Comics’ Spider-Man is known for battling some of the most formidable villains. It’s no wonder that the big screen version of this iconic character has faced a variety of impressive adversaries as well, such as Green Goblin, The Vulture, and Doctor Octopus in live-action. Even in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” they managed to breathe life into previously underdeveloped villains like Jamie Foxx’s Electro or the Rhys Ifans Lizard, giving them engaging personalities. However, it’s unfortunate that certain well-known Spider-Man foes have not been treated as faithfully in the live-action Marvel adaptations produced by Sony/Columbia Pictures.
In the upcoming Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies, it would be fantastic if we could see a refreshed take on the villains, given that the storyline of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” marks a new chapter for Peter Parker/Spider-Man. It’s high time these villains are as captivating on the big screen as they are in the comic books.
1) The Rhino
Alexei Sytsevich, or more famously known as The Rhino, has faced a devastating fate in not one but two high-profile Sony/Marvel films. This unfortunate turn of events is surprising given the impressive acting talents of Paul Giamatti and Alessandro Nivola who were cast to play him. However, even their exceptional skills could not compensate for screenwriting that was overly complex and struggled to effectively translate The Rhino’s character onto the big screen.
In simpler terms, the movie portrayals of The Rhino are often complex and visually unappealing, featuring transformations into robots or Hulk-like creatures. It would be ideal to depict an aesthetically pleasing battle between The Rhino and Spider-Man on screen, without compromising on the actor’s talent or wasting their time in the process.
2) Ezekiel Sims
Ezekiel Sims isn’t a well-known or long-standing enemy of Spider-Man. He first appeared in the comics in June 2001 and doesn’t have a large fanbase. Despite this, his initial appearance in the comics was deeply connected to Spidey, as Sims initially pretended to be an ally but was secretly a villain who eventually turned good after being influenced by Peter Parker’s heroism. Unfortunately, his only live-action film appearance was in Madame Web, where Peter Parker is portrayed only as a newborn. This means that Sims misses out on much of his comic book persona and intriguing moral complexity because it wasn’t fully explored in this adaptation.
It might not be such a bad plan to reintroduce this character in another film, given that it’s questionable if any future versions of the character could surpass their portrayal in the “Madame Web” series.
3) Felicia Hardy/Black Cat
It’s possible that the Sony executives are concerned about the character appearing too similar to Selina Kyle/Catwoman, which might explain why Black Cat, played by Felicia Hardy, has had limited screen time across all Spider-Man movies, with only one notable appearance thus far in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” portrayed by Felicity Jones. Despite being a regular character in the comic books, her live-action debut has been quite scarce.
It’s high time for the return of the character to the latest Spider-Man series, given that Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spiderman, having presumably moved on from MJ, could now explore the sensual chemistry with Black Cat reminiscent of their comic book counterparts. There’s ample opportunity to develop this character beyond a mere replica of Catwoman.
4) Chameleon
Though Dmitri Smerdyakov, also known as the Chameleon, was Spider-Man’s initial supervillain in comic books, he has been relegated to the periphery of live-action Spider-Man productions. In “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” Numan Acar played a character named Dimitri, who seemed destined to become Chameleon in future movies. On the other hand, “Kraven the Hunter” reduced Fred Hechinger’s Smerdyakov character to being a captive for most of the film, only revealing at the end that he had gained powers and harbored hatred towards his half-brother Kraven. Unfortunately, due to poor box office performance of “Kraven the Hunter,” plans for Hechinger to continue portraying a more malicious Chameleon in sequels will likely not materialize.
As a devoted fan, I’d love to see the Chameleon return to our screens with a bang! Instead of just hinting at sequels without delivering, let’s give him the opportunity to truly captivate audiences. His significant role in Spider-Man’s comic book history deserves a worthy portrayal that leaves a lasting impact.
5) Kraven the Hunter
In a similar vein as his half-brother Chameleon, Kraven the Hunter has consistently been on the verge of facing off against Spider-Man, yet they’ve never had a chance to meet in a shared storyline. Although an end credits scene from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” hinted at his imminent introduction, Kraven’s first live-action film appearance was in a movie that didn’t quite make a lasting impression, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson. This less-than-memorable film shouldn’t mark the conclusion of Kraven’s cinematic journey, considering he’s never had the opportunity to confront his primary target, Spider-Man.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’d propose resurrecting Kraven in a sequel titled “Spider-Man: A New Dawn“, with a fresh face portraying him (to definitively put an end to the legacy of Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven). His new costume should be more faithful to the comics, and he’d come armed with an unyielding determination to outwit and eliminate Spider-Man. The contrast between his gritty, brooding persona and Tom Holland’s cheerful, lively Spider-Man would make for an exhilarating clash. It’s high time that among all Spider-Man comic book villains, Kraven the Hunter received a long-overdue revamp on the silver screen.
Currently, Kraven the Hunter can be watched on Netflix, while Spider-Man: Fresh Start premieres in theaters on July 31, 2025.
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2025-08-13 02:15