Superhero movies have become almost comically ubiquitous, but alongside them has emerged a trend of supervillain solo movies like Venom, Joker, and the upcoming Morbius. It takes a special kind of villain to work as a lead in a solo vehicle, and among the existing candidates waiting for their chance at the spotlight, perhaps the best unexpected pick is Dr. Otto Octavius, AKA Doctor Octopus.
Spider-Man's rogues gallery is a wonderfully varied group, from small-time criminals enhanced by strange technology to powerful vampires and aliens. Long time Spidey nemesis Venom was the star of a 2018 blockbuster and its sequel is set to premiere this fall. Morbius the Living Vampire, who first appeared as a Spider-Man villain in the 70s, is also set to make his on-screen debut. This could be a trend that continues to grow, as characters continue to be adapted for the screen, studios will need to keep trying new stars to keep things fresh.
Doctor Octopus was introduced to the Spider-Man universe in 1963, since then he has remained one of the most recognizable and beloved comic book adversaries. Otto Octavius was a brilliant nuclear physicist who developed a set of telepathically controlled extra limbs to aid in his research. In his first appearance, Doc Ock actually defeated Spider-Man, causing him to doubt his abilities and briefly give up the crime-fighting lifestyle. Like many other villains, some recent adaptations see them recast as a dark anti-hero. Among the mountain of Spider-Man media, Octavius has appeared in cartoons, video games, and three vastly different film appearances.
Doctor Octopus is glimpsed briefly in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, a tease for a Sinister Six film which tragically never released. In the comics, Octavius founded the villainous team to defeat Spider-Man, but the brief silhouette in the film's after credit scene was sadly the only appearance of the villain in this particular series. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse featured a fascinating twist on the character, Olivia "Liv" Octavius. This film, set in an alternate universe featured a Doctor Octopus who was first introduced as a charming scientist who is revealed suddenly to be one of the film's cadre of villains in league with the Kingpin. There has been only one film in which Doc Ock held the lion's share of the spotlight.
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 saw Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker face off against the best-known version of Doctor Octopus. Portrayed by Alfred Molina, Octavius is a charming, worldly genius, hopelessly in love with his wife and dolling out sage advice to Parker, before his own hubris costs him everything. After the disaster which fuses his metal arms to his spine and kills his wife, Doc Ock goes mad with power, his arms seeming to possess a mind of their own. He is cruel and imperious, he is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of his further experimentation. The character and performance are so beloved, Molina is slated to return to the roll in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Alfred Molina's performance imbued the character with a level of depth that has been rarely matched among comic book movie villains, he is regularly ranked among the best in the genre. That pathos, a decent man, motivated by the lust for power and knowledge, driven to a life of crime, could be the basis of a moving film. Octavius is a character who is often cruelly indifferent towards the evil acts he commits, but he has been portrayed in a number of different ways.
In a recent arc, Octavius used a series of intricate tricks to leave his nemesis Peter Parker trapped in his dying body, while Otto lived on in Peter's. After the trade, Octavius was struck with the sense of honor and duty that Parker lives with and committed himself to becoming the Superior Spider-Man. This arc cast the villain as the hero, atoning for his former sins and struggling to do good. He ultimately fails, far overreaching with violence and tipping off many of Peter's hero associates, and in doing so, he sacrifices himself to give Peter his body back.
The typical direction for the villain solo movies, especially in Spider-Man's case, is to cast them as the hero. Venom saw Eddie Brock work to defeat an even bigger threat and the sequel seems to be leading the same direction. This makes sense, but it doesn't have to be as straightforward as realigning their goals or giving them an even more villainous enemy to oppose. Plenty of media today is centered around morally dubious characters doing often objectively evil acts. Octavius regularly resorts to robbery to fund his exploits, a heist movie could be a fascinating use of the character. Perhaps he could even recruit lesser-known villains to his banner to enact a superhuman Ocean's Eleven.
The most memorable scene of Spider-Man 2 is likely the hospital scene immediately after Octavius gains his robotic arms. The scene is haunting, yet balletic, it's like a short horror film spliced into the middle of a comic book action blockbuster. Horror, slasher films, in particular, is another genre populated by beloved charismatic yet evil characters. Marvel films have yet to delve into that particular genre, and a film helmed by a dangerous maniac with a distinct and terrifying set of built-in weaponry could produce a standout in the genre.
Dr. Otto Octavius is a fun, engaging character who could carry an entire film on his own. Creators could weave a variety of stories around the many-armed genius and bring new dimensions to a character who has remained beloved for decades. Fans will get another chance to see Alfred Molina's brilliant take on the character when Spider-Man: No Way Home premiers later this year.