The Real Villain of Tom Holland's Spider-Man Movies May Be Hiding in Plain Sight

Summary

  • Marvel Studios is having difficulty using Spider-Man villains due to Sony's influence, which limits the choice of characters in future films.
  • Sony's use of villains like Venom and Morbius in its films could prevent Marvel Studios from introducing these characters into the MCU.
  • Despite the character blocks, Marvel still has a number of intriguing Spider-Man villains to introduce, from Black Cat to Mister Negative, as the franchise expands.



One of the biggest questions facing studios making superhero films is who the villain will be. Of course, the hero is cast on day one when the title is decided, but selecting the right antagonist to face can be much more difficult. Finding someone who can match or counter the vigilante's power set, while also boasting compelling traits that could lead to conflicts of interest, is no easy feat. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has often gotten its villain right, and villains like Ultron, Thanos, Loki, Killmonger, and Kingpin have all entered the upper echelon of Marvel's greats. Spiderman The series features a host of menacing monsters, from Mysterio and Vulture to all-time favorites like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Sandman.


Like the Spiderman franchise continues, Marvel will need to dig deeper into the archives and tap into characters that have yet to be seen on screen. While there is an appetite to return to previously teased villains, such as Prowler or Scorpion, there is also a desire to see some familiar faces from the comics make their debut in this new universe. It would even be intriguing to see the MCU's take on those characters that have appeared in the past. Spiderman series, like Lizard or Electro, that could benefit from a complete overhaul. However, with Tom Holland Spiderman films that look to the future, there may be a villain hiding in plain sight that is disrupting any potential progress. It looks like Marvel Studios may have to fight Sony if they want to have any chance of creating entertaining stories with the villains audiences want to see.


Sony May Block Marvel Studios From Using Spider-Man Villains

There is previous evidence to suggest the existence of character exclusivity


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Rumors have it that whenever Sony uses a Spider-Man-adjacent villain in their films, they prevent Marvel Studios from creating their own iteration. This could be a legal issue that contains layers of complexity, or it could be an unwritten rule for the MCU to differentiate itself from Sony's universe. Regardless of the reason, there is evidence to suggest that this is very true. Past projects such as Poison, Morbius, AND Mrs. Webhave featured those titular characters, along with a few newcomers. In no scenario, however, have any of these figures appeared in new forms in the MCU since their debut in the Sony universe. To take things a step further, Sony even plucked Vulture from the main MCU in by Morbius universe, never to be seen again. The implication here is that the Spider-Man: Homecoming character will not have a role to play in the MCU going forward and may be saved for some sort of Sinister Six production. It remains to be seen whether these rules will only apply to the live-action universe, as Sony's animated series could also have an unexpected influence.


While there has been talk of a crossover in the future, and Prowler has appeared in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Man Universe, There also appears to be a separation between these media. Prowler has not returned to the MCU in any form, and there are no rumors that key characters like Miles Morales, Ghost-Spider, Spider-Ham, or Spider-Man Noir will be appearing in Holland’s franchise anytime soon. It seems like the narrative separation is really defining the approach of these two contrasting studios, and as Sony continues to push forward with strange spinoffs inspired by lesser-known comic book characters, both in animation and live action, it leaves Marvel itself in a quandary.


The exclusivity of the characters could mean that Sony continues to prevent Marvel Studios from adapting major characters into the MCU, resulting in poorer storytelling. There's always a way to find a workaround, and perhaps when Sony is done using some of these figures, Marvel Studios can tackle them in a new form. It seems like a coincidence that a symbiote was introduced in Spider-Man: No Way Home, just for Venom: The Last Dance to tease the end of the road for the titular beast. Perhaps as one story comes to a close, a new one can begin, allowing the highly capable hero to encounter new dangers.

