The next Spider-Man movie is shaping up to be an Avenger-level film, stirring excitement among fans worldwide. Rumors suggest that Robert Downey Jr. might portray Doctor Doom, symbiotes will play a significant role, and all three live-action Spider-Men—Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield—will assemble once again. This raises the question: could this upcoming film surpass the record set by Spider-Man: No Way Home?
The previous Spider-Man installment left audiences astounded by presenting a multiverse adventure that included the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. Let’s not forget that Doctor Strange also played a pivotal role in that narrative. However, this new Spider-Man movie aims to bring back many elements from its predecessor, with the addition of Doctor Doom, potentially portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.
In the past seven days, multiple industry insiders have shared rumors about Spider-Man 4. They state that the film’s working title is Spider-Man: King in Black. This is a significant name for any Spider-Man movie. One thing being confirmed is that Eddie Brock’s Venom and Knull will appear in this film. It was also clarified this week that Andy Serkis is set to play the role of Knull.
Another industry insider reported that Robert Downey Jr. is slated to take on the role of Doctor Doom. Alex Perez, an industry insider who mentioned in his Discord that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield have extended roles, also noted that Spider-Man will don the symbiote suit.
There’s a lot happening, so let’s dissect all this information one by one and see how it all connects.
The Working Title: Spider-Man—King in Black
First, let’s discuss the working title, Spider-Man: King in Black. It sounds more than just a placeholder and is an amazing title for a symbiote-centered Spider-Man movie. In the comics, King in Black is the name of a famous 2020 Avengers storyline where, after the events of Absolute Carnage, Knull and his symbiotes attack Earth. During this crisis, Eddie Brock’s Venom teams up with the Avengers and X-Men to tackle this monumental threat.
In this story, Eddie Brock’s son, Dylan Brock, senses that Knull is approaching Earth in search of Eddie Brock. Eddie then seeks out the Avengers. A massive battle ensues between the Avengers and Knull, beginning with the death of a powerful superhero. Multiple awe-inspiring entries occur, and some main characters die and are resurrected. Finally, with an astounding twist, it’s revealed that the Brock Knull was searching for wasn’t Eddie Brock.
Now, the question arises: will this storyline be adapted for Spider-Man: King in Black, with Spider-Man as the main character? As mentioned, the King in Black comic series was primarily an Avengers story where Eddie Brock and his son played significant roles, rather than Spider-Man. So, what can we expect from Spider-Man: King in Black? Yes, the entire Earth is in danger, but the story should primarily focus on the titular character.
Potential Adaptation: Sins Rising and the Symbiote Saga
Moreover, King in Black has the potential to become an awesome Avenger-level movie. In the lead-up to the King in Black storyline, during the Sins Rising events in Spider-Man comics, Knull sends a prototype symbiote to retrieve something. Spider-Man encounters this entity, and alongside him, Black Knight joins the fight. During this battle, it’s revealed that the entity is searching for a weapon—a sword powerful enough to kill Knull.
But it’s not just Spider-Man and Black Knight involved; several others join the fray—some good, some evil, and some neutral. This story doesn’t directly involve Knull but serves as the beginning of his impending attack on Earth. That’s why this story is titled Sins Rising: Spider-Man King in Black. It seems plausible that this storyline could be utilized for Spider-Man 4. It’s a multiverse story that remains grounded, ensuring that Spider-Man’s narrative doesn’t change drastically by the end. Here, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could fit perfectly into the plot.
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
Now, let’s delve into the news about Robert Downey Jr. potentially appearing as Doctor Doom in Spider-Man. The inclusion of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, along with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Men in Spider-Man 4: King in Black, makes complete sense when you consider the details of the Sins Rising: Spider-Man King in Black storyline.
In the Sins Rising narrative, Black Knight appears first. Knull attempts to deceive him to steal his sword, the only weapon capable of killing Knull. Then, Kang enters the story, who, along with the Watcher and Rocket Raccoon, aims to prevent the Ebony Blade from falling into Knull’s hands. If Knull acquires it, the entire multiverse would be in jeopardy, and without the multiverse, Kang would have nothing to rule over.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s speculated that Kang might be replaced by Doctor Doom. If we substitute Doctor Doom for Kang in this storyline, it makes sense that not only would Doctor Doom have a role in this movie, but he’d also be part of Spider-Man’s team. Considering the multiverse-level threat, other Spider-Men from different universes could join the battle—heroes with whom Spider-Man has previously saved the world. Additionally, Monica Rambeau was part of this story, and her presence in another universe could be beneficial here.
Assembling the Heroes
So, who might be part of this assembly? Firstly, there’s Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man. Then, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could join. Following that, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi might appear, along with Maria Rambeau and Dane Whitman, a.k.a. Black Knight. This would also allow for further development of their characters following Eternals. Adding a member of the Guardians to this mix would elevate the story even further.
While we might not see an exact replication of the Sins Rising Spider-Man storyline, the information we’ve received so far aligns well with this narrative. Furthermore, after this story, Knull could be introduced in an Avengers-level movie, which he rightfully deserves. Fans are certainly eager for such grand-scale stories.
The Role of Knull and Venom
Regarding Knull, several sources have reported that in Venom: The Last Dance, we’ll see Knull much like how Thanos was briefly introduced at the end of the first Avengers movie. This approach makes sense. If you’re familiar with the King in Black comic book event, you might speculate that this could be Eddie Brock’s final movie. However, it’s clear that his chances of returning aren’t zero.
One point to ponder is how Spider-Man: King in Black, set between Avengers: Secret Wars, will connect with these stories while introducing a completely different supervillain. Additionally, how does Doctor Doom’s appearance in this movie make sense? It’s possible that the events of this movie occur before Avengers: Doomsday, similar to how Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and The Wasp were released after Avengers: Infinity War but their events took place beforehand.
Furthermore, more movies might be released before the big event, showcasing cosmic-level effects due to Knull’s emergence. If a Knull-centric Avengers-level movie is preceded by two interconnected stories, it would enhance the overall narrative. Knull is easily a villain on par with Ultron and Loki, and fans are missing standalone Avengers movies featuring such formidable foes.
Fulfilling the Destinies of the Spider-Men
We know that the Spider-Men with experience fighting symbiote-based characters—like Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, who has battled and defeated Venom—could play crucial roles. Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man mentioned in Spider-Man: No Way Home that he wants to fight an alien, hinting at fulfilling his destiny. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man obtaining the symbiote suit would be iconic in itself.
We’ve received substantial hints about the upcoming Spider-Man movie. Once filming begins, casting announcements will likely start pouring in. To keep up with all these developments, a dedicated superhero news series might be necessary.