The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

Willem Dafoe Agreed to Return as Green Goblin Under One Surprising Condition


The idea of Willem Dafoe returning to the Marvel universe was once a huge pipe dream but thanks to the MCU exploring the multiverse, his comeback as the Green Goblin was made possible via Spider-Man: No Way Home. Turns out, it didn't take Dafoe a lot of convincing to return to the role but he did make things clear with director Jon Watts and Sony executive Amy Pascal that he'll only return under one surprising condition.

click to enlarge
Credit: Columbia Pictures



During an interview with Mulderville, the 66-year-old actor revealed that when the concept was pitched to him, he told Watts and Pascal that he'd be down to do it as long as they allow him to perform his own sequences without the aid of a stunt double. He explains: "To do this physical stuff was important to me. In fact, one of the first things I said to Jon [Watts] and Amy [Pascal], basically when they pitched it to me before there was even a script was, ''listen, I don't want to just pop in there as a cameo or just fill in in close-ups. I want to do the action because that's fun for me.'"

Dafoe continued: "Also, it's really impossible to add any integrity or any fun to the character if you don't participate in these things. Because all of that action stuff informs your relationships to the characters and the story. It makes you earn your right to play the character, in a funny way."

Also Read: Tom Holland Admits He's Tired of Deceiving Fans About Spider-Man: No Way Home

Considering his age, it's amazing to think that Dafoe is still in great physical condition to perform his own stunts and action sequences. It just goes to show his level of professionalism and dedication to his craft. Just like any webhead, I'm just so glad that we're seeing this full-circle moment for Dafoe, almost 20 years since the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man premiered and I can't wait to see what he brings to the table now that Norman Osborn is set to wreak havoc in the MCU.


Spider-Man: No Way Home hits cinemas on December 17, 2021.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Marvel and Geek Culture page.