As a lifelong comic book enthusiast who’s seen more Spider-Man iterations than I care to count, I can confidently say that the sky’s the limit when it comes to villains for our friendly neighborhood Spidey. While Sony may have a monopoly on certain characters, there are still plenty of baddies left in Marvel’s vast roster waiting to give our wall-crawler a run for his money.
As a dedicated gamer and avid Spider-Man fan, I’ve got to admit, it’s been quite some time since we’ve had any updates on Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4. And with no new news to keep us entertained, our minds have started to wander. We speculate about who could be directing the fourth Spider-Man movie now that Kevin Feige has confirmed that Jon Watts won’t be returning. We even ponder if Zendaya will return, which might undo Peter’s sacrifice at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Today, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease after hearing whispers that MCU Spider-Man films can’t utilize any villains that have been introduced in standalone Sony movies.
Kraven currently possesses Rhino, Calypso, and Chameleon. Whenever Sony employs a villain, they prevent Marvel Studios from utilizing them. This restriction leaves relatively few adversaries for the MCU Spider-Man to engage in battles with by August 14, 2024.
Initially, I’m doubtful about that statement because a legal restriction stops Sony’s antagonist from appearing in a Spider-Man film. However, it’s important to note that the unique deal between Marvel and Sony on sharing Spider-Man is flexible at best. In the past, characters have been shared, but mostly it’s been Tom Holland as Spider-Man and characters associated with him, such as Michael Keaton’s Vulture, moving from the MCU into the Sony universe.
In their ongoing discussions, it’s likely that Sony requests Marvel not to create stories centered around Venom (Tom Hardy) or Kraven the Hunter (Aaron Taylor Johnson) for the time being, to prevent conflicts with films Sony intends to produce. However, I don’t believe this means they are completely off-limits for the MCU. If Feige had an exceptional idea for Spider-Man 4 involving The Rhino, for instance, I suspect Sony and Marvel could work out a deal allowing the villain to appear, using some multiverse magic to explain his presence, which would not make him Paul Giamatti’s character or the CGI version we saw in the Kraven trailer.
Despite the possibility, one might wonder why Spider-Man fans seem anxious. If you’ve ever read a Spider-Man comic, you’re aware that there are approximately 1,000 Spidey villains yet to appear in a Sony-produced Spider-Man film. These villains could potentially sustain Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spider-Man for two decades within the MCU. Here are five such antagonists that immediately come to mind.
The Scorpion
In future Spider-Man films, it’s expected that Mac Gargan, who was initially introduced in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and imprisoned alongside The Vulture at the end of that movie, will transition into the villain known as The Scorpion. This transformation occurs when J. Jonah Jameson hires him to eliminate Spider-Man. However, Gargan develops a mental instability due to his permanent link to the Scorpion suit. As JK Simmons reprises his role as Jameson in the MCU’s Spider-Man films, it makes sense for the plot of “Spider-Man 4” to involve him hiring The Scorpion to target Spider-Man once more.
The Kingpin of Crime
It appears to me that this choice of a powerful antagonist for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man feels particularly fitting, and it has the potential to introduce a multitude of characters associated with Kingpin, a notorious crime boss. Towards the end of the miniseries “Echo,” which can be found on Disney+, the writers hinted at the commencement of a well-known comic book series called Mayor Kingpin. This storyline is likely to feature Daredevil (played by Charlie Cox) and The Punisher (portrayed by Jon Bernthal), with potential expansion to include lesser villains such as The Rose, Richard Fisk, son of Wilson Fisk.
The Black Cat
In the MCU, Spider-Man, or Peter Parker, often finds himself entangled in romantic complications. We’ve already encountered MJ (portrayed by Zendaya), but Gwen Stacy from the comics is yet to make an appearance. If Marvel Studios decides to introduce a love interest for Spider-Man, they might consider Felicia Hardy, also known as Black Cat. She’s a classic cat burglar with a dark past, much like DC’s Catwoman. However, plans for a Black Cat and Silver Sable film have been in the works for some time. Perhaps some aspects of those scripts could be adapted for a storyline in Spider-Man 4.
Hammerhead
In the vein of a gritty street-level saga reminiscent of the Spider-Man films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), let’s consider the possibility for the next trilogy to be titled “Gang Wars”. This storyline could revolve around various criminal organizations vying for dominance within New York City. So far, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has traversed Europe, outer space, and alternate dimensions. It’s time for a more grounded, New York-centric narrative, making the introduction of established gangster characters like Hammerhead, whose head resembles an anvil he wields as a weapon, an intriguing prospect. By pitting Hammerhead against a rival such as Tombstone and involving Spider-Man in the conflict, we can set the stage for an action-packed showdown.
Hobgoblin
As a longtime fan of Spider-Man, I have always been intrigued by the complex dynamics between Peter Parker and his adversaries. Having grown up watching the evolution of these characters, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for their relationships and how they shape the narrative. However, I must admit that the idea of Jacob Batalon’s character, Ned, becoming The Hobgoblin seems rather unexpected, given the established storyline in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) so far.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m psyched about the fact that Sony restricting Marvel from using villains from their Spider-Man films doesn’t limit us comic book fans entirely. There’s a treasure trove of Spidey baddies yet to be explored in the comics, and we’re just scraping the surface here! Keep an eye out for updates on the upcoming Spider-Man movies and TV series in production – I sure will!
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2024-08-21 15:37