It came as a surprise to me when I found out that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Robert Pattinson’s Batman both face a common controversy, affecting both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Elseworlds DC Universe portrayed in The Batman. Despite numerous actors who have taken on the role of Batman, Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne in 2022’s The Batman has earned a spot among my all-time favorites who wore the iconic cowl.
Although I am dismayed by the delay in Matt Reeves finalizing the storyline for The Batman 2, I remain hopeful about where the series might head. However, there’s one aspect of the overall narrative that troubles me.
More recently, I’ve found that an issue I have with Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman also applies to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Despite my immense anticipation for the potential storyline and cast in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” I feel that Marvel Cinematic Universe missed a crucial opportunity when it comes to their take on these beloved characters, following their latest project.
In essence, both Pattinson’s Batman and Holland’s Spider-Man are highly acclaimed adaptations of their classic comic book counterparts. As such, I hope that Marvel and DC address this shared problem in a way that satisfies fans who have voiced concerns about these characters being embroiled in similar controversies.
Robert Pattinson’s Batman Did Not Stop Gotham’s Gang War
The Batman Universe Has Expanded Into The TV Realm
Although the sequel to “The Batman,” starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, has been repeatedly pushed back and is now scheduled for 2027, the franchise has already unveiled a fresh installment following its initial release. Unlike a movie focusing on Pattinson’s Batman, the second offering from the “The Batman” series was not a film but rather the prestigious HBO series “The Penguin,” which chronicled Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobblepot as he climbed the ladder in Gotham City’s criminal underworld. Since Carmine Falcone met his end in “The Batman,” I was intrigued to witness how the franchise would handle that power vacuum, and “The Penguin” addressed it through a significant gang war in Gotham City.
In a twisted turn of events, Oz masterminded a conflict between the Falcones and the Maronis, drawing other criminal clans from Gotham into the fray. Although I was captivated by the sinister narrative of ‘The Penguin’, there was an element that hindered my enjoyment of the series. For me, this was due to Batman’s conspicuous absence. Despite the city being embroiled in a full-blown gang war, resulting in numerous casualties and a devastating explosion, Batman made only a fleeting appearance at the end, when he signaled his presence through the Bat-Signal following Oz’s ascension as Gotham’s new crime lord. The promo for ‘The Penguin’ hinted that Batman might not have been in Gotham at all.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Did Not Show Up When Kingpin Took Over New York
The MCU’s Street-Level Corner Has Been Thrust Into A Major Event
In 2021, Tom Holland made his latest appearance as Spider-Man within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the film “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The upcoming appearances for Peter Parker, the MCU’s version of Spider-Man, are scheduled for next year. He is rumored to appear in “Avengers: Doomsday,” although this has not been officially announced yet, and he is confirmed to star in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Though fans look forward to seeing Spider-Man’s future within the MCU, it’s hard not to think about how the character would have fit perfectly for a 2025 Marvel project that he was even hinted at but never appeared in.
On a different note, “Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again season 1 significantly altered the landscape of the street-level sector within the MCU.
Previously, Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, stated that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man would lead the street-level heroes in the MCU. The Netflix series “Daredevil: Born Again” set the stage for this by revealing Kingpin’s schemes. Throughout the first nine episodes of the Disney+ show, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk rose to become New York City’s Mayor, expanding his power. By the end of season 1, Kingpin had achieved the peak of his power, illegally banning vigilantes in New York City and implementing martial law.
| Potential Heroes For Daredevil’s MCU Army | |
|---|---|
| Character | Actor |
| The Punisher | Jon Bernthal |
| The Swordsman | Tony Dalton |
| Ms. Marvel | Iman Vellani |
| Spider-Man | Tom Holland |
| Jessica Jones | Krysten Ritter |
| Luke Cage | Mike Colter |
| Iron Fist | Finn Jones |
| Hawkeye (Clint Barton) | Jeremy Renner |
| Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) | Hailee Steinfeld |
| Echo | Alaqua Cox |
In contrast to numerous Marvel characters associated with New York, Spider-Man has a unique bond with the city. It was disheartening not to see him when Kingpin seized control, nor was there an explanation for his absence. In the first season of Daredevil: Born Again, Wilson Fisk himself mentioned Spider-Man along with Daredevil and the Punisher as individuals requiring apprehension. Towards the end of the season, Daredevil indicated that defeating Kingpin would require a full army, but unfortunately, no heroes were disclosed for this task.
Why Did Batman & Spider-Man Not Appear in The Penguin And Daredevil: Born Again?
The Reasons For The Major DC And Marvel Absences Are Very Different
I can be a bit more forgiving about Spider-Man’s absence from “Daredevil: Born Again” compared to Pattinson’s Batman not being in “The Penguin,” mainly because of the complex rights issue surrounding Spider-Man. Marvel can only utilize Tom Holland as Spider-Man due to an agreement with Sony, who holds the live-action rights for Peter Parker. In an interview with “Phase Hero,” Brad Winderbaum, Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation at Marvel Studios, mentioned that it appears that Sony has the rights to use Spider-Man in long-form television shows, making it impossible for him to appear in “Daredevil: Born Again” or other MCU series.
From a movie enthusiast perspective, regarding Robert Pattinson’s absence from “The Penguin,” it wasn’t about rights complications preventing his appearance. Instead, it was a creative decision. The HBO series experimented with various ways to introduce Bruce Wayne, but the scene where Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne met Rhenzy Feliz’s Victor Aguilar didn’t make it past the script stage. In the end, they decided that “The Penguin” should tell its own story without Batman’s presence, as his character might have overshadowed Oz Cobbs’ narrative. Matt Reeves explained that including Batman would have disrupted the balance too much.
How Pattinson’s Batman & Holland’s Spider-Man Can Correct Their Mistakes
Marvel And DC Have The Perfect Way To Make Up For The Characters’ Controversial Recent Absences
In both The Penguin and Daredevil: Born Again, it was disheartening not to see Batman or Spider-Man due to their cities being overtaken by villains. However, Marvel and DC are working on projects to compensate for this. If The Batman 2 ever comes into play, the movie presents a prime opportunity to explore Oswald Cobblepot’s ascension to power. Colin Farrell’s Penguin is confirmed for the film, and the Bat-Signal at the end of the HBO series suggests that Bruce Wayne has become aware of Oswald’s actions and will take action against him. This means that in this sequel, Batman could finally confront and defeat Oswald.
Regarding Spider-Man from Holland, the complicated rights situation makes it difficult to foresee him showing up in season 2 or any future installments of Daredevil: Born Again or Marvel Cinematic Universe series. Instead, the Devil’s Reign storyline featuring Kingpin and Daredevil’s army could escalate into a significant battle royale in New York City. This plot would have the tension required for a movie, which might become Spider-Man: Brand New Day or another Spidey film within the MCU, provided that both Spider-Man and Batman are somehow incorporated into these narratives. As far as I’m concerned, just having them involved in those storylines would make me content.
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2025-04-21 19:49