Are We Going Into the Spider-Verse?

By Matt Chieco

Recent reports have revealed that Jamie Foxx will reprise his role as Electro, a character he portrayed in 2014's 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2,' for the upcoming Spider-Man sequel from Marvel Studios. This news has undoubtedly left fans scratching their heads. Is this the same Electro we saw before? Are they introducing a new interpretation of the character in the MCU? Could this potentially signal the arrival of a live-action Spider-Verse?

This situation might mirror what occurred with J. Jonah Jameson, a character present in both Sam Raimi's ‘Spider-Man’ films and 'Spider-Man: Far From Home.' J.K. Simmons played the character in both instances, but they represented distinct versions. Yet, if Jamie Foxx portrays a different iteration of Electro, it could lead to confusion among the audience. Foxx's Instagram post (which he later deleted) further fueled speculation.

Many speculate that this post hints at the multiverse concept, given the image shared. However, a certain part of the post continues to raise skepticism: Foxx's statement, "And I won't be blue in this one!!! But a thousand percent badass!!!" leaves another question unanswered.

If Foxx is reprising the same role from the 2014 film, how will his appearance change? Will it align more with the comic book depiction? How can this transformation be justified? As we know that Phase 4 and beyond of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will heavily incorporate the multiverse, this possibility seems like the most reasonable explanation. Since Marvel remains secretive, the only way to speculate about their plans is through informed guesswork (of which there has been an abundance). Jeremy Conrad from MCU Cosmic has shared the following:

"Right now there’s no official word on if it’s the exact same Electro from the Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man 2 or Foxx just playing a new version of the character. However rumors are pointing to it being former, and there’s some multiverse madness involved to have that version of Electro cross over from one cinematic universe to another. Wanda really messed things up with her little “vision”."

If Conrad's speculation holds true, the upcoming 'Wandavision' series on Disney+ could trigger events that disrupt the MCU and potentially lead to the multiverse's emergence. Other characters may grapple with the aftermath as a consequence of these events. If this speculation transforms into reality, and Foxx is indeed reprising his Electro from 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2,' the possibilities for other characters entering the fray become intriguing. Marvel Studios might be on the cusp of a brilliant move by introducing a live-action Spider-Verse, following the success of the animated 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.'

The untitled Spider-Man sequel is slated for release on December 17th, 2021.