12 Spider-Man Villains We’d Love To See After Brand New Day
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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Without a doubt, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a massive success, breaking the record for the highest-grossing film in North America of all time. As such, conversations about the MCU's inevitable fifth Spider-Man movie are reportedly underway. With that in mind, one has to wonder who might serve as the film's primary villain.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day was rather unique in the way that its primary antagonist was a future hero with Sadie Sink's Jean Grey. While several other villains were featured like Scorpion, Tombstone, Boomerang, Tarantula, and more classic foes, most were either supporting roles in the case of Scorpion and The Hand, or basic cameos, having been briefly featured in the movie's opening montage showing Spider-Man's exploits in New York since the events of No Way Home.
Keeping that in mind, it does seem like Spider-Man 5 has more than enough room for a true big bad debut. As such, there's more than a few solid choices, seeing how Spider-Man has one of the biggest rogues' galleries of all time. In no particular order, here are 12 of our favorite villain picks for Spider-Man 5.
Kingpin
Without a doubt, Wilson Fisk is probably one of Spider-Man's most obvious potential future villains, and one of the most asked for by fans, especially after Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin was re-established in the MCU in 2021's Hawkeye.
Following future roles in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again, it would be all kinds of exciting if Fisk were made the big bad of Spider-Man 5. After all, Brand New Day confirmed that Spider-Man had been taking on various factions of New York's organized crime, and Born Again's first season saw Fisk calling out Spider-Man as a dangerous vigilante alongside Daredevil and Punisher.
Naturally, a confrontation with Kingpin in the MCU would hopefully involve Daredevil himself, especially after Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock served as Peter's lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Combined with Spider-Man's team-up with The Punisher in Brand New Day, it just makes sense to see all three New York vigilantes finally work together (with Kingpin as the perfect catalyst).
Venom
While the MCU has already teased Venom via Eddie Brock's brief appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Hardy's version of the Lethal Protector still hasn't had a proper interaction with the MCU's Spider-Man. Likewise, Hardy's future as Venom is very much a big question mark now that Sony's Spider-Man Universe of films outside the MCU is very much over, with Sony looking to start from scratch with hopefully more successful projects.
Regardless, the opportunity to have Venom and Spider-Man fight on the big-screen is a massive opportunity that should be taken advantage of in the future. Seeing as how a piece of the Venom symbiote was left behind in the MCU, there's already a perfect vehicle to debut a new Venom (without fully abandoning the legacy of Sony's Venom trilogy). Likewise, Avengers: Secret Wars is also on the way, and the 1984 Secret Wars comics event is where Peter Parker first encountered the Venom symbiote, taking it back home to Earth as his new black suit. As such, perhaps something similar could happen in the MCU?
Mister Negative
Following his rising popularity thanks to his key role in Sony's Spider-Man games for the PlayStation 5, Martin Li's Mister Negative would be an excellent way to introduce a villain the MCU has never touched. Having the dual identity of a philanthropist and criminal mastermind, Mister Negative could be a fascinating enemy with a complicated moral background. His power set is also incredibly unique and would be visually stunning on the big screen (while still being a fairly grounded crime boss).
Green Goblin
On the one hand, the MCU already featured one of the very best Spider-Man villains with Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the version of the villain originally from the universe of director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. While he was the Goblin of Maguire's Spider-Man first, he very much became a key nemesis of Tom Holland's after killing Aunt May in No Way Home (with Peter nearly killing Osborn by the movie's end).
However, it can be argued that there's still room for a Green Goblin native to the MCU, one who could be a different kind of threat to Holland's Webslinger. Case in point, Harry Osborn's Green Goblin could be a very interesting route, especially if he starts as Peter's friend.
Tombstone
Lonnie Lincoln may not have the same name recognition as villains like Green Goblin or Venom, but that's precisely why Tombstone could work so well. Another New York crime boss possessing impressive strength and durability, Tombstone was one of the several villains featured in Brand New Day's opening montage, played by Marvin Jones III. However, Tombstone could easily have a much bigger spotlight in a future Spider-Man movie. There's so much that could be explored with Lonnie and his history (while also keeping Spider-Man 5 grounded and more street-level like Brand New Day).
