Summary

• Spider-Man 4 is likely to focus on a street-level story, with possible appearances from exciting villains from the comics.
• The film could see Scorpion seeking revenge and villains like Hammerhead and Tombstone ing a crime saga.
• Characters like Prowler and Black Cat could be introduced to bring new dynamics to Spider-Man's story.

Tom Holland's Holland shared a Spider-Man 4 update last November, saying, "We have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like."

While there are rumors about Spider-Man 4 potentially seeing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield return for another multiversal event, the most likely scenario for the film is for it to pick up on where the franchise last left off. Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending saw Peter Parker at his lowest in the MCU. Aunt May is dead, and his loved ones — and the world — have forgotten who Peter is. With Parker living in a small apartment and even knitting his own superhero costume, Spider-Man 4 is ready to tackle a gritty, personal story with some Marvel villains perfect for it.

10 Donald Glover's Prowler Can Return To The MCU In A Bigger Role

Glover Recently Appeared In Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Donald Glover made his MCU debut as Aaron Davis in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming. The actor only appeared as a cameo in the movie, though it was enough to tease a major Spider-Man hero: Miles Morales. As Miles' nephew, bringing Glover back as Davis, aka the Prowler, would be a way to set up the second Spider-Man for a future MCU debut. Prowler is a vicious villain that is perfect for a grounded story in Spider-Man 4. The actor recently appeared in full costume as the Prowler — seemingly from the MCU — in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, boosting his return chances.

9 Chameleon Would Fit With Where Peter Parker Is At

The Character Will Appear In A 2024 Movie

Had Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 changed MCU history by succeeding in the director's plans to use the Vulture as the film's villain, then Spider-Man: Homecoming might have already used the Chameleon. Speaking to Comicbook.com, MCU Spider-Man franchise director Jon Watts revealed that the Vulture was chosen due to his connection to Spider-Man's origin. As a street-level hero and the first foe Spider-Man fought in the comics, the Chameleon is a great pick for the first chapter of Peter Parker's adult life in the MCU. With Peter's identity problems, a villain who can impersonate anyone also fits thematically.

A character named Dmitri was introduced in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home but never evolved into Dmitri Smerdyakov, aka the Chameleon. The character will be played by Fred Heringer in Sony's Spider-Man Universe's Kraven the Hunter this year.

8 Scorpion Is A Forgotten MCU Tease

The Villain Fits Spider-Man 4's Possible Gritty Story

Better Call Saul's Michael Mando played Marc Gargan, aka Scorpion, in Spider-Man: Homecoming. After talking to Michael Keaton's Vulture in jail and asking him about Spider-Man's identity, the character has yet to return to the MCU. With Peter Parker now all alone and older, a more mature Spider-Man 4 story could revolve around Gargan's quest for revenge on Spider-Man. As Scorpion blames Spider-Man for his severe injuries, it would make sense for him to hunt down Peter after being released or escaping jail, perhaps with the team he mentioned in Homecoming.

7 Hammerhead Could Bring A Crime Saga To The MCU

The Villain Has Not Appeared In Live-Action

While he has appeared in multiple animated series and video games, Hammerhead has yet to make his live-action debut. The character is a leader within the Maggia, a Marvel Comics crime syndicate. Hammerhead's MCU debut is perfect for Spider-Man 4. A more mature Spider-Man story could see Peter try to dismantle New York City's crime families, which could connect with Kingpin's crime empire and include a return from Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil to help Spider-Man both physically and legally.

6 Tombstone Could Be Another Player In A Spider-Man 4 Mob War

The Villain Also Has Ties To Daredevil

Lonnie Lincoln, aka Tombstone, is another villain who could bring a grounded, visceral element to Spider-Man 4, being perfect as part of a crime saga that could also include Hammerhead and Kingpin. As one of New York's most prominent crime bosses, who has a long history with both Spider-Man and Daredevil in the comics, Tombstone would be a great addition to the MCU, offering a fresh villain that has yet to appear in live-action and who is physically imposing.

5 Silver Sable's MCU Debut Would Make Up For Her Canceled Movie

Sable Could Be Both An Ally And A Foe To Spider-Man

Sony's Spider-Man Universe does not use Peter Parker or Miles Morales, with the franchise instead opting to develop projects based on Spider-Man-related characters and villains. Silver Sable was once among those who would have been part of the SSU; however, the Silver Sable movie has seemingly been canceled after spending years in development hell. Given how Sable's unpredictability makes her an exciting character, the MCU could explore her in Spider-Man 4, perhaps working alongside Peter while having a hidden agenda of her own. Silver Sable's home of Symkaria could also help the MCU's world-building.

4 Rhino Could Get His Live-Action Redemption In Spider-Man 4

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Was His Only Live-Action Appearance

While the character has potential, Paul Giamatti's Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 barely scraped what kind of villain he can be to Spider-Man, becoming one of the controversial movie's lowest points. The character's silhouette was teased during Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending as one of the characters throughout the multiverse who knew Spider-Man's secret identity. With that tease, a gritty, body-horror version of Rhino could be introduced in Spider-Man 4, perhaps as the lead enforcer for a major villain. Instead of being a joke, Rhino can be a menacing foe in the MCU.

As Rhino is part of Kraven the Hunter's cast of characters, with a shot from the movie's trailer showing his physical transformation, the SSU might beat the MCU to a good Rhino live-action adaptation.

3 Black Cat Can Bring Balance To Peter Parker In Spider-Man 4

Sydney Sweeney Is The Leading Fancast For The MCU's Black Cat

At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland's character lets go of his life as Peter Parker, fully embracing the call of the city as Spider-Man. Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, can help balance both sides of the character's life again. With Zendaya's MJ likely out of the picture as a romantic interest in the movie, Spider-Man 4 could set up a romance between Black Cat and Spider-Man, taking inspiration from the duo's long on-and-off romance from the comics. While Felicity Jones had a cameo as Felicia in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, she never donned the Black Cat costume.

With Madame Web's failure, the fan-favorite actress to play Black Cat in the MCU, Sydney Sweeney, could be able to leave the SSU behind and Spider-Man 4 as the anti-hero.

2 Kraven The Hunter Was Almost In The MCU Already

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Plays The Villain In The SSU

MCU Quicksilver actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson leads the SSU's Kraven the Hunter movie. While Taylor-Johnson's MCU past and the SSU's plans for the character could make Kraven's appearance in Spider-Man 4 difficult, the character was already considered for Holland's MCU franchise. Spider-Man: No Way Home was blocked from using Kraven the Hunter due to Sony's villain plans. If the two studios agree on a deal, a version of "Kraven's Last Hunt," with the villain hunting down Spider-Man through NYC in a violent film, would be perfect for the direction the MCU's Spider-Man is heading towards.

1 Kingpin Is The Rumored Villain For Spider-Man 4

Wilson Fisk Can Wage War On The MCU's Street-Level Heroes

Following Echo, Daredevil: Born Again will follow Kingpin's run to become NYC's mayor. Rumors surrounding Wilson Fisk's role in the MCU point to a version of the Marvel Comics story "Devil's Reign" being in play for Spider-Man 4. If that were to happen, Vincent D'Onofrio's character outlawing New York's street-level heroes and commanding a villain squad to hunt them down would make Spider-Man 4 a major street-level event. Seeing Daredevil, the Punisher, and other MCU street-level heroes team up with Peter Parker to take down Kingpin in Spider-Man 4 would be thrilling.