Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin spotted in new 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' teaser poster

The maniacal Halloween-themed supervillain was portrayed by Dafoe in 2002's 'Spider-Man'

Tom Holland as Spider-Man/Peter Parker in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'. Photo: Sony Pictures

Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will have his cross-dimensional work cut out for him in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In the teaser trailer released in August, fans caught a glimpse of a showdown between the young Avenger and Doc Ock, the scientist armed with robotic tentacles, who was portrayed by Alfred Molina in the 2004 Spider-Man 2 starring Tobey Maguire.

Now, a new teaser poster has given us a first, if somewhat hazy, look at the Green Goblin.

The poster for the film, scheduled to be released in the US on Friday, December 17, shows Spider-Man in a battle stance against Doc Ock’s mechanical tentacles. In the background, a familiar figure can be seen soaring through the skies – the original Green Goblin.

The Green Goblin is perhaps the archetypal Spider-Man nemesis. The maniacal Halloween-themed supervillain, whose real name is Norman Osborn, was portrayed by Willem Dafoe in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002).

It hasn’t been confirmed whether Dafoe will reprise the role for the new film. The Green Goblin suit was also worn by James Franco, who played Norman's son Harry Osborn. However, the suit in the poster has a closer resemblance to Dafoe's goblin than Franco's.

Fans were quick to spot the Green Goblin on his glider in the teaser poster, expressing excitement at seeing the infamous villain return to the big screen.

Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out hints of other villains in the poster. Some tweeted that the dusty wave on the poster’s left is an allusion to Sandman, the villain portrayed by Thomas Haden Church in Spider-Man 3, and that the yellowish-blue lightning is a nod to Electro, who was portrayed by Jamie Foxx in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and whose appearance is already confirmed in the new film.

While there's speculation that Dafoe and Church will reprise their respective roles in the coming Spider-Man film, just like Molina, they have yet to confirm their attachment to the project.

Fans have also been petitioning for the return of actors Maguire and Andrew Garfield, who have played the superhero in their own franchises in the past. However, neither the teaser trailer nor the poster gives such an indication, for now.

But as the film inches closer to its December release date, we’re sure to be treated to more Spider-Man: No Way Home teasers and trailers.