Willem Dafoe is willing to return as Green Goblin, and there are already several upcoming films and series that could include his iconic character.
Spider-Man: No Way Home featured the long-awaited return of Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, which may not have been his last appearance in a Marvel project. The iconic supervillain, who originally appeared in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, played a major role in the events of No Way Home, leading a team of supervillains against three Spider-Man variants. Although the film made it a point to wrap up the Green Goblin’s story in case there were no future appearances from Dafoe’s beloved character, recent events have made it possible for his iteration of Norman Osborn to appear in several upcoming Marvel projects.
While promoting his recent horror film Inside, Willem Dafoe commented on a Green Goblin return, suggesting that he would be open to appearing as his iconic supervillain again if the circumstances were right. The actor has already portrayed Norman Osborn in live-action on four occasions, beginning with 2002’s Spider-Man and its two sequels in 2004 and 2007, respectively. It was another fourteen years before he played the role again, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe took advantage of the multiverse to bring Dafoe’s Green Goblin back alongside several other memorable members of Spider-Man’s Rogues Gallery. Using similar methods, Marvel can bring Dafoe’s supervillain back in certain upcoming films and series.
5.Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Dafoe’s Green Goblin could appear in Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The long-awaited sequel to 2018’s hit film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters on June 2nd, with a follow-up releasing just under a year thereafter. The animated project is set to explore the multiverse in even greater depth, introducing multiple Spider-Man variants from countless different realities. While the franchise typically focuses on Spider-Man rather than his various enemies, there is no reason that Across the Spider-Verse couldn’t feature Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn, who may still exist in his home timeline after No Way Home changed the original events of 2002’s Spider-Man.
The possibility of Dafoe’s return is made more likely by rumors that Tobey Maguire may return as Spider-Man in certain upcoming Marvel projects, potentially including Across the Spider-Verse. Because the Spider-Verse franchise is so closely connected to multiversal travel, the notion of its characters crossing over with those of the live-action Spider-Man movies has always been a popular theory. Although rumors almost always center around the potential appearance of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, or Tom Holland in the upcoming film, there is no reason to suspect that certain villains from previous franchises could also make surprise cameos–and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin would certainly be at the top of that list.
4.Spider-Man: Freshman Year
Although little has been revealed about the animated Spider-Man: Freshman Year series on Disney+, it is known that the show will explore an alternate reality in which Norman Osborn, and not Tony Stark, became Peter Parker’s mentor. With the revelation that Norman Osborn will indeed be an integral part of Freshman Year, the possibility of Dafoe returning to voice the role can’t be ruled out completely. While the non-MCU Disney+ series won’t include Tom Holland as its Spider-Man actor, Charlie Cox’s Daredevil has been confirmed to appear therein, suggesting that the series will indeed feature major actors as a part of its voice cast, potentially including Willem Dafoe himself.
With the inclusion of Norman Osborn in the cast of Spider-Man: Freshman Year, Marvel can explore the relationship between the wealthy businessman and Peter Parker. Dafoe’s Osborn was particularly important to the Spider-Man of his world, who looked at him as a pseudo-father figure after the death of Uncle Ben. Freshman Year can deliver a fun twist on this storyline by exploring the relationship between Osborn and Peter over the course of several episodes, eventually building up to the former’s reveal as the Green Goblin, which would only be more heartbreaking as a result. Even so, Dafoe’s pitch-perfect portrayal would elevate Freshman Year‘s new Green Goblin variant to greater heights.
3.Spider-Man 4
Dafoe’s most exciting return would be as the villain of the MCU’s Spider-Man 4. The film will feature Tom Holland’s returning hero after the multiversal antics of No Way Home, which seemingly revealed that Norman Osborn and Oscorp didn’t exist on Earth-616. Nevertheless, the MCU can still reveal its own version of Norman Osborn, perhaps as a new up-and-comer whose name wouldn’t have been well-known during the events of No Way Home. Recognizing the name of the man who killed his Aunt May, Peter Parker would certainly be wary of Osborn’s arrival, especially if he wore the same face as the original variant.
Conversely, Dafoe can appear in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 if the sequel is ever made. Both Willem Dafoe and Tobey Maguire have expressed interest in returning to their Spider-Man roles if given the opportunity, fueling rumors of a fourth Raimi film. While hopes for Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 are perhaps too good to be true, the film would certainly have to include Dafoe’s Goblin in some capacity if it ever was made. With his death apparently undone by the events of No Way Home, the iconic character is free to return in future sequels, albeit without the darker half that pushed him to supervillainy.
2.Madame Web
Sony’s upcoming Madame Web movie is believed to be yet another excursion into the multiverse, which could set up the return of several familiar Spider-Man characters, including Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin. With the emphasis that Sony is placing on Madame Web, it is quickly becoming apparent that the film will play a major role in outlining the franchise’s future, which may include more variants from other universes than initially thought. If this is the case, Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin has the potential to appear in a major capacity in Madame Web and even any other Sony films determined to explore the multiverse.
Madame Web‘s rumored multiversal setting allows Marvel to undertake new Green Goblin stories unimpeded by previously established canon. Even if Dafoe returns to his iconic role, he could portray another variant who was never cured of the Green Goblin persona as he was in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This would allow Dafoe to once again lean into the terrifying Goblin side of his character, which is always a highlight of any Spider-Man film. While his role in Madame Web itself would likely be little more than a cameo, the film could set Willem Dafoe up to appear in multiple other projects within Sony’s universe of Spider-Man characters.
1.Avengers: Secret Wars
The likeliest upcoming project that could feature Dafoe’s returning Goblin is the Multiverse Saga’s Avengers: Secret Wars. The Phase 6 film, currently set to hit theaters in 2026, will feature the multiverse at its most unstable, bringing together variants from countless different universes. Although Marvel Studios has been characteristically tight-lipped regarding the potential cameos in Secret Wars, it is widely believed that the film will feature returning characters from non-MCU franchises. After the success of No Way Home, the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Secret Wars seems inevitable, but they may bring some of their villains with them when they do appear again in the MCU.
Dafoe’s Green Goblin could certainly have a place in the upcoming MCU event. Secret Wars‘ comic book inspiration included several villains in major roles, including the members of the Cabal, an organization originally formed by Norman Osborn in Marvel Comics. If Secret Wars intends to feature returning villains, Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin would undoubtedly be a top pick With a surprise cameo in Avengers: Secret Wars, Willem Dafoe can at last finish his victory lap as the Green Goblin, which began with his turn in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
