Spider-Man could face 4 villains in his next MCU movie (with the help of Miles)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn't been kind to Peter Parker.

In his debut movie, Spider-Man had to battle two villains in the form of The Vulture and Shocker. While the sequel took things a little bit lighter by only featuring one antagonist, the third installment in the franchise made sure to balance that out. Five different villains took over the spotlight and threatened to destroy the multiverse as a whole after a spell went wrong. But while Peter was able to stop them (at a grand price), he won't be able to catch his breath before things turn upside-down once again if a new rumor is to be believed.

Sometimes the Parker luck is simply cruel.

It is reported that the MCU's Spider-Man 4 will feature four different antagonists. This time, however, Peter won't have another two versions of himself from the multiverse to help him. So will the wall-crawler need to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders alone? Or can another beloved arachnid hero step up and have his big-screen debut?

Spider-Man 4 could feature new and returning villains

According to insider HolyField News on X (formerly Twitter), Tombstone and Scorpion will make their big screen debut in the MCU's Spider-Man 4. They won't be alone, however, as returning villain Shocker will also join the rouge's gallery of the upcoming movie.

It has been reported that Marvel and Sony had been at odds for quite a while regarding the direction of their next Spider-Man project. While the former wants to tell a grounded story, the latter wants to do another big crossover. So if the latest rumor is to be believed, it would appear both companies managed to reach a compromise. Shocker, Scorpion, and Tombstone are all considered "street-level" villains which is perfect for a personal Spider-Man story. However, if they team up, then it would generate the levels of excitement of a big "crossover" event.

As if wasn't enough for three of the most recognizable Spider-Man villains to join forces to fight the wall-crawler, it is reported that the Prowler will be joining them as well. Interestingly enough, Aaron Davis isn't a character known for his rivalry with Peter Parker but rather Miles Morales (as it was in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). While we have already seen Donald Glover portray the role in the MCU with no sighting of Miles, it would be weird for him to be in full villain form without his nephew showing up at least once. So with that, we have to ask: could Miles finally make his big screen debut?

Miles Morales will reportedly join the fight

As if the presence of The Prowler alone wasn't enough giveaway, insider Daniel Richtman revealed Miles Morales will indeed be introduced in the upcoming wall-crawler movie. Unfortunately, it wasn't specified if we'll get to see him as a normal teenager or as a superpowered hero ready to save the day. Either way, it's great news for Spider-Man fans.

If Marvel's Spider-Man for PS4 proved something is that Miles can steal the spotlight before he's ever bitten by a radioactive spider. So perhaps he can be set up to have his own stand-alone movie in the future where he finally wears the mask.

Spider-Man 4 could get a little too crowded if it explains Miles' superhero origin aside from featuring four villains (three of which haven't suited up in the past). So let's hope Marvel and Sony manage to replicate the winning formula of Spider-Man: No Way Home and tell a coherent story even if it features many villains. Otherwise, we could be looking at another The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the making, and nobody wants that.

Recently, more and more Spider-Man 4 news are starting to make their way online. That means Marvel could be lining up for a big announcement soon. After all, the movie is reported to have a 2025 release date, which isn't too far away. Perhaps San Diego Comic-Con will be the place where we finally officially learn more about it. So fingers crossed for that!