10 Perfect Villains for the MCU’s Spider-Man 4

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is adjusting after box office disappointments such as The Marvels, one property fans still rate highly is Spider-Man. A big part is due to Tom Holland’s charm as a teenage Peter Parker. So much so, loyalists rank him high, sometimes even above Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.

Of course, Holland’s Spidey offers a different flavor in the MCU compared to what the Sony movies did. Thankfully, Holland is up for Spider-Man 4 after Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home and No Way Home. Given where the character ended up at the end of No Way Home, a very different tone and storyline is needed. Fortunately, Spider-Man and Marvel has a whole already the right kind of villains to make this shift possible.

10 Hobgoblin Could Be Spider-Man’s Anti-Tony Stark

There have been many versions of Hobgoblin over the years, but Roderick Kingsley stands out the most. He was an elite who decided to strengthen his empire after stumbling across Green Goblin’s lair and tools. He became the Hobgoblin, targeting Spider-Man and other New York heroes.

Marvel Studios could break free from potential Green Goblin saturation, as the past movies, games and comics explored so much of Norman and Harry Osborn wielding the mantle. Roderick as the Hobgoblin could be the antithesis to Tony Stark, appropriating and creating superior technology to control the Big Apple. It can build the foundation for a Norman who isn’t into street-level crime or politics, but something much bigger.

9 Spider-Man 4 Could Finally See Gargan Become Scorpion

Scorpion has been a major thorn in Spider-Man’s side, especially with the Sinister Six. The MCU had MacDonald (aka Mac) appear in Homecoming as one of Vulture’s crew. Gargan was using Chitauri weaponry, but after getting imprisoned, Gargan told Vulture he wanted another shot at Spider-Man.

A fourth movie could have Gargan officially becoming Scorpion, using the aesthetic from Insomniac Games. This tech-heavy Scorpion would give Gargan a chance at revenge. With Vulture over in Morbius’ universe, the MCU could even have Gargan toying with Peter after gleaning his identity from his former boss, creating a very cerebral hunt.

8 Black Cat Can be Spider-Man’s Catwoman

Felicity Jones played Felicia in Marc Webb’s Spider-Man movie franchise. However, Sony never pulled the trigger on her solo film, or having her become Peter’s version of Catwoman. The MCU can fix this by riffing on an emotional Peter Parker at university after the Doctor Strange mind wipe. Felicia could test Peter’s moral compass and create that iconic love triangle with Mary Jane.

If the MCU wants to truly revitalize Peter’s story as a reboot, it could look to the source material and Insomniac’s games where Felicia was forced to be a criminal. It would give Peter a heart and soul narrative, hoping to hunt the criminals enslaving her. This even opens a door for the MCU to explore her bisexuality and tell more diverse stories. This would give Holland a narrative about risk, second chances, identity, and how, sometimes, heroes have to break rules.

7 Chameleon Could Hunt Spider-Man in the MCU

Chameleon is Kraven’s half-brother, someone who has hunted Peter as a master of disguise. He was quite popular in the cartoons, coming off as more than a generic thug. Marvel Studios can carve a deep story by having him use his various identities to dupe Peter. This would be the ideal test for Peter’s spider-sense, playing on the idea of trust, fear and apprehension.

Sony has its Kraven movie planned, but Chameleon has always been better off going after the webhead on his own. With resources at his disposal, should Chameleon somehow find out Peter’s secret identity, it would outdo what Insomniac teased with its Chameleon hunt. Having Chameleon stalking and torturing Peter’s inner-circle shapes a very human journey. It would be more along the psychological, thriller vibe — updating the mind games Mysterio played in the MCU.

6 Smythe Can Be Spider-Man’s Most Sympathetic Villain

It feels like the MCU might be keeping Norman for the Dark Avengers rather than a Spider-Man feud. Apart from Roderick, the other tech genius who would be the polar opposite of Iron Man is Alistair Smythe. He was a mainstay of the 1990s cartoon, using his robotic Spider Slayers to hunt Peter.

