Every Pre-MCU Character Who Has Returned In Marvel Phase 4

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought back quite a few pre-MCU characters for different movies and shows in Phase 4. Long before beginning its Phase 4 story arc, the MCU has been well-known for how it weaves each movie and show into the franchise’s larger narrative. However, there are also many movies and TV shows based on Marvel Comics that pre-date the MCU. Prior to Disney’s acquisition of Fox and Sony’s Spider-Man deal with Marvel, other Marvel-based superhero franchises previously ran at the same time as the MCU without being connected to it.

With the beginning of the MCU’s Phase 4, Marvel Studios would start to tap into these other Marvel-based continuities from other studios with the introduction of the multiverse into the franchise. That is set to continue with Phases 4 through 6, dubbed “The Multiverse Saga”, but Phase 4 already has a big head start on the saga with its multiverse-based comebacks of several actors from earlier Marvel-based franchises. Here is every character from pre or concurrent MCU Marvel movies or shows who has returned in the MCU’s Phase 4, as well as the actors who portrays them.

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Tobey Maguire

The first big-screen Web-Slinger Tobey Maguire returned for the multiversal adventure of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Brought into the MCU through Doctor Strange’s botched spell, Maguire’s “Peter #2” lends his fellow Spideys a hand against a quintet of old foes. Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man even saves, rather than kills, the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) after his murder of Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), because of Maguire’s Spider-Man’s influential views on revenge. Though his interim adventures since Spider-Man 3 are not delved into much, Maguire’s Spider-Man return in No Way Home is nonetheless one of the best pre-MCU comebacks in the Marvel Multiverse.

Andrew Garfield

Despite Garfield’s persistent pre-release denials that he was in No Way Home, his return ended up being one of the highlights of the movie and arguably Garfield’s best performance as Peter Parker. In No Way Home, “Peter #3,” as he is dubbed, continues to be haunted by the loss of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, achieving a great heroic redemption in his rescue of MJ (Zendaya). Of the many crowd-pleasing elements of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield’s Spidey comeback is a true fan favorite.

Charlie Cox

After three years with a vague future following the end of the Marvel-Netflix age, Charlie Cox finally returned as the MCU’s Daredevil. Cox’s Matt Murdock cameos in No Way Home, serving as Peter Parker’s lawyer. Cox would later suit up as The Man Without Fear (this time in his yellow and red comics outfit) for Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, following the two with his Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again. Though Charlie Cox’s Daredevil comeback was technically a return building on the Marvel-Netflix show’s ambiguous MCU continuity, it has nonetheless been very warmly received.

J.K. Simmons

One of the most acclaimed castings in comic book movie history occurred with J.K. Simmons’s portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, and his role was revived with Simmons’s return as the MCU version of Jameson in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. Simmons’ Jameson returned to crusade against Spidey in No Way Home, while he and the Daily Bugle received an Alex Jones-inspired re-imagining.

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Willem Dafoe

Spidey’s greatest nemesis Norman Osborn a.k.a. the Green Goblin finally debuted in the MCU in No Way Home, with Willem Dafoe bringing his Norman and Goblin personas back from the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies. In No Way Home, Dafoe’s Norman is one of five villains accidentally pulled into the MCU from other universes, with Norman arriving just before his original death in Spider-Man. He still battles the influence of his Goblin persona, with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man successfully curing him.

Alfred Molina

Doc Ock is the first Spider-Man villain to arrive in No Way Home, with Alfred Molina bringing the mad scientist to life again after his villain role in 2004’s Spider-Man 2. Molina’s Doc Ock is still at the mercy of his artificially intelligent tentacles with their fried inhibitor chip. After being given a new one, Doc Ock regains control of his mind. Doc Ock even gets to meet Peter #2 again in a heartwarming scene, his now grown science student still “trying to do better” with Doc Ock fully redeemed from Spider-Man 2.

Thomas Haden Church

Spider-Man forgave Flint Marko for his accidental killing of Uncle Ben in Spider-Man 3, but Marko would return again when he too is pulled into the MCU in No Way Home. Church returns to voice Marko, who is always in sand form in No Way Home, with the Sandman still determined to get home to his daughter. After being cured by Peter #2, Marko gets sent back to his Earth for a fresh start.

Rhys Ifans

The first villain faced by Andrew Garfield’s Web-Slinger in The Amazing Spider-Man, Dr. Curt Connors is back once more as The Lizard in No Way Home, with Rhys Ifans voicing the character. Returned to his reptilian form after being pulled in the MCU, The Lizard battles the Spidey trio at the Statue of Liberty in No Way Home’s climax before he is once again turned human, this time by Tom Holland’s Peter #1.

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Jamie Foxx

The Amazing Spider-Man 2′s Electro (Jamie Foxx) also comes back for No Way Home. After getting a taste of a new kind of electricity in the MCU, the anger-prone Max Dillon resolves to stay, but he is de-powered in the climactic battle. He and Peter #3 also finally make peace, with Andrew Garfield’s Web-Slinger assuring Max he was never a nobody before Electro is sent home.

Tom Hardy

After leading Sony’s MCU parallel Venom movies, Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote Venom find themselves transported into the MCU at the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, released just two months before No Way Home. In the latter’s end credits scene, Venom’s usual rivalry with Spider-Man is changed, with Venom expressing curiosity about Spidey and Eddie deciding to travel to New York City to meet him. Unfortunately, Eddie and Venom find themselves sent home before they get the chance, though a small fragment of the Venom symbiote is left behind.

Patrick Stewart

For Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Patrick Stewart returns to his iconic role of Professor Charles Xavier from Fox’s X-Men movies. This time, Stewart plays a variant of Xavier in another universe who is a member of the Illuminati, alongside Captain Carter (Haley Atwell), Black Bolt (Anson Mount), Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch), and Mister Fantastic (John Krasinski). Xavier and the Illuminati are all killed by Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) during her murderous rampage throughout the multiverse, marking Stewart’s third death as Xavier following X-Men: The Last Stand and Logan.

With the Multiverse Saga preparing to unfold, it seems likely that many more former Marvel actors will return in cameos or supporting roles in the MCU. Hugh Jackman himself is already preparing for exactly that with his return as Wolverine in Deadpool 3. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe prepares to enter Phases 5 and 6, Phase 4 has gotten them off to a strong start with it numerous Marvel alumni returns.

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