Black Cat
Although Black Cat is technically more of an antihero than a traditional Spider-Man villain, Felicia Hardy still deserves a place in the conversation, especially considering how long Sony has been trying to get her on the big screen. Seeing as how Peter Parker's relationship with Mary Jane is now in questionable territory post-Brand New Day, the time does feel right to perhaps introduce Felicia's Black Cat as a new foe/potential conflicting love interest.
Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era
Tom Holland's
Spider-Man Trivia
🏠Homecoming2017
✈️Far From Home2019
🌌No Way Home2021
😈VillainsSinister…
🤖MCUAvengers
01
Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man?
✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments.
02
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises.
✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene.
03
Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI?
✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming.
04
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name?
✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe.
05
In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world?
✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson.
06
With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell?
✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here.
07
Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend?
✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.”
08
At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do?
✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all.
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Not only could a Spider-Man/Black Cat relationship provide a whole new kind of romantic chemistry that hasn't been explored before with Holland's Webslinger, but it would also be fascinating to see an evolution where Felicia either goes from ally to foe, or vice versa.
Morlun
If Marvel wants to go in a much stranger direction, Morlun could be one of the MCU's most interesting choices for Spider-Man 5. A multiversal predator seeking to feed on the life forces of those who exist across various realities as "Spider-Totems", Morlun is a true energy vampire and one of the most powerful foes Spider-Man has ever faced in the comics. On the one hand, Morlun could simply hunt Peter Parker in Earth-616 while keeping the story fairly grounded and non-multiversal. On the other, he'd be an easy villain to help kickstart an even bigger multiversal story with Spider variants than we saw in No Way Home.
However, Marvel Studios and Sony would need to be pretty careful with this concept, as it could easily feel repetitive following the third Spider-Man movie. It'd have to go much bigger, like featuring visits to other realities (though the animated Spider-Verse movies pretty much have that covered). Combined with expectations that the MCU is winding down multiversal stories after Secret Wars, it might make more sense to keep the focus on Morlun and Earth-616's Spider-Man alone.
Jackal
Miles Warren, aka The Jackal is perhaps the most obvious choice if Marvel ever wants to adapt parts of the infamous Clone Saga storyline. There have been recent reports of a potential Clone Saga series from Sony and Prime Video centered on the clones of Spider-Man created by Warren known as Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker, though it supposedly hasn't been greenlit just yet. In the chance that it falls through, perhaps elements of the story could be pivoted for Spider-Man 5, featuring the Jackal's dark work with genetic replication. If done well, it could be pretty cool to see one or two Scarlet Spiders in the MCU.
Doctor Octopus
The return of Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus was one of the biggest highlights of No Way Home, who also came from the Sam Raimi universe. Despite being redeemed after Holland's Peter helped restore Otto Octavius' mind, it can be argued that the MCU could still debut its own Doc Ock in the future.
Like Green Goblin, he'd just have to be more distinct, like perhaps focusing more on Otto's massive ego and pride from the comics, believing himself to be "superior" to everyone around him. There could even be set-up for the classic Superior Spider-Man storyline from the comics where Otto takes over Spider-Man's body. Whatever the case may be, there are ways to make a new Doc Ock feel unique in the MCU.
Kraven the Hunter
Although Kraven the Hunter is one of Spider-Man's most iconic comic-book enemies, Sony's live-action Kraven the Hunter movie starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson has admittedly complicated his future on screen. However, there is still potential in a properly realized Kraven who is actually focused on Spider-Man, though there'd probably have to be a different actor playing Kraven who starts from scratch.
Seeing Spider-Man as the ultimate prey, it would be awesome to see some sort of loose adaptation of Kraven's Last Hunt, which is arguably his most famous story. The personal obsession behind the hunt could easily make Kraven one of the most memorable live-action Spider-Man villains he's always deserved to be.
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