After sources suggested that conflicts between Tom Holland and Marvel’s Kevin Feige caused changes to the script for ‘Spider-Man 4,’ insider Daniel Richtman claimed (via ComicBook) that the studio restarted work on the story, which originally included Shocker and Scorpion as MCU hero’s new enemies.
Both characters appeared before in the Spider-Man movies. Michael Mando played Mac Gargan before he became a villain in ‘Homecoming,’ while Bokeem Woodbine appeared as Shocker. It’s unclear whether these actors will reprise their roles in the upcoming film, if they are still featured.
Another villain (or ally) rumored for the upcoming movie is Tom Hardy’s Venom. Hardy concluded his run as the character in ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ back in October, but many believe he’ll return to team up with Holland in ‘Spider-Man 4.’ After all, a piece of him is still in the MCU since the ending of ‘No Way Home.’
After some disagreements on the direction of the movie, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures have settled on a grounded storyline with Multiversal elements, though reports described it on the level of an Avengers film in terms of its scale.
“We have the best in the business working toward whatever the story might be,” Holland told Deadline about the fourth installment. “But until we’ve cracked it, we have a legacy to protect. The third movie was so special in so many ways that we need to make sure we do the right thing.”
The release date for ‘Spider-Man 4’ is set for July 24, 2026. Filming is supposed to start this August, though there might be delays since Holland is also starting work on Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ soon.