Production is now underway for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and director Marc Webb has released something potentially huge. The director has tweeted an image from the set everyday, but yesterday's has some serious ties to the Ultimate Universe and a fan favorite character.
First and foremost, that locker set-up looks an awful lot like the one where Ultimate Eddie Brock held the Venom suit at the Reed Richards Science Center, doesn't it? Unlike the standard 616 universe, the Ultimate version of the symbiote was man-made (by both of their fathers) in an attempt to cure cancer. Could the scientists at Oscorp be crafting the suit in an effort to heal a dying Norman Osborn now that Dr. Connors' plan failed?
Here's where it gets particularly interesting, though. As you can see, he also put a "happy birthday" hashtag in the message. As CraveOnline points out, yesterday happened to be Dane DeHaan's birthday -- and he's confirmed as playing Harry Osborn in the sequel (here's a symbiotic gift for your b-day!). Perhaps this is a big leap... but are they taking an element from the Ultimate Spider-Man animated show and having Harry become Venom ? Could this even branch off into the Venom solo movie? If so, that would contradict producer Avi Arad's previous statement that it would be an "Eddie Brock story." Or, as SuperHeroHype states, it could just be saying happy birthday to Venom. Eddie Brock's first full appearance in the symbiote (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #299) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. The cover says April, but it really hit the stands two months earlier -- a trait all Marvel comics share.
This is quite a lot of elements for the second movie to potentially tackle and it's certainly aiming big enough already. In addition to Harry, we know the second film will also be adding Electro (Jamie Foxx), Rhino (Paul Giamatti) and Mary Jane Watson (Shailene Woodley). Then again, maybe we'll only get a taste of some of these characters and they'll have the opportunity to flesh them out in later films. I can't help but wonder, though... will we also see 'The Death of Gwen Stacy?' Based on all of this, I'd definitely prefer if they hold that off until the 3rd film -- if they even do it at all. No matter what happens, let's just hope this isn't Spider-Man 3 all over again!
What do you think about the tweet, Viners?
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will hit theaters May 2, 2014.
Source: CraveOnline, SuperHeroHype