After years of nothing but rumors and speculation about when Spider-Man 4 might finally hit theaters, fans finally had a date to make on their calendars after Sony revealed the next installment of the Tom Holland-led franchise was set for a July 24, 2026 release. Hopefully nobody marked their calendars with permanent marker.
Just one month after the studio revealed the target date for the film, one prominent studio insider has indicated that Spidey 4 is already on the move. According to the Viewer Anon, a very respected voice among online insiders, Spider-Man 4 “is going to be a Christmas 2026 release.“
I don't think this is really news but SPIDER-MAN 4 is going to be a Christmas 2026 release. https://t.co/YC3N3bnRjD
Viewer Anon’s tweet comes on the heels of a separate report from Marvel insider Daniel Richtman in which he revealed that production on the fourth Marvel Studios/Sony Spidey collaboration will not begin until August 2025. It’s a move made to accommodate the schedules of Holland, who will be featured prominently in Avengers: Doomsday, and Zendaya, who may or may not be filming the third season of Euphoria. However, Richtman also indicated that he did not expect the production delays to bump Spidey 4 from its July 2026 spot.
Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third film in the franchise, was in theaters over Christmas 2021 and cleaned up at the box office. However, that date represented a shift for Sony, who preferred the traditional summer blockbuster date range for the first two MCU-set Spidey films. In reality, whenever Sony releases the film, it’ll almost certainly challenge No Way Home to become Sony’s highest grossing film of all time.
After three years of reports, rumors and flat-out bullshit about Tom Holland‘s next steps as the MCU’s Spider-Man, a fourth installment in Sony and Marvel Studios’ franchise is finally gearing up for a 2025 start of production and a summer 2026 release. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the new film looks poised to play a pivotal role in the final arc of the Multiverse Saga though at this point in time, it remains unclear what story Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers have cooked up for Holland‘s Parker who is now set to face whatever comes his way without the support system that kept him up and running through the first three films.
Originally rumored as an adaptation of Marvel Comics Devil’s Reign that would feature Spidey teaming up with Daredevil to take on Wilson Fisk in a “street-level Civil War”, more recent buzz had the film evolving into an unprecedented high-stakes crossover event that would feature Sony’s latest Venom villain, Knull, the King in Black. While both of those potential plots certainly have their charms, a new production listing for the film has the film headed in an entirely different direction that would see Parker encounter a familiar face…sort of.
Production Weekly is reporting that the new film, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will spin out of the events of Avengers: Doomsday and feature Robert Downey Jr.‘s Doctor Doom.
Following the events of Doomsday, Peter Parker is determined to lead a normal life and focus on college, stepping back from his responsibilities as Spider-Man. However, peace is short-lived when a deadly new threat emerges, endangering his friends and forcing Peter to reconsider his promise.With stakes higher than ever, Peter reluctantly returns to his Spider-Man identity and finds himself teaming up with an unlikely ally to protect those he loves.
-Reported synopsis of Spider-Man: Brand New Day via Prodcution Weekly
Reading between the lines, if the rumored subtitle and synopsis are correct, it would seem the studio is adapting Dan Slott’s post-Civil War run on The Amazing Spider-Man.
The listing also indicates that Michael Keaton and Andrew Garfield are on board to return as Peter 3 and Adrian Toomes, respectively. While it’s all very interesting and could lead to some fun and unexpected turns for the character, it’s too early to get too excited.
Spider-Man 4 will swing into theaters on July 24, 2026.
With Venom: The Last Dance opening in theaters and no word on another installment in Sony’s MCU-set Spider-Man franchise, it was increasingly likely that the studio would add to the buzz around Venom’s release by addressing its plans for Spider-Man 4. And with just a couple of days remaining before Tom Hardy‘s last go around as the lethal protector, Tom Holland did indeed let the cat out of the bag.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Holland confirmed plans to film the sequel in the summer of 2025. Should Marvel Studios stick to that schedule, it is likely that Sony will release the film in the summer of 2026 with the July 24th date recently abandoned by Marvel Studios being likely.
When asked by Fallon if he could confirm that he would be back as Spider-Man in Spider-Man 4, Holland played to the crowd a bit before saying,”It’s happening.” The star went to reveal a start date for the project, confirming recent reports. “Next summer, we start shooting. Everything’s good to go – we’re nearly there. Super exciting. Yeah, I can’t wait!“
Holland didn’t give anything more away but it is likely that Spider-Man 4 will join Avengers: Doomsday as MCU-set films releasing in 2026. Marvel Studios has an additional two dates set aside for currently untitled films.
With Venom: The Last Dance opening in theaters in just a few days, fans are preparing for what Sony has confirmed is the end of the franchise. However, even if The Last Dance is the the last dance for the Venom franchise, it is starting to seem as though Tom Hardy‘s symbiote may have a few more moves in the tank.
When asked how a Spidey and Venom brawl might play out, Hardy’s gave an answer that will absolutely have fans talking.
“Venom is just like a gorilla, isn’t he? He’ll do what he has to do. I think that would be good fun,” said Hardy who then added that if his Brock were to fight a Spidey, he knows exactly which one hed like it to be.
I think Tom Holland is the best Spider-Man that was ever played, so I’m really fond of him. I think he’s a great actor and a great kid. I’m an old man, but I’d like to work with him.
#Venom: Tom Hardy raves over Tom Holland as "best" Spider-Man and says he wouldn't necessarily met on himself in that fight! 😅👊 Plus, he says there's still "so much more" to do with Venom. #VenomTheLastDance@VenomMoviepic.twitter.com/eIXSRgIFsZ
With production on Marvel Studios and Sony’s Spider-Man 4 finally set to get underway in 2025, buzz around the project has been steadily growing over the past several months. Though the project has been in development since before Spider-Man: No Way Home hit theaters in 2022 and rumors about its potential plot have been popping up for almost as long, it wasn’t until Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton boarded the project following a rumored script overhaul that the wildest and most exciting rumors started to fly.
Once widely believed to be a team-up film featuring Spidey, Daredevil and other street-level heroes taking on Wilson Fisk, the latest word on the film’s script, by Spidey vets Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, is that it will bring Sony’s Spidey-adjacent universe’s biggest star into the MCU and, along with him, one of the most terrifying villains to hit the pages of Marvel Comics in the last decade: Knull, the King in Black. Though there’s no confirmation of exactly what the actual plan is for Spider-Man 4, reports of screenings of Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance indicate that the film may indeed set up the prospects of an unprecedented studio crossover in which Tom Hardy‘s Eddie Brock finds himself fully integrated into the MCU and not just visiting for a short-term bender in Mexico. As the release date of Sony’s third and final installment in the Venom franchise draws near, Hardy was asked about the recent rumors and his response may be quite telling.
When asked by a reporter what the odds of Spider-Man showing up in Venom: The Last Dance might be, Hardy slyly responded by saying, “You know…you know, there are always possibilities. I couldn’t possibly say anything because this is the last movie.” Before moving on, Hardy added, “Yeah, I would love that.” As not only the star of the Venom franchise but also a writer and producer on The Last Dance, Hardy is in a unique position to know exactly what those possibilities are for this film and beyond.
This is just the beginning for Knull. We’re in spoiler territory now and we hope some of the fun of watching this movie is not knowing what will happen,but trust me, we know full well how important Knull is to the fans, so just as we laid a foundation for Venom, we hope we are doing the same for Knull.
–Venom: The Last Dance director Kelly Marcel
Despite Sony putting a bow on the Venom franchise in The Last Dance, director Kelly Marcel recently confirmed that Knull’s story is just beginning. However, with the two most popular symbiote (Venom and Carnage) apparently off the board, it would seem foolish–even for Sony–to try to move forward with a symbiote-centric story. But according to Marcel, “One movie could never do justice to Knull,” which means that somehow, someway, there’s more story to tell. With a piece of the Venom symbiote already on Earth-616 and Hardy’s Brock reportedly headed back to the MCU’s Sacred Timeline, it’s easy to draw the conclusion the the King in Black will find his way there as well.
As Tom Hardy prepares for one last dance as Venom and recent reports have Tom Holland preparing for a very busy 2025, there’s been increasing buzz that the two stars will team up in an unprecedented studio crossover event film. Recent rumors have indicated that Knull, the big bad in Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance, will survive the film and crossover into the MCU for future projects. Now, a new rumor lends some support to that possibility.
Scooper Cryptic HD Quality, who has been quite reliable in the past, took to Twitter to share that he’d heard a potential subtitle for the fourth installment in Sony and Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man franchise. And if what he’s heard is true (note that even he is skeptical of the rumor) it cements Knull entering the MCU.
Cryptic HD Quality shared that the as-yet-undated film could be titled Spider-Man: The King in Black.
Take this with a grain of salt, but I’ve heard the next Spider-Man movie might be titled Spider-Man: King in Black. pic.twitter.com/AX62AYEoY1
For those unfamiliar with the Marvel Comics character, Knull is an Eldritch god who created the symbiote race. Long after being imprisoned and losing his connection to them, Knull broke free and slaughtered billions during a cosmos-wide rampage of terror in which he attempted to once again control every symbiote and their hosts. Eventually, Knull’s search brought him to Earth where he faced off with Venom and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a 5-issue event titled The King in Black.
Given that Tom Hardy‘s Eddie Brock left a piece of his symbiote behind after visiting Earth-616, all the necessary ground work for Knull to enter the MCU has already been done. The rumors also line up with recent reports that before hiring Destin Daniel Cretton to direct the film, Marvel Studios and Sony overhauled the script for Spider-Man 4 which once featured Spidey and Daredevil teaming up against Wilson Fisk in a street-level Civil War. With production on Spider-Man 4 reportedly getting underway in the first half of 2025, it’s likely that we’ll gain some clarity on these rumors over the next few months.
For forty years, Marvel Comics’ crossover events have brought characters from every corner of the Marvel Universe to tell stories larger in scale and scope than could be done on the pages of any individual series. While not every event has been well-received, many of the arcs stand as some of the genre’s most exciting. Jim Starlin‘s