Spider-Man: No Way Home fans can't agree on the identity of a new mystery character

A screenshot of the Iron Spider suit in Spider-Man: No Way Home
(Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios)

Potential spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home follow. You have been warned.

Spider-Man: No Way Home fans are at odds over the identity of a new mystery character following another tease from star Tom Holland.

Speaking to Empire Magazine about the webslinger's upcoming third MCU movie, Holland revealed that No Way Home included "one of the coolest scenes I've ever shot". That sequence, Holland says, contains a mysterious individual that he's not at liberty to reveal.

“It’s four people [Peter Parker, Aunt May, Happy Hogan and one other] sitting at a table, having a conversation about what it’s like to be a superhero," Holland teased. "And it was amazing. The other day we watched the scene, my brother and I, and our jaws were on the floor.”

As you might expect, Spider-Man and Marvel fans were quick to jump on Holland's quote and debate the mystery character in question. We're about to enter potential spoiler territory for the film, too, so turn back now if you don't want anything ruined before you see the movie in December.

Doctor Strange and Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

An early frontrunner for the teased individual is Matt Murdock, who was portrayed by Charlie Cox in Netflix's Daredevil series:

Others aren't so sure about that, though. Some claim that it'll be Andrew Garfield's version of Spider-Man/Peter Parker, whose involvement has been heavily hinted at via leaked footage and other rumors:

There are a few Spider-Man fans who think it'll be Tobey Maguire's iteration of Peter Parker, however, who will be introduced via this scene:

And then, of course, there are the more amusing predictions. Some fans have suggested that Tom Hardy's Venom will show up, while other possibilities have included Jon Bernthal's Punisher, the Fantastic Four's Thing, or even one of the Sinister Six:


Analysis: who is the Spider-Man: No Way Home character that Tom Holland is teasing?

Spider-Man: No Way Home

(Image credit: Matt Kennedy / Columbia Pictures)

In our view, there are only two candidates that Holland could be referring to.

The first is Matt Murdock. Rumors have swirled that Charlie Cox is reprising his role as the fan favorite lawyer in No Way Home, albeit in a cameo capacity. Leakers have claimed that Cox's Murdock will be the man responsible with leading Peter's defence in court – a prospect that isn't too outlandish. 

Why? Well, the public (thanks to J. Jonah Jameson) believe that Peter killed Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The movie's first trailer makes it look like he's been arrested and goes on trial for his supposed crimes. Who is better than Murdock, then, to come to Peter's aid and convince the jury that Peter was innocent (which we know he is anyway)?

If the mystery character isn't Murdock, we suspect it'll be Maguire's Peter Parker instead of Andrew Garfield's version.

According to rumors, Maguire will be an older Peter Parker in No Way Home. That means that he'll be more experienced than the other two and, as such, may act as a mentor to Holland's webslinger. Maguire could embody an Uncle Ben-like role, then, and provide Holland's Peter with the right amount of encouragement to become the hero that the MCU needs in No Way Home.

Which of these two possibilities is more likely? If we had to choose, it has to be Maguire. He's the original live-action Spider-Man, so Holland would definitely get a kick out of filming a scene with him.

Then there's Holland's quote about "having a conversation about what it means to be a superhero". This sounds like Maguire's Peter will provide some guidance to Holland's Peter, potentially in the film's third act, to give him the boost that he needs.

Of course, we could be completely wrong – we don't have any insider information on the movie, so the mystery character could be someone else. Given all of the rumors and leaks that have emerged about No Way Home, though, we suspect that this particular individual will be Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker.

For more on Spider-Man: No Way Home, check out our four theories on what its official title could mean, or look at why we think the Spider-Man threequel isn't as secretive as we've been led to believe. Alternatively, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.