Marvel Studios Makes History with Spider-Verse Villain Casting

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The success of Sony’s animated Spider-Verse movies is setting the stage for exciting new developments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man stories. Spider-Man remains a major force in superhero films, with both Marvel Studios continuing Peter Parker’s adventures and Sony’s animated films achieving huge popularity. Marvel Studios is now building anticipation for Spider-Man’s next solo movie by introducing a new villain to the mix.

Marvin Jones III is joining the cast of the upcoming *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* movie, playing the villain Tombstone. The film is already shaping up to have a lot of villains, and fans are excited to see Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland, face new challenges and redefine himself. This won’t be Tombstone’s first time appearing in a major movie, though.

According to Deadline, Michael Jai White, known for his role as Black Lightning, will portray Tombstone in the upcoming live-action Spider-Man films, *Brand New Day* (2026) and *Beyond the Spider-Verse* (2027). He previously voiced the character in a brief appearance in the animated film *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018). This is the first instance of an actor reprising the same role from an animated Sony Spider-Man movie in a live-action adaptation.

Interestingly, Donald Glover followed a similar path, but in reverse. He first appeared as Aaron Davis, who later becomes the Prowler, in the 2017 film *Spider-Man: Homecoming*. Then, in 2023’s *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse*, he made a live-action cameo as the fully developed Prowler. As of now, Glover hasn’t provided the voice for the animated Prowler character.

The upcoming movie, *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, is the fourth live-action Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and part of the MCU’s Phase 6 plans. Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal, and Michael Mando, the story will likely center on Peter Parker figuring out who he is again as he battles a group of frightening new villains. Currently in production, *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* is scheduled to release in theaters on July 31, 2026.

What To Expect From Tombstone in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tombstone, a villain from Marvel’s Spider-Man games on PlayStation, recently appeared in the animated series *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man* as a young Lonnie Lincoln. Although he only had the name “Tombstone” in that show, not his full powers, fans are hoping to see a more powerful version of the character when he appears in *Spider-Man 4*.

Tombstone’s character is shaped by his real-life inspiration – the actor who plays him has albinism. This fuels a difficult childhood and pushes the character towards anger and villainy. To overcome his appearance, he builds a powerfully muscular physique and becomes a bully, eventually earning the nickname “Tombstone.”

He grows up to become a powerful mob boss, frequently clashing with both Spider-Man and Daredevil in New York City. Later, exposure to an experimental gas gives him incredible superpowers, making his skin virtually indestructible and highly resistant to damage from any environment.

Okay, so Tombstone. Before he *got* powers, this guy was already a seriously skilled fighter. And let me tell you, in the comics, he’s a real problem for Spider-Man. He’s one of those villains who can just overpower most heroes, and it doesn’t even look like he’s trying. He’s incredibly tough – a real heavyweight, if you will.

It’s still unclear what role this character will have in *Spider-Man 4*. But given his strength and how dangerous he is, he’ll be a tough opponent for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man – especially since Holland is recovering from a small injury on set.

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2025-09-23 22:04