pick up from his drowning in Spider-Man 2. Molina pointed out that he is now 67-years-old, “I now have two chins, a wattle, crow’s feet and a slightly a slightly dodgy lower back.” Watts told him, ‘Did you see what we did to Bob Downey Jr. and Sam Jackson?’ referring to the de-aging process used on both in various Marvel projects.
Then Molina was concerned about his physicality and fight scenes. Molina then said, “I then remembered that it’s the tentacles that do all the work!” “My basic physical move as Doc Ock, as the actor, is just this,” Molina said with a glare. “I just do that a lot, and the arms are doing all the killing and smashing and breaking. I’m just going —” glaring again — “with a kind of mean look on my face.”
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures have no comment on Molina’s involvement in the new film.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 17, 2021.
