Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episodes 1 & 2
Norman Osborn just made hisMCUdebut in Marvel’s newYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manseries, despite having never made an appearance in the MCU’sSpider-Manmovies. While a version of the Green Goblin does appear in 2021’sSpider-Man: No Way Home, this was Willem Dafoe’s version of the character who originated from the alternate universe belonging to theSpider-Mantrilogy of the early 2000s starring Tobey Maguire. Now, a new Norman Osborn has been introduced, one who’s more connected to the MCU proper.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’sNorman Osborn makes his debut at the end of the first episode, voiced by actor Colman Domingo. Tying himself toSpider-Man’s hero origins in this alternate MCU timeline, one does have to wonder why this is the first time we’re seeing such an iconic character from the comics.Here’sYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’sNorman Osborn explained, and what his role might mean for the main MCU timeline and its future.
Norman Osborn Made His Proper MCU Debut In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Taking The Place Of Tony Stark’s Iron Man
The ending scene ofYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manepisode 1 intentionally mirrors the MCU debut of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker inCaptain America: Civil War. Not only is the dialogue the same, but alt-J’s “Left Hand Free” also plays as the animated series' Peter Parker walks into his apartment in Queens before noticing that someone is sitting with his Aunt May. However, this is revealed to be Colman Domingo’s Norman Osborn, rather than Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark in this alternate MCU timeline.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Premiere Episodes Retell Peter Parker’s MCU Introduction: All 30 Easter Eggs And References Explained
The first two episodes of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man feature some very cool Easter eggs and references to Peter Parker’s MCU debut.
As confirmed at the beginning ofYour Friendly NeighborhoodSpider-Manepisode 2, Norman Osborn has come to offer Peter a spot in his company’s internship program. This is not unlike the reason Tony gives May for visiting Peter inCivil War, offering a scholarship and the Stark Internship Program (which was ultimately just a cover allowing Spider-Man to join Iron Man in Germany and later swing through the streets of New York inSpider-Man: Homecoming).To that end, Norman Osborn serves to be another New York billionaire in this alt-MCU timeline, taking Iron Man’s place in Peter Parker’s origins.
Why Marvel Studios Hasn’t Used Norman Osborn In The MCU Spider-Man Movies
A Desire To Give Other Villains On-Screen Debuts
In the comics and the originalSpider-Manfilm trilogy, Norman Osborn becomes the Green Goblin, one of Spider-Man’s major arch-nemeses, alongside Doctor Octopus and Venom. However, he’s yet to appear in the main MCU timeline, other thanWillem Dafoe’s Goblin inSpider-Man: No Way Home. While he didn’t originate in the MCU, the Green Goblin who first fought Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man still made himself a personal enemy of Tom Holland’s Webslinger, especially after he killed his Aunt May.That said, the MCU’s Spider-Man has yet to encounter a Norman Osborn unique to his reality.
Seeing as how Marvel Studios made Tom Holland’sSpider-Mantrilogy with Sony Pictures, there weren’t necessarily any rights issues that would have kept Norman Osborn away from making an MCU debut. After all, a version of Norman is debuting now in a Marvel Studios series without Sony. However,the decision was made to start with Spider-Man villains that hadn’t yet made their live-action debuts at all, such as Michael Keaton’s Vulture inSpider-Man: Homecomingand Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio inSpider-Man: Far From Home.
Does Norman Osborn Already Exist In The MCU?
He Certainly Could Be…
Using this new alt-MCU series as evidence, it’s certainly implied that a Norman Osborn originating in the main MCU could exist.That said, it could also just be another difference between that universe and the MCU. After all, the point of deviation that created this branched timeline must have happened before the attack on Midtown High shown in the show’s first episode, because if that was the case, it would mean that theMCU’s Spider-Man never would have received his powers.
Essentially, the show’s alternate timeline is uniquely set up in a way where the MCU could easily retcon itself to include Norman or keep him out of the main MCU depending on what they want to do going forward with Tom Holland’s nextSpider-Mantrilogy in the works. Keeping that in mind, itwasrecently confirmed thatColman Domingo recently had talks with Marvel Studios about future opportunitiesbeyond voicing this version of Norman.While it could be for another role entirely, perhaps Marvel wants to see Domingo playing the main MCU’s Osborn in live-action as well.
