Spider-Man 4 shock villain may have been revealed (and it's a deep cut)

As Marvel Studios looks to rebuild the Marvel Cinematic Universe with major outings like Deadpool and Wolverine and Captain America: Brave New World, one title that could help a great deal with that is Spider-Man 4. We know it's happening at this point, as Sony and Marvel are eager to bring Tom Holland's webslinger back for another installment; the only question is when it will happen.

Well, that's not the only question. There is a lot of speculation about the film's plot, how it could tie into the Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy, and if Peter Parker will ever be remembered by his loved ones. Another question revolves around the villain, and who might trouble Spidey this time around.

A recent rumor might have cast some light on that question, as it suggests that an unexpected character might be involved as one of the film's villains.

Tombstone could be a villain in the MCU's Spider-Man 4

A new report from Marvel insider HolyField News claims that Tombstone has been written into some early drafts of Spider-Man 4. It also states that he would be working under Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin (who has now ascended to the role of mayor) and his criminal organization as his top hitman.

While Tombstone isn't as well-known as other Spider-Man villains like Green Goblin or Venom, that is largely down to the fact that he hasn't made a live-action appearance in a mainstream movie before, so if this turns out to be true, it could catapult the character into stardom. It would certainly be exciting possibility for fans longing to see him in a more substantial role.

Marvel Studios have yet to confirm anything regarding the plot of the fourth Spider-Man movie but the thing that makes this report seem all the more likely is the fact that the film is expected to have more of a streetwise, grounded feel to it. The three previous Spider-Man movies often didn't focus on that aspect of the character due to his connections to the larger-than-life world of the Avengers. This new chapter in his story could allow for that.

Moreover, when we last saw Wilson Fisk in Marvel's Echo, he was seemingly ready to start a mayoral campaign in New York City, and with him expected to begin that new role in Daredevil: Born Again, it's highly likely that he will be mayor by the time Spider-Man 4 rolls around. And given how important a role Fisk has played in previous Spider-Man stories (particularly the '90s animated series), it's entirely possible that his criminal organization could be a major plot point of the next film, even if he doesn't appear.

Tombstone is an underrated Spider-Man villain

Tombstone might not be the most well-known Spider-Man villain but he has been involved in a number of interesting storylines. He made his Marvel Comics debut in 1988, quickly gaining readers attention. Soon after his introduction he became a regular part of The Spectacular Spider-Man comic series.

If he were to appear in Spider-Man 4, it would definitely be his most significant appearance on any screen to date, but it wouldn't be his first time on the screen. Tombstone was a recurring villain the classic Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which explored his history with Robbie Robertson and how he long held a grudge against the Daily Bugle editor after going to prison for breaking-and-entering. He was also involved in criminal organizations in the show, which often led to him crossing paths with Spider-Man.

Tombstone also made his debut on the silver screen in 2018's animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and even though he didn't have that big of a role, he did appear as Kingpin's bodyguard - so, again, the connection is there.

While Tombstone might be familiar to non-comic book fans, he's not that well-known among mainstream audiences. Introducing him to the live-action medium in Spider-Man 4 would surely be a big step towards changing that. Even if he does end up playing more of a supporting role to a bigger villain, it would still be some long overdue exposure for an underrated character.