MCU veteran costume designer Graham Churchyard said Tom Holland was scheduled to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Churchyard told LRM Online that Spider-Man will make "a very brief cameo appearance" in Doctor Strange 2
Churchyard said that Marvel Studios' pre-pandemic lineup included Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in May 2021 and Spider-Man: No Way Home two months later.
However, COVID-19 "shook it all up," causing Marvel Studios to delay their slate and reschedule Spider-Man 3 to meet Sony's rights and distribution needs. Holland's appearance was deleted from No Way Home in December 2021 and Doctor Strange 2 in May 2022 due to their revised narratives.
Holland's only Multiverse Saga role is No Way Home, although he's anticipated to feature in Spider-Man 4.
While learning Phase 4 almost featured more of the web-head is upsetting, some unusual concept art from Spider-Man: No Way Home confirms Churchyard's claim and may explain why Marvel eliminated Holland's appearance.
Stephen Strange is incapacitated in his Sanctum bedroom in Doctor Strange 2 when Peter Parker talks to him. Using the same place makes sense if Strange's sequel followed Holland's threequel, but not vice versa.
The most revealing No Way Home artwork shows America Chavez carrying a mystery book during a Multiversal event and at Spider-Man 3's final Statue of Liberty showdown.
Why Marvel Removed Spider-Man from Doctor Strange 2 If Tom Holland's Doctor Strange 2 appearance was about America Chavez, its removal makes sense since fans hadn't met her yet.
However, Spider-Man would have improved Multiverse of Madness and the MCU's interconnectedness. Given Strange and the Multiverse's involvement, Spidey's arrival was expected and natural.
All spectators received was Wong and Strange recognizing "an incident with Spider-Man" and some scary concerns regarding his powers. How might Spidey's participation in Multiverse of Madness have altered how and why he approaches Strange in No Way Home?
Shouldn't Peter know about the Multiverse before his film? Would the Sanctum's failed spell have happened? One day, such answers may be disclosed. Although one of Tom Holland's Spider-Man roles was never completed, both affected the MCU.