The new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hit the web yesterday, and seems to indicate that this particular superhero series is taking a different approach than some of the others out there.
Marvel, of course, has set the template, with individual superhero movies all leading to massive team-ups every couple of years in the Avengers films. Warner Bros./DC is struggling to keep up, and intends to use its Man of Steel sequel to re-invent Batman, as well as introduce Wonder Woman and possibly the Flash, in a clear attempt at launching the Justice League.
Fox is making one X-Men movie or spin-off after another, and there is speculation that its upcoming Fantastic Four reboot could eventually merge with the X-Men franchise for the studio’s own mini-Marvel universe.
But Sony only owns one superhero, Spider-Man — but he’s got one of the best rogues’ galleries in the business. So judging by the new trailer, the Amazing Spider-Man series is leading not to a hero team-up but a bad guy one.
In this trailer alone, we’ve got glimpses of Electro (Jamie Foxx), the Rhino (Paul Giamatti) and even Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) turning into what may be the Hobgoblin or Green Goblin. Watch closely, however, and there are visual hints that Spidey staples Doctor Octopus and the Vulture are also on the way. That means that 2016’s The Amazing Spider-Man 3 will probably find Spidey/Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) battling the popular team of antagonists known as the Sinister Six.
If anything, it’s certainly a unique approach to the team-up story that every studio so desperately wants now, and while we’re not completely bowled over by the trailer — and really, really disliked last year’s The Amazing Spider-Man — we’re willing to give this a chance.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opens on May 2, 2014.