Spider-Man has battled some major villains on the big screen, such as Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Venom, and Lizard. However, Green Goblin may arguably be the web-slinging hero's greatest foil due to his charisma, his villainous laugh, and his glider and ball bombs.
Willem Dafoe's portrayal of Green Goblin in Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man films and the villain's return in Tom Holland's Spider-Man: No Way Home drew major praise from critics and fans. As popular as the Green Goblin has been, is the supervillain needed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and can Norman and Harry Osborn have roles in future Spider-Man features?
Spider-Man: No Way Home featured the Green Goblin
The return of Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin was one of the best elements in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Reminiscent of Sam Raimi's original Spider-Man feature, Dafoe portrays the scientist turned villain as a man with a split personality who appears innocent and confused about himself and his actions in certain moments, but then reveals his true colors as a madman intending to defeat Spider-Man and anyone who stands in his way.
The Green Goblin is to Spider-Man what Joker is to Batman in terms of a villain who's constantly seeking more power and chaos over the hero and the citizens he's trying to protect. Some of the most intense moments in No Way Home occur when the Green Goblin kills Aunt May, causing Holland's Spider-Man to become angrier and more emotional than ever before, leading to an epic fight between the hero and villain during the climax.
Holland's Spidey nearly kills Norman Osborn until Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man stops him, understanding what the younger hero is going through emotionally since he also lost someone close to him (Uncle Ben). No Way Home may have been seen as the greatest hits montage of previous Spider-Man movies, but the MCU film successfully culminates the best qualities of the three Spider-Men and their villainous enemies. Dafoe's Green Goblin may not necessarily provide anything new in this film, but he continues to prove that he's a baddie to be reckoned with.
Spider-Man 4 can't introduce Harry Osborne
While Spider-Man: No Way Home technically concludes Tom Holland's initial trilogy of Spider-Man films which showcased his evolution and transformation as a complex superhero, the young star is expected to return for a fourth Spider-Man feature. However, the sequel is still in the early stages of development, and it's uncertain if director Jon Watts will return. It's also undetermined which old cast members (like Zendaya's MJ) will come back, what new characters will be introduced, and how the sequel will impact the MCU.
In terms of Norman and Harry Osborn and the Green Goblin character, it's uncertain if any of them have a future in Holland's next Spider-Man film or any MCU projects. Considering that these characters were already established in earlier films (especially the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield Spider-Man films), the writers and director involved with the fourth Spider-Man movie may want to use other villains audiences haven't seen before on the big screen for the hero to battle.
Dafoe's Norman Osborn/Green Goblin is likely irreplaceable, and Harry Osborn was portrayed by James Franco in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and Dane DeHaan in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Harry Osborn was a commendable villain because he was one of Peter Parker's personal friends who went to the dark side due to the sins of his father and his own personal ambitions. Given that Harry transformed into a primary nemesis in the previous movies, he may not be needed in Holland's fourth Spider-Man feature. However, another iteration of Harry can be introduced in an MCU film and then collide with Peter Parker in a potential fifth Spider-Man movie (since Holland may be committed to another trio of Spidey films).
Can Spider-Man 4 have a Harry Osborne alternative?
If Spider-Man 4 or future Spidey installments with Holland don't include Harry Osborn, perhaps a similar villain can be used. For instance, Mister Negative is a supervillain of Spider-Man who, like Harry and Norman, has dealt with double identity and/or split personality disorder. Mister Negative was a Chinese gangster and human trafficker who got his villain name when given an experimental drug, causing him to have control of New York's criminal underworld and the ability to heal and corrupt people's minds.
The Hobgoblin is also an alternative since the villain has similar weapons compared to the Green Goblin like a glider and pumpkin bombs (along with an evil laugh). Silvio Manfredi aka Silvermane (who gave Mister Negative his power) is another New York crime boss who's battled both Spider-Man and Green Goblin, while also working with other villains like crime lord Hammerhead, and using youth serum for de-aging. Femme fatales such as Black Cat can mix up Spider-Man's love life and crime fighting, and monstrous villains like Mephisto (another horror-themed villain reminiscent of Green Goblin) can force Spider-Man to turn to allies including his new friend Doctor Strange.
Other villains or antiheroes who have had their own film or made an appearance on the big screen could also challenge Holland's Spider-Man, such as Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock/Venom and Jared Leto's Morbius, or newcomers like Aaron Taylor-Johnson's upcoming iteration of Kraven The Hunter. Regardless of whether Harry or Norman Osborn returns as the Green Goblin, there are several villains with powerful abilities to choose from who can further test Holland's Spider-Man as he continues his journey of crime fighting in the MCU.