Willem Dafoe’s transformation into Hollywood’s iconic villain is nothing short of cinematic poetry, the face and eyes of the actor gleams a sinister allure. In his evil-laden portfolio, he has portrayed a number of antagonists but one stands above all. It is none other than the psychotic Green Goblin from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise.
The character is one of the most fan-favorite villains in the franchise, and his fan following is so vast that he returned in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. While fans were delighted to see Dafoe on his glider, giving a chilling laugh, he had one complaint about reprising his role. While sitting with WIRED, he talked about how he disliked the idea of using the de-aging effects done on him in the film.
Willem Dafoe’s Is Unhappy With Marvel For Using De-aging Effects on Him in No Way Home
Willem Dafoe became a fan-favorite villain after he portrayed the role of Norman Osborn also known as Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s 2002 film, Spider-Man featuring Tobey Maguire. Dafoe’s gradual descent into madness as Green Goblin gave the chills to the viewers.
With a chilling laugh, piercing gaze, and delivering eerily calm monologues in the film, he became synonymous with the role. The American Psycho actor made his return to the role in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Well, 19 years is a long time, and Dafoe definitely looks moderately older in comparison to him first helming the role in 2002. However, Marvel decided to use de-aging effects on his face through visual effects, which did not go well with him.
During WIRED’s Auto Complete Interview, he shared his experience of working in the MCU as disappointing and “silly“ because of how they wanted to use CGI on his face to look younger. He said,
Yeah, there was a couple of shots that were really fuzzy. I thought it was silly, because the de-aging thing, they don’t have down yet. And what’s the point? I don’t look that much older, I don’t think, anyway. It’s the creams.
Looks like the creams did their work because in the interview the actor looked younger than he was in the 2021 film. The actor was lively and answered all the questions including why he is the best Green Goblin.
Willem Dafoe Answers Why He Is The Best Green Goblin
Willem Dafoe had a blast reprising his role at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and watching him dive headfirst into the role of Norman Osborn in the film was a treat to Spider-Man fans. He truly dug deep to balance the duality in his character which brought a psychological terror that elevated the villain’s aura even more.
Indeed, he became such a fan-favorite villain that he ended up being the main antagonist in not just Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man film but also in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man film as well. In the same interview with WIRED, a question arose asking “Why Willem Dafoe is the best Green Goblin?”
The actor being his lively self answered, “because he was the first Green Goblin. Is that a good answer?” It was indeed, a good answer because, in a universe, where there are three different Spider-Man actors, there is only one Green Goblin that fans love to watch.
Spider-Man (2002) can be streamed on Disney+.
