Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 fans have a lot to look forward to, as encounters with Venom and Kraven should deliver in a big way. The former is a fan favorite Spidey villain due to his unique design and powers, while the latter’s obsession with hunting the wall-crawler could make for some engaging boss fights. However, with the Marvel’s Spider-Man series being such a success for PlayStation and Insomniac, it is hard to imagine the franchise ending after the sequel.
Assuming that there is another Marvel’s Spider-Man game after the 2023 title, there are plenty of directions it can go in. However, while many may want to see the Spider-Men team up with another Marvel superhero or open the Spider-Verse, an equally strong story could be told if Insomniac chooses to keep things grounded and focus on a classic threat. With Green Goblin playing such a pivotal role in Spider-Man’s history, he is the most iconic villain to not be seen in the games - though the sequel has the perfect chance to set up his debut.
A Natural Transition From Norman Osborn To Green Goblin
While there are many theories about Venom’s role in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the most important thing to keep in mind is who the Symbiote will likely be attached to. As shown through the post credits scenes in the original Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the Symbiote is being used to keep Harry Osborn alive. As such, if and when it separates from his body, he is likely to fall ill once again. More importantly, this means he is more likely to be Insomniac’s Venom than Eddie Brock is.
Peter being forced to fight his best friend could result in the same level of emotion seen during his fights with Doctor Octopus. Further, with the Symbiote being the true villain, and Harry shown to be a good person prior to his disappearance, the fight will likely be tough on Peter. He could be more motivated than ever to separate his childhood companion from the Symbiote, but he may not know that doing so will kill him. Assuming Harry dies during his final battle with Peter, and Norman Osborn witnesses his son’s death, he could have all the motivation he needs to become Green Goblin.
While Norman is a deeply flawed character whose cruelty is shown throughout the original game, it is made very clear that he loves his son deeply. After all, the dark Oscorp experiments that created Mr. Negative were ultimately just attempts to find a cure for Harry’s disease, with the Symbiote eventually meeting those needs. With Norman dedicating his life to keeping his son alive, losing him during a fight with Spider-Man would surely cause him to snap.
What Green Goblin’s Story Arc Could Be Like
A Green Goblin motivated by the death of his son would be a nice twist on the expected story, as it would essentially be the reverse of what was seen in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. It would also make Green Goblin a more complex character than usual, as he would have a proper motivation beyond stereotypical insanity. Insomniac would be able to bring the story full circle, too, with Norman playing a key role in all three of the numbered games.
While it is unclear if Gwen Stacy will ever appear in Insomniac’s Spider-Man universe, a change to Green Goblin’s victim could see MJ filling her shoes. Goblin could discover Peter’s identity and kill Mary Jane as punishment for the death of Harry, with a dark twist possibly seeing Peter get revenge on Norman and go into retirement. While this would be a tragic way to end the story, Insomniac has delivered sad endings in both its Spider-Man games thus far. Miles Morales could be the beacon of hope, carrying on as the one and only Spider-Man while Peter steps away and mourns MJ.
Regardless of whether the most memorable Green Goblin arc is adapted, his glider and pumpkin bombs would open the door to an incredible battle - with Insomniac’s original plans for a city-wide boss fight able to be realized. While this is all just speculation, Norman’s path to becoming Green Goblin seems clear, and his introduction could make for a powerful conclusion to a potential Marvel’s Spider-Man trilogy.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 on PS5.