Spider-Man's antagonists are eliminated

Morbius, Madame Web, Venom and Kraven have influenced the MCU roster


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It's important to really analyze the impact Sony could have on the future Spiderman film, looking at what they've supposedly removed from the MCU slate. There's a list of strong, menacing characters in live-action projects who have the potential for greatness in the MCU but have already fallen victim to poor execution by Sony. Morbius is a classic example, with the vampire character perfect for inclusion alongside the other horror icons of the MCU. His removal from the sandbox is a real blow to comic book fans. While Ezekiel Sims was a lesser-known villain, The Web Lady the character's portrayal meant that he never received the proper comedic portrayal that some might have hoped for.


There are big guys like Carnage and Venom, both of which have vital roles to play in the larger Marvel Universe. It's a shame that characters like King in Black may never be adapted because Sony has already spent so much time telling their much more isolated symbiote stories. Alongside these, there are smaller characters like Hunger from Morbio, and Riot and Shriek from Poison AND Venom: Let there be carnage respectively. Also, maybe some of those Mrs. Web Heroes like the titular warrior and her web-slinging allies may be sidelined in future spider-adventures.


Some will argue that there are only a couple of real losses among that group, but the damage that Kraven the Hunter could do could set the MCU back even further. Kraven himself is probably one of Spider-Man's most complex and intriguing foes, one that could easily have been slotted into an MCU epic, with huge stakes and characterization that parallels the page. Along with Kraven, foes like Rhino, Calypso, and especially Chameleon are also making appearances and are therefore unlikely to appear next Spiderman sequel. What’s particularly notable about this latest inclusion is that Chameleon has already been cast and teased in the MCU, a narrative thread that now has nowhere to go due to Sony’s actions. Each of these characters is a real obstacle for Spidey to overcome, and a classic threat that audiences would have loved to see him face on the big screen. Taking them out of his world, to fight Kraven in vigilante form, seems like a mistake. So, it seems like there’s plenty of reason to despair about Sony’s involvement in this production nightmare, but there are still villains out there that the studio hasn’t touched yet, which gives Marvel Studios some really exciting options.


The MCU will have to invest in smaller villains

There are still some intriguing foes that Spider-Man will have to face.

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Despite concerns that the MCU will have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find a villain worthy of audiences' attention, there are still some great villains the studio could do a lot with. As Marvel gears up for Spiderman 4, perhaps with new directors, there's a lot to consider. With MJ and Peter separated for now, it seems like the perfect time to bring Black Cat into the picture, creating both romantic tension and a very different relationship style for Spider-Man. Then there's Hobgoblin, a figure who could be completely original or tied to Peter's former best friend Ned Leeds, creating those personal installments organically. The controversial clone saga could be rewritten, with The Jackal making his debut, and then there's Mister Negative, a powerful character who has risen significantly to prominence in recent years due to the Spiderman games on the PlayStation. Then, there's the wider MCU to consider, as well as those characters who could pop up again. Shocker and Scorpion are both set to return, and fans are desperate to see Kingpin finally come face to face with the friendly neighborhood web-slinger.


While Sony could continue to adapt fan-favorite characters without much fanfare, the MCU may be able to give more prominence to smaller antagonists, as it has previously done with Hela, Ego, and the High Evolutionary.

While they may be some of the biggest names still available, there are also street thugs and comic characters that could be reinvented to push the Spiderman franchise into darker, grittier territory. Tombstone and Hammerhead are great examples, and who doesn’t want a comic sequence featuring Big Wheel rolling around town? Silver Sable is a dangerous bounty hunter who could form an uneasy alliance with Peter Parker, and Alistair Smythe’s Spider-Slayers may be able to reprise some of the MCU’s themes thus far, regarding robotics and the dangers of AI. From The Rose and Butch, to White Rabbit and Beetle, there are so many options available that Marvel Studios shouldn’t worry about the limitations imposed. While Sony may continue to adapt fan favorites with little fanfare, the MCU may be able to bring smaller antagonists to greater prominence, as it has done previously with Hela, Ego, and the High Evolutionary.


Some doors may close, but there's an opportunity here to go in directions audiences might never expect and draw inspiration from the latest comic book series.

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