FEATURE: 5 Villains Who Should Be Considered for SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Sequel
Without a doubt, Spider-Man has one of the greatest rogues galleries in comic book history. So far, the movies have featured Green Goblin (twice), Dr. Octopus, Venom, Sandman, “New Goblin,” Lizard, Electro, and Rhino. This summer’s latest reboot, Homecoming, will feature the Vulture, Tinkerer, and Shocker. In addition, Sony is rebooting Venom for his own movie, while films starring Black Cat, Silver Sable, and more are in development.
Of course, the list doesn’t stop there. With so many iconic villains, the Homecoming sequels have plenty to choose from. The intended trilogy is also expected to explore new villains, rather than revisiting ones from past films.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of five Spider-Man villains we hope to see in Homecoming 2 and beyond.
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven is arguably the best Spider-Man villain who has yet to appear on the big screen. While most villains simply seek to rule the city or destroy Spider-Man for the sake of it, Kraven’s motivation is more unique. He seeks to prove himself as the greatest hunter in the world, and to do that, he wishes to take down the Web-Slinger. The story “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is one of the definitive Spider-Man stories. So, it would be ideal to bring in the character for Spidey’s next movie.
The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb was interested in bringing in Kraven for a sequel, but obviously, that’s not happening. Meanwhile, Sony is reportedly bringing Kraven in to one of its Marvel Universe movies. While it would be interesting to see him in that series, I would prefer if Kraven was the main villain of an actual Spider-Man movie. He could be one of the franchise’s most unique antagonists to date, and relegating him to a series of films without Spidey would be a waste.
Scorpion
Another one of my favorite Spider-Man villains who hasn’t popped up on screen yet is Mac Gargan, a private investigator/criminal. The Scorpion costume is really cool, the villain is a physical match for Spidey, and he’s a great fit in to the character’s world. In the comics, Gargan even became the host of the Venom Symbiote for a while.
All in all, Scorpion is a great antagonist who should absolutely be considered for the next Spider-Man movie. Basically, his big screen debut has been long overdue.
Hobgoblin
The new Spider-Man series is expected to avoid revisiting the Osborn family (at least right away), so don’t expect Green Goblin to return anytime soon. However, one way they can fill that void is by introducing the Hobgoblin. Several characters have assumed that mantle in the comics, but the original is Roderick Kingsley.
Hobgoblin is another villain who has never appeared in the Spider-Man movies, and his only animation appearance was in the 1990s series. In that cartoon, the character was established before Norman Osborn became Green Goblin, something they can carry over into the movies. It’s possible that the current films may not want to bring in any Goblin for the foreseeable future, but if they do, then Hobgoblin would be a fine start.
Morbius the Living Vampire
One character who would be a really unique Spider-Man movie villain is Morbius, the Living Vampire. Michael Morbius is a doctor who is given the abilities of a vampire from a biochemical experiment. Healing factor, sucking human blood, all that good stuff. While Morbius was originally a Spider-Man villain in the comics, he later became a more heroic protagonist.
Morbius has been considered for live action before, such as Blade II. But he could be one of Spider-Man’s most unique movie villains if done right. Morbius would allow the film to embrace some horror elements, as Spidey has never fought a vampire before. However, given the character’s darker roots, Sony could potentially see Morbius as a better fit in to the studio’s own Marvel Universe, featuring Venom, which is rumored for an R rating. But if that doesn’t happen, then bring Morbius in to the Spider-Man movies.
Doctor Octopus
And finally, we have one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains. Otto Octavius was the villain in 2004’s Spider-Man 2, where he was brilliantly played by Alfred Molina. Again, the Homecoming series is expected to focus on villains we haven’t seen on screen before. And considering how perfect Spider-Man 2‘s take on the character was, it’s going to be tough for any new version to come close.
But, honestly, it’s inevitable that Doc Ock will return to the big screen one day. So why not a Homecoming sequel? A second film incarnation could lead to more of the character’s comic book roots being embraced. For example, Doc Ock could play a role in forming the Sinister Six. (And we all know Sony’s been itching to bring in that team…)
Ultimately, while it’ll be near impossible to match the quality of Alfred Molina’s take, we’re most likely going to see a new version of Dock Ock sooner or later. Enter the MCU.
Honorable Mentions: Venom, Carnage, Chameleon, Kingpin, Tombstone
Which villain do you want to see in the Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel?
Latest posts by Paul Romano (see all)
- Paul’s 15 Most Anticipated Movies of 2022 - January 17, 2022
- How Legendary Pictures Can #ContinueTheMonsterVerse After GODZILLA VS. KONG - April 19, 2021
- 5 More Marvel Legacy Characters We Want to See in the MCU - February 7, 2021