The MCU can work in Smythe’s father issues, as he suffered emotionally from abuse. Smythe was broken and became a villain to show he could garner power. This could lead to Peter combating this new empire, trying to show Smythe that they are similar. Like Peter, Smythe can become a force for good, which is something that Maguire’s Peter would be proud of.

Jackal was a genetic scientist who turned into the Jackal to hunt Spider-Man, blaming him for Gwen’s death in the comics. He eventually made clones such as Ben Reilly and Kaine. As time passed, he kept wreaking havoc on Peter’s life. The MCU could easily retool this by making Miles Warren one of Peter’s professors in his new life who broke bad.

It would subvert the previous film interpretations of Doctor Octopus and Curt Connors, giving Spider-Man someone highly-intelligent and equipped to take him down. This enables Marvel Studios to remix the Clone Saga by taking Peter off the table, or having Peter wondering if he is really Ben. It can even lead to Holland as the darker, violent Kaine for a while. This would offset the need for a Venom symbiote and create an organic entry point someday for Miles Morales. Either way, Jackal orchestrating all this would affirm he can be an A-level criminal when need be.

4 Rhino Can Be Spider-Man’s Most Tragic Villain

Marc Webb’s movies teased Paul Giamatti as a robotic Rhino, but it never came to fruition. The MCU can rework that, giving Rhino the giant mech-suit and having him tear New York apart. Marvel Studios already has the template from the Insomniac games.

This Rhino can needle deeper due to his mafia past in Russia and how he was weaponized to become a terrorist. Fans love a sympathetic villain and this is indeed a tragic story that can find an inspired, hopeful Peter believing in redemption again — something No Way Home almost took from him.

3 Morlun Can Have Spider-Man Explore the Spider-Verse

With Sony leaning hard into the Spider-Verse and the MCU detailing various realities, the door is open for the psychic vampire, Morlun. This vampire sought out totems (aka Spider-People) across different worlds, to drain their power and kill them. With all these portals around, Holland’s Peter can hop around to save his kindred spirits and stave off an invasion of his Earth.

Holland may well enjoy the idea of visiting various realities, giving him a story similar to what Loki and Scarlet Witch endured. Such heroic purpose creates an Avengers-level job, which can even culminate in Peter finding the MCU’s Miles. Or a Miles who could end up in Peter’s reality due to Peter’s incursions, riffing once more on the theme of consequences.

2 Venom Could Target Spider-Man as His Next Vessel

Venom 2 didn’t resonate as much, despite Carnage being present. Thus, now is the time for Sony and the MCU to integrate even more. Having Tom Hardy’s Venom come over in an incursion can go two ways. Firstly, the Venom 2 post-credits confirmed the symbiote had a disdain for Peter, so Venom can go after him, thinking this Spider-Man is an alpha and a threat.

Venom may also be seeking an apex form, recognizing Peter would be a better host than Eddie Brock. This would play on Eddie’s heroic side, reminding fans the symbiote does have a mind of its own when choosing a vessel. This carves out a natural reason for Venom and Peter to fight. Plus, there is the chance that after Aunt May’s death, Peter embraces his dark side. He can absorb the alien, don the black suit, and learn the lesson of power and responsibility again.

After Thor: Love and Thunder brought All-Black (aka the Necrosword) into play, one has to think the MCU is setting up the symbiote god, Knull. He could become that Thanos-level threat, coming for that sword and bringing his symbiote army, dragons included, to take Earth. This is what he attempted in the King in Black event, using symbiotes to possess many characters along the way.

Such a high-stakes story can position Peter as a leader. This presents another opportunity for Sony and Marvel to deepen their synergy, loan characters, and let Peter, Venom and the “children” of Knull realize they need to rebel if they are to all be free from this cosmic nightmare of a god.