Doctor Strange director says all versions of Spider-Man exist in MCU

The director of Doctor Strange has added weight to the theory that a Spider-Man crossover is in the works for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

There have been several iterations of Spider-Man on the big screen over the last few decades. First, we saw Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi’s original cinematic trilogy, then we had Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man, and now we have Tom Holland in the MCU.

For a long time, it was assumed that they all existed in their own separate universes, and the prospect of them crossing over seemed like fan-fiction. But recent rumors have suggested otherwise, with talk of Maguire, Garfield, and Holland joining forces through the multiverse.

Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson has now added fuel to the fire, as he tweeted on November 23 that “all Spider-Man iterations are defacto MCU”.

The comment came after Warcraft director Duncan Jones shared an image of Spider-Pig from Sony’s acclaimed animation Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and a fan questioned whether the character was really a part of the MCU.

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Jones asked for confirmation from Derrickson, as “tangential connections through portals” are covered in the Doctor Strange universe, and the director offered up his belief that every portrayal of Spider-Man is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Serious or not, the tweet has got fans talking. “My God will I see Tobey [Maguire] again?” asked one fan, while another joked, “MULTIVERSE CONFIRMED!”

Are the rumors of a multiverse in Spider-Man 3 true?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Jamie Foxx will return to portray Electro – a role he originally played in the Andrew Garfield-led Amazing Spider-Man series – while Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will also make an appearance, leading to multiverse speculation.

• Read more: Uncharted movie reveals first look photos of Tom Holland on set

When asked whether Andrew and Tobey would be returning in Spider-Man 3, Sony simply replied, “those rumored castings are not confirmed”. It’s not a confirmation, but it’s also not outright denial, so there may still be hope…

For more on Tom Holland’s upcoming return as the famous web-slinger, check out our guide to everything we know about Spider-Man 3 so far including release date, casting, and plot details.