The slow trickle of new info regarding the most anticipated films of the next year seemingly never stops, even if it loves to chug along at an agonizing crawl. Thanks to a candid shot from the set of the intriguingly named Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans now have a little more to speculate about during the seemingly endless wait for the upcoming film. A new photo has surfaced from the set of the movie, and those interested will note returning character Doctor Strange, an organization from the comics, and maybe a few bizarre mysteries.
The main focus of the photo, which is ironically not really in focus, is what appears to be a greeting between Tom Holland's Spider-Man/Peter Parker and Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. Strange appears to be exiting his Sanctum Santorum, an abode that has inspired generations of dads to name their man caves accordingly and insist they thought of it first. Across the street, Spider-Man waves from an elevated position. Considering how the multiverse is set to play a huge role in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (especially after that explosive Loki finale), Strange's presence isn't particularly unexpected, though it is certainly welcome.
Aside from the two buddies crossing paths, the photo also notably features a truck bearing the initialism F.E.A.S.T., which many fans of the comics (as well as the Spider-Man PS4 and PS5 games) will find familiar. F.E.A.S.T. stands for Food, Emergency Aid, Shelter, and Training, and is a fictional organization that helps those in need around New York City. Started by Martin Li, who used it as a front for his criminal enterprises as Mr. Negative, the whole thing eventually came under the leadership of Peter Parker's own Aunt May. Considering how Marisa Tomei's May Parker is seen doing charity work in previous Spider-Man films, this seems like a logical progression. But does it mean that Martin Li will eventually join the story?
Perhaps the oddest details of the single set photo are some strange edits seemingly made by whoever took the shot or posted it. Eagle-eyed Twitter users showed up in the replies to point out several images of people and faces shopped into certain spots of the picture, suggesting that they're Easter eggs of a sort, but they were unable to figure out who exactly the people are. Odds are it's just a fun little extra added by the photographer, but it's still a puzzling development.
It's just a single photo, after all, and yet just a couple of small details are enough to set the speculation train on a collision course at ludicrous speed. Loki's finale opened the door to countless new possibilities thanks to the introduction of the multiverse, and now just knowing that F.E.A.S.T. exists in the MCU could easily suggest any number of new storylines.
This is what it's all about: taking the smallest of details and running absolutely bonkers with them. Hey, until the movie finally premieres, it's not like Marvel fans have much else to do with their time. Speculation is the true national pastime, after all, and that applies to all nations.
Spider-Man: No Way Home will release in theaters on December 17th, 2021.