Rumors are pointing to who would be the villain of Spider-Man 4 —a personality who could be the right match for the sequel’s newly revealed title.
Disney took the chance at CinemaCon 2025 to offer Spider-Man followers one thing to look ahead to with the title of the web-slinger’s subsequent solo movie, Spider-Man: Courageous New World. This may observe the efforts of Tom Holland’s “Dwelling” trilogy, setting him up for the subsequent levels of his MCU tenure.
With this film probably having each street-level and Multiversal components, there may be nonetheless loads of thriller about which antagonists Holland’s web-slinger might face. Fortunately, with the title now confirmed, followers are beginning to theorize about what could occur on that entrance.
Spider-Man: Courageous New World Rumor Teases Mr. Adverse
Insider Daniel Richtman (per X person @cosmic_marvel) shared a rumor indicating Marvel Studios is seeking to solid an Asian actor between the ages of 30 and 50 for “a giant function” in 2026’s Spider-Man: Model New Day. This report is one in every of quite a few components main followers to consider the function in query is Mr. Adverse.
Additional including to that rumor, within the weeks for the reason that information broke, Stephen Oyoung (who voiced Martin Li/Mr. Adverse in Sony’s Spider-Man video games) has turn into extra vocal about eager to play the function within the new film. Per @cosmic_marvel, he requested, “What’s a man gotta do…” in response to the rumor.
Vital to notice is that, in Marvel Comics, the Spider-Man: Model New Day storyline options Mr. Adverse as the first villain.
In that story, Spidey’s marriage to Mary Jane Watson is erased, which ends up in adjustments to historical past. Included in that is Spider-Man’s secret identification being forgotten after he was unmasked to the general public throughout Civil Struggle (just like the spell Physician Unusual solid to make that occur in Spider-Man: No Manner Dwelling).
The comedian options Mr. Adverse as a ruthless crime boss who makes use of darkforce powers to terrorize the Huge Apple. Nevertheless, he’s additionally Martin Li, a philanthropist who runs charity organizations, mostly FEAST.
Li beforehand made a reputation for himself in trendy media with a task as one of many principal villains within the Marvel’s Spider-Man PlayStation sport launched in 2018. Totally exhibiting his Mr. Adverse facet, he would be part of Dr. Octopus as a part of that sport’s Sinister Six.
How Might Mr. Adverse Be Utilized in Spider-Man 4?
Taking a look at Spider-Man’s latest MCU tenure, Marvel Studios and Sony Photos have loads of pure avenues by which to introduce Martin Li in Spider-Man 4.
Most notable is the inclusion of FEAST in Spider-Man: No Manner Dwelling, which was a charity group Marisa Tomei’s Aunt Could helped run. Additionally essential to recollect is FEAST’s place within the 2018 Spider-Man online game and its sequels, the primary sport closely that includes Martin Li because the shelter’s benefactor.
Whereas there was no signal of Li in No Manner Dwelling, Model New Day might introduce him both as FEAST’s new chief after Aunt Could’s tragic dying. He might even have been the shelter’s funder lengthy earlier than Could died, however irrespective of which possibility is picked, his inclusion within the story could be nearly seamless.
Li may be an amazing villain to make use of when fascinated about this movie’s mixture of street-level and Multiversal storytelling resulting from his connection to darkforce and extra supernatural powers. Whereas he definitively comes from Earth, his wild powers might lend themselves to meshing effectively with potential Multiversal storylines as effectively.
For now, followers wait to listen to extra information from the Spider-Man: Model New Day set because the sequel seems to begin filming earlier than its July 31, 2026 launch date.
