It's Marvel's world and we're just living in it. The biggest franchise in Hollywood history just crossed the $30 billion lifetime gross mark last year and it looks to expand those numbers in a big way next year with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. Although those movies were initially planned to come out in the other order, both are expected to be larger-than-life game-changing events that ensure that the final few chapters of the Multiverse Saga are high notes.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will bring back Tom Holland as the webslinger in an adventure that looks to begin a new story for him. Peter Parker's most recent appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe saw him have Doctor Strange cast a spell that would result in everyone he ever loved forgetting that he existed; that included his girlfriend MJ and his best friend Ned Leeds.
Though he may have to remind them who he is in the upcoming fourth Spidey film in the MCU, the wall-crawler may have even bigger problems as another villain might be on the horizon - one that has an extremely recognizable face if reports turn out to be true.
Nicole Kidman reportedly being considered for Spider-Man 4 villain
According to a new report from veteran Marvel scooper MyTimeToShineHello, Nicole Kidman is being eyed to play the female villain in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At this point in time, it's unclear if she's actually been offered the role and it's also unclear who the villainous character may be, but this casting alone is enough to get movie fans excited.
Kidman is obviously a legend of Hollywood, with iconic movies to her name like Eyes Wide Shut, Practical Magic, Moulin Rouge, Australia, and The Hours - the latter of which she won an Academy Award for her performance - but she's also a veteran of superhero movies. In 1995, she originated the role of Dr. Chase Meridian in Batman Forever, starring alongside Val Kilmer's Dark Knight in the underrated movie, and in 2018, she played Queen Atlanna in Aquaman (as well as reprising the latter role in 2023 sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom). So she knows her way around a comic book movie.
The rumor that Spider-Man 4 might feature a female villain began doing the rounds online a number of weeks ago, but there hasn't been much movement in terms of who the villain could actually be. Fans have been speculating, with names such as Black Cat, Spider-Queen, Spider-Woman, and Shathra all coming up. If Kidman does accept the role, it likely wouldn't be long until more information about the villainous character was revealed.
Furthermore, if she were to join the production, she wouldn't be the only major casting addition to the MCU in Brave New Day. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink just recently joined the cast in an unknown role, with rumors suggesting that she could be playing Mary Jane Watson, Mayday Parker, or the X-Men's Jean Grey all gathering momentum. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are also expected to reprise their respective roles as MJ and Ned Leeds but in a limited capacity this time around.
Regardless of whether Nicole Kidman joins the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day or not, the MCU movie is shaping up to be a major, major project. But it goes without saying that it would be awesome to see a star of her caliber join the MCU as she is undoubtedly one of the biggest legends not to have appeared in the franchise as of yet. Let's make it happen, Marvel!
Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in movie theaters on July 31, 2026.