TheMarvel Cinematic Universeis getting ready for Peter Parker’s return, and excitingSpider-Man 4theories have emerged as Tom Holland’s Spider-Man prepares to take his next step in the franchise. TheMCU’s Spider-Man movieshave all been a hit with critics and audiences alike.Spider-Man: No Way Homeunited three generations of the wall-crawler on the big screen andmade nearly $2 billion worldwide, showing the power of the Spider-Man brand for Marvel.
The successful partnership between Marvel and Sony will continue withTom Holland’sSpider-Man 4, whichwill be released in 2026, months afterAvengers: Doomsday. So far, no announcements have been made related to what characters will appear in theanticipated MCU moviebesides Peter Parker or what story is set for the hero’s return. However, based on other MCU and SSU projects, severalSpider-Man 4theories have become popular, and some of them would mean big things for the film if accurate.
10Spider-Man 4 Will Be Set In Battleworld
Connecting The Next Two Avengers Movies
Spider-Man 4holds a very special place in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. At this moment, the project isthe only confirmed movie to be released betweenAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. While not yet announced to appear in the Avengers movies, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is expected to do so. Due to that, one of the biggestSpider-Man 4theories connects the film to the two upcoming Avengers entries.
In Marvel Comics' Secret Wars, Doctor Doom succeeds in gaining immense power and creating Battleworld. The patchwork planet is made up of several Marvel locations and characters from across the multiverse ruled by God Emperor Doom. Like Thanos won inAvengers: Infinity War,Doom can defeat the heroes and create Battleworld at the end ofAvengers: Doomsday. Spider-Man and any other projects released beforeAvengers: Secret Warswould then take place in Battleword.
9Spider-Man 4 Will Include Daredevil & Kingpin For Devil’s Reign
A Marvel TV Crossover Event
Netflix’s corner of the MCU has always been popular with fans. Now that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin have appeared in Marvel Studios projects, with more Netflix characters returning soon inDaredevil: Born Again, Marvel can use them like never before.Cox’s Matt Murdock was Peter Parker’s lawyer in a brief scene inSpider-Man: No Way Home. That and Kingpin’s MCU storyline have led to one of the earliest theories for Spider-Man 4.
Daredevil: Born Againdebuts on Disney + on June 10, 2025.
WithKingpin becoming New York City’s mayor, Marvel could transformSpider-Man 4into the Devil’s Reign event from Marvel Comics. In it, Wilson Fisk outlawed vigilantes, setting up a task force and his own version of the Thunderbolts to stop heroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Punisher, and more. With the MCU starting that storyline on TV,Spider-Man 4could pay it off in a big way with a movie crossover.
8Andrew Garfield & Tobey Maguire Will Come Back
Continuing Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Groundbreaking Event
Spider-Man: No Way Home’s main selling point was that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire were coming back as their versions of Spider-Man. Even though Marvel did not outright reveal it before the movie was released, it was all anyone could talk about, and the duo showed up and had great chemistry with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. Since the multiverse Spider-Men were only there for the movie’s third act,Spider-Man 4could bring them back full-time.
10 Best MCU Spider-Man Fight Scenes, Ranked
Tom Holland will soon return for Spider-Man 4, but over his time in the MCU, Peter Parker has already been part of some intense fights.
After all, the movie is still part of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, allowing Tobey and Andrew to return with no issues. There have been a few theories explaining how that could happen. The biggest point in common among them is Doctor Strange’s spell. Either Holland’s Peter Parker seeks out the others because he is now alone, orAndrew and Tobey find him because Strange’s spell also affected their worlds, something the MCU still has to make clear either way.
7Black Cat Will Replace Zendaya’s MJ
A New Love Interest For Spider-Man
Black Cat is one of the characters who have been constantly mentioned as possible additions toSpider-Man 4’s cast. Actresses likeSydney Sweeney and Anya Taylor-Joy have had their names rumored for the role, though no official moves have been made at this point. However, aZendayaSpider-Man 4reportsuggested a new love interest for Peter Parker might be in order.
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According to the report, Zendaya will be back forSpider-Man 4, but MJ will play a small role this time around.Spider-Man: No Way Home’s endinghad MJ and the rest of the world forget who Peter was, with Holland’s character not helping MJ remember so that she could be safe. SinceFelicia Hardy lives the same double life that Spider-Man does, a popularSpider-Man 4theory sees Black Cat team up with Spidey to solve a refreshing street-level mystery.
6Harry Osborn And Gwen Stacy Will Make Their MCU Debuts
Peter Parker Is At A Different Stage In Life
Spider-Man’s “Home” trilogy in the MCU firmly rooted the character in high school.Spider-Man: No Way Homemade Peter graduating from high school a big aspect of itand why he asked Doctor Strange for his help with a spell in the first place. At the end of the movie, Holland’s Marvel character had a book at his apartment to study for an exam that would give him a high school diploma.
According toThe InSneider,Spider-Man 4is looking to cast new classmates for Peter Parker. Based on Spider-Man’s MCU timeline, thisteases that the hero’s next solo film will follow Peter as he enters college. A majorSpider-Man 4theory claims that is how he meets the classic Marvel characters Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy, as he first met the two in the comics when Peter went to college.Spider-Man 4’s working title is also Blue Oasis, which could be a reference to “Spider-Man: Blue”, a Gwen-focused story from the comics.
5Doctor Doom Will Be Spider-Man 4’s Secret Villain
The MCU Could Reunite Two Major Stars
Spider-Man’s MCU journey ties back to one character, Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man served as Peter Parker’s mentor, recruiting Tom Holland’s Marvel hero for the Avengers and being a father figure to him up to his death. Despite Stark’sAvengers: Endgamedemise,RDJ will return to the MCU inAvengers: Doomsday. The actor now plays Doctor Doom, the new main villain of the Multiverse Saga.
Major Avengers: Doomsday Theory Suggests Chris Evans’ Captain America Is Responsible For Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom
Chris Evans' Avengers: Doomsday return explains why Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom, according to a wild Captain America MCU theory.
Given howAvengers: Doomsdaycomes out in May 2026 andSpider-Man 4will be released in July 2026, the movies could be very closely connected. Since Victor von Doom will have Tony Stark’s face, even if he is somehow not a multiverse variant of the character, he could use that connection to get Spider-Man on his side inAvengers: Doomsday. A majorSpider-Man 4theory suggests that after he tricks Peter into helping him in the Avengers movie and wins, he hunts the hero down inSpider-Man 4a couple of months later.
4Knull And Venom Will Appear For An SSU Crossover
Venom Needs To Meet Spider-Man In The MCU
Tom Hardy’s Venom knows about the existence of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. In fact, he was even going to try to find him after being pulled into the MCU, but the crossover never happened, as it did not take long for Eddie Brock and Venom to be sent back to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Still,Venom: The Last Danceset up some teases for how Eddie and Peter Parker could meet inSpider-Man 4.
With a piece of the symbiote still in the MCU and Peter Parker depressed, Spider-Man could don the black suit inSpider-Man 4. The MCU theory suggests the hero could even die in the film, beingresurrected by the symbiote and alerting Knull. The villain can travel the multiverse and, if let loose, could come to the MCU, which would mean Venom, Spider-Man, and others would need to band together to defeat him.
3Kraven’s Last Hunt Will Give Spider-Man 4 A Street-Level Story
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Returns To The MCU
WhileKraven the Hunter’s box office failure cemented it asthe final movie in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, aSpider-Man 4theory suggests the character might still have a live-action future. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has talked about how he would love to be part of a “Kraven’s Last Hunt” adaptation in a movie, whichKraven the Hunter’s director commented was their idea for the character’s future.
Spider-Man 4has the perfect setup for that to happen. With the multiverse and the Avengers movies leaving many doors open, Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven the Hunter could find his way to the MCU.Kraven hunting Spider-Man through New York Cityin an action-packed film that is grounded and dark works for both characters. SinceKraven was originally planned to serve asSpider-Man: No Way Home’s main villain, the MCU could finally get to use him.
2Miles Morales Will Make His MCU Debut In Spider-Man 4
From Animation To Live-Action
Miles Morales is the second most famous Spider-Man after Peter Parker.The character’s popularity has skyrocketed after the animatedSpider-Versemovies, and with those soon coming to an end, Miles' live-action debut is not far away. ASpider-Man 4theory builds on Spider-Man franchise producer Amy Pascal’s comments that a Miles Morales live-action solo movie would happen afterSpider-Man 4andSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verserelease.
DC Star’s Dream Marvel Role Would Be Perfect For Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 And The MCU’s Future
A star of one of DC’s latest successful projects has revealed his dream Marvel role and a Spider-Man 4 report leaves the door open for his MCU debut.
While Miles might not lead a movie before then, the character could make his MCU debut in a cameo or small supporting role inSpider-Man 4. According to the theory, the MCU would not make Miles retread Peter’s high school adventures in the franchise. Instead,an older Miles Moraleswould debut as one of Peter Parker’s college classmates, being bitten by a spider at the end of Spider-Man 4, teasing his time as Spider-Man in a future movie.
1Robert Downey Jr. Returns As Tony Stark With A Twist
The MCU Actor Can Come Back To The Spider-Man Franchise In An Emotional Way
Finally, there is a way for Robert Downey Jr. to also come back to the MCU as Iron Man, in addition to his role as Doctor Doom. While many do not want Tony Stark’s epic death to be changed in any way, aSpider-Man 4theory brings back the character with a twist. According to the theory,Peter Parker would create an AI with Stark’s memory and personality.
In Marvel Comics, Tony Stark left a backup of himself as an AI to guide Riri Williams. Since he is Peter Parker’s mentor in the MCU, it makes more sense for Spider-Man to be the one to bring Tony back instead of Ironheart. The theory claims this could be how the Avengers come together after possibly losing inDoomsday, withSpider-Man 4’s creation of AI Tony leading to them turning the tide inAvengers: Secret Wars.
