The Marvel Cinematic Universe is clearly at an impasse. Since the Infinity Saga concluded with Avengers: Endgame, the studio has been stumbling in its quest to create an equally compelling saga. It is clear that there have been more than a few missteps in this Multiverse saga, starting with the ultimate villain of all (Jonathan Majors’ Kang) and ending in failures like The Marvels.
However, the only one who seems to escape all controversy is Spider-Man. His movie No Way Home, which took advantage of the Multiverse concept to bring together Tom Holland’s Peter Parker with Andrew Garfield and Tobey MaGuire’s versions, was a huge box office success, as well as a critical success. And Marvel made it clear that this was the end of the first Holland’s Spidey trilogy… followed by a new one.
But, with the director still to be confirmed and production just beginning, everything is still to be defined for Holland’s Spider-Man 4. And with it not clear where things are heading and Sony having created their own separate universe, wasting all kinds of villains… the choice of what will happen next is difficult.
To clarify the matter a bit, below we are going to list some of the possible villains that should appear in this upcoming movie. By the way, we are leaving out those who appeared in No Way Home, although we wouldn’t mind seeing their own Norman Osborn soon.
1. Kingpin
The inclusion of Wilson Fisk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the best things that has happened to the studio in recent years. After Vincent D’Onofrio delivered a spectacular performance in the Daredevil series, he has triumphantly returned in Hawkeye, Echo, and in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again.
This means that, at some point, he could face off against Spider-Man, as he has done so many times in the comics. We can’t wait, no doubt, imagining this Kingpin facing off against a duo formed by Tom Holland’s Spidey and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. A Spider-Man movie set in the criminal world and with a more realistic tone would be perfect after so many trips to space.
2. Black Cat
The Marvel counterpart of Catwoman is also a regular presence in Spider-Man comics. Although she cannot be considered a villain as such, because despite being a criminal she has also been Spidey’s girlfriend and ally, her inclusion in this new trilogy seems perfect to us.
Now that Spidey’s relationship with MJ (Zendaya) is colder than an iceberg, it would be the perfect opportunity to see Holland flirt with the cat burglar. It’s clear that she doesn’t fit the role of the main villain in one of his movies, but we’re eager to see her in action alongside Spider-Man.
3. Kraven the Hunter
He was one of the most rumored villains for the third installment of Spider-Man, and it would certainly be a perfect moment for him to make his grand appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kraven is one of Spidey’s most ruthless villains, and it’s clear that he can provide entertainment with a movie that is more cruel and bloody than what we are used to.
However, Sony has taken the lead and… ruined the idea. With the Kraven biopic coming out next December, the studio will waste a bullet that could have been perfect for Marvel Studios. We’ll see how it all turns out, but beyond a difficult crossover, it’s clear that we’ll have to wait to see it.
4. Morlun
Another great idea for Spider-Man 4 (or 5) could be the incorporation of the vampire universe into Peter Parker’s story. Marvel is already preparing its own adaptation of Blade, which will be released in 2025, so why not use a vampire as the protagonist’s villain?
Morlun is a villain who has been antagonizing Spider-Man sagas for years, and since we have already used Morbius with Jared Leto (Sony, please let it go), maybe it would be a good time to take advantage of this interesting villain.
5. Rhino
Although at first glance it may not seem as powerful or interesting as the rest of Spider-Man’s villains, a good characterization and a story could turn Rhino into a formidable enemy for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. Since we missed seeing Rhino from Paul Giamatti in a possible The Amazing Spider-Man 3, why not see him against Holland?
Rhino could pave the way for the future Sinister Six, as the first piece that, together with Vulture and others that may come out, ends up forming a string of villains united by their hatred for Spidey. It could be an interesting path for Marvel.
6. Mr. Negative
Although Mr. Negative has not traditionally been one of Spider-Man’s most acclaimed villains, his appearance in the PlayStation video game made it clear that he can be a very interesting enemy to see on the big screen. In addition to how spectacular he could look, his story is very captivating.
Undoubtedly, a well-used Mr. Negative can turn Parker’s life upside down. He has the best of Osborn’s mindset and the spectacularity of other enemies like Electro, so he could be a more than viable option.
7. Venom
The post-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home made it very clear that the next thing we would see would be Tom Holland against Tom Hardy in a Spider-Man versus Venom crossover. But… this scene didn’t have as many fans as Sony expected, and it seems that the idea has been discarded or, at least, set aside by Marvel Studios.
Of course, we would love to see Spider-Man with a black suit falling into darkness, but it doesn’t seem to be the right time. Maybe, in one or two more movies, a new Spidey story against Venom would be perfect.
