By Keith Walsh
Marvel seems to be one step ahead of DC in developing the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As impressive as the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) has become, with the success of Aquaman, Shazam and Joker, Marvel introduced the concept of the multiverse to film audiences first, in 2018, with the animated Spiderman – Into The Multiverse, and then with the announcement in July of 2019 at Comic-Con in San Diego, of Doctor Strange 2 – The Multiverse of Madness.
As for the DCEU it’s an established fact that at least two Batman characters—portrayed by Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton, will appear in the upcoming Flash film. It’s a no brainer that MCU, ever ready to leap ahead of the competition, will present a multiverse concept as well. Considering that in No Way Home, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, Jamie Foxx as Electro, and JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson will all reprise their roles from earlier iterations of the Spiderman films going back long before Tom Holland took on the role of Peter Parker, the MCU live action Multiverse is already a thing.
The Flash is set for a November 4, 2022 release, while Spider-man-No Way Home is set for Dec 17, 2021, ten months in advance. The follow up that would seem to carry the story further, Doctor Strange 2: Multiverse of Madness is set for a May 6, 2022 release. By the time The Flash opens up the multiverse with his high speed hijinks, audiences will already be well acquainted with multiverse concepts. Yet the idea of two Batmen facing off on screen? Take my money already!
There’s further evidence that Spider-Man: No Way Home will open the Marvel Multiverse in a live action film with three Spider-Men. Trailer 2 for Spiderman, No Way Home that was released in Brazil shows a fight scene, with Electro, The Lizard, and Sandman facing off against what appears to be imaginary adversaries. Exclusive in the Brazilian cut (that has since been corrected), The Lizard recoils at what appears to be a punch from an invisible foe. Many have speculated that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s portrayals of Spiderman have been digitally removed from this scene. Makes sense to me.
Marvel Official
DC Official
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