Summary

  • Spider-Man 4 will feature a female main villain for the first time.
  • Fans speculate that Black Cat could be the female main villain and Anya Taylor Joy or Sydney Sweeney could play the role.
  • While some fans are divided on having a female main villain, it could add new dynamics to Peter's story and it could work if done properly.

Spider-Man 4 is still in development and will soon begin filming. An insider shared a new update about the villain in the film.

Spider-Man, starring Tom Holland, is one of the most successful franchises from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Sony. Holland just signed for a trilogy, but due to the performance of his third solo film, he is coming for a fourth one. Holland's Spider-Man movies have featured several villains, including Vulture (Michael Keaton) for Homecoming (2017), Mysterio (Jack Gyllenhaal) for Far From Home (2019), and multiverse villains like Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Lizard (Rhys Ifans) in No Way Home (2021). MCU hasn't featured a female villain against Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man, but that will reportedly change in the upcoming Spider-Man 4.

mary jane spider-man 4
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MyTimeToShineHello, a movie insider and scooper, shared a new update about the anticipated Marvel tentpole. According to him, unlike in previous films, the big bad in Holland's next solo movie is a woman. "Spider-Man 4 will have a FEMALE main villain. It's NOT Sadie Sink. They already have someone cast. Announcement imminent," the scooper wrote. Another entertainment insider, Jeff Sneider, previously said that the Stranger Things star will play Mary Jane, Peter's love interest in the comics. So, she's unlikely the main villain in the film.

The announcement surprised fans, but that doesn't stop them from speculating about who will be the female main villain in Spider-Man 4. Several were convinced it would be Black Cat because she is Spider-Man's most famous female foe. The master thief with bad luck powers is popular in comics. In the past months, there were rumors that Anya Taylor Joy could play Black Cat in the next Spider-Man film. Sony's Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal weighed in on the rumor and said, "She would be fantastic." However, the producer added that they were "not quite at that stage yet." She also reminded fans that there are many amazing female characters from the comics aside from Black Cat. Additionally, many fans want Sydney Sweeney to play the character in the MCU. Sweeney looked great as Black Cat in fan art, and many approved of her for the role. The Euphoria star previously appeared in Sony's Madame Web as Julia Cornwall alongside Dakota Johnson (Madame Web), Isabel Merced (Anya Corazon) and Celeste O'Connor (Mattie Franklin). Some also suggested that the female main villain could be Silver Sable, a highly trained mercenary; Scorpia an enhanced villain and female version of Scorpion; or Calypso a voodoo priestess who could use mind control or dark magic.

Featuring a female main villain in Spider-Man 4 divides fans. Some are excited because it's new, and finally, the spotlight will shine on Peter's female nemesis. However, some were not as thrilled because the female villains in the comics were not as big threats as the men. Black Cat and Silver Sable, for instance, are more like anti-heroes and not supervillains. A few even predicted that they would not make it right. Others felt that the announcement about a female big bad in Spider-Man 4 only diminished the project, which script Kevin Feige reportedly rejected late last year. However, if done properly, a female villain could work. A strong female antagonist could add new dynamics to Peter's story and challenge the lead in ways fans haven't seen before. In Black Cat's case, she could play as both a love interest and an antagonist, making it an emotional battle for Peter. Also, it could set up future villains by associating the female villain with other big bads in the Spiderverse, like Kingpin or Scorpion.

Source: MyTimeToShineHello/X

sydney sweeney black cat
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Spider-Man 4 will hit theaters on July 24, 2026.