Can the New Spider-Man Trilogy Resurrect the Villain Ruined by Venom?

Hold onto your webs, folks! Spider-Man 4 is officially swinging into action, and guess who’s back in the red and blue spandex? None other than our beloved Tom Holland, reprising his role as the iconic wall-crawler after the rollercoaster of emotions that was Spider-Man: No Way Home. Directed by the talented Destin Daniel Cretton of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings fame, this cinematic adventure is set to grace our screens in July 2026. Because does life ever truly start without a perfectly scheduled superhero flick?

Now, let’s set the stage for this next installment. It seems that Spider-Man is not just heading into a fourth film; he’s on track for a whole new trilogy! Yes, folks, that’s right—more webs, more villains, and undoubtedly more awkward encounters at inopportune times. With a fresh start, post-Doctor Strange’s mind-swirling spell, our dear Peter Parker has been left with a slate that’s cleaner than my kitchen after a good spring cleaning—no friends, no family, just the weight of the world on his spandex-clad shoulders. But, as we all know too well, the universe has a habit of throwing a spanner in the works, and our hero will find himself knee-deep in the mess again.

Speaking of mess, let’s talk villains. No Way Home hinted that our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man might soon find himself on a collision course with Venom. Cue fan theories galore! And what’s that lurking in the shadows? Why, it’s none other than Carnage! This delightful (or not-so-delightful) symbiotic creature threatens to be the perfect cherry on top of this trilogy sundae. If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Carnage deserves a comeback after his last on-screen shenanigans, which can generously be termed as a bit of a disaster.

Just think about it. Although Carnage didn’t exactly leap off the screen in the Venom franchise, he has the potential to be the ultimate heavyweight for Spider-Man. The chaos of his character resonates with the danger that comes from humans playing house with alien symbiotes. Isn’t that just what post-modern superhero cinema is all about? And who wouldn’t want to see Holland’s Spider-Man tackle a supervillain with the kind of unpredictability that would make even a rollercoaster feel tame?

Let’s not forget about the juicy little tidbit dropped in No Way Home's post-credit scene! Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock made a little souvenir drop-off of the Venom symbiote before heading back to his universe. Are we opening the door to a symbiotic world of madness in Spider-Man 4? One could only hope that door is jarred open, leading Holland straight to the iconic black symbiote suit. Oh, the drama! Imagine our hero grappling with the inner struggles of bonding with old black goo, only to reject it later. This could serve as the perfect prelude to all-out chaos in the ensuing films.

And if we’re following the natural progression of this moody symbiote saga, we’ll likely see the likes of Venom stepping up as the main villain in the sequel. Maybe it’s time for a new partner in crime (or, dare I say, villainy?) to take up the mantle, with Carnage lurching in like an uninvited guest at a dinner party. The idea of Peter Parker wrestling with moral dilemmas while dodging a psychopathic symbiote creates a delicious layer of complexity that screams for exploration.

But let’s dive into what we really want: the cathartic catharsis that is Carnage. Fans were left bitterly unsatisfied with his previous cinematic portrayal, which turned a notoriously ferocious character into a mere poster child for CGI. Thanks for nothing, guys. With Woody Harrelson giving a performance that screamed, “Look at me, I’m the new Joker!” it felt less like a riveting villain and more like an overly ambitious Halloween costume that missed the mark entirely. For crying out loud, let’s give Carnage the storyline he deserves this time around. A little bit of horror and a whole lot of emotional push and pull. Will Spider-Man lose his moral compass? The stakes need to be high!

In the comics, particularly within the iconic “Maximum Carnage” storyline, our hero found himself at a crossroads. When even Spider-Man considers taking a life to stop all this madness—the horror! The emotional weight! It’s practically Oscar-worthy material right there. We need a villain who can make the hero reassess his choices, who makes us question the essence of good versus evil while leaving behind a gory trail of chaos. Fill that theater with suspense and terror, and give us the Carnage we’ve always wanted!

So, as we sit on the precipice of another Spider-Man trilogy, let’s hope the MCU can deliver a Carnage with teeth—sharp ones! He must rise above the mediocre villain of the previous endeavors to stretch the limits of our favorite web-slinger. Here’s to hoping that carnage is not just the villain’s name, but the promise of an electrifying opportunity to redefine cinematic villainy. Buckle up, true believers; the Spider-Man saga is just getting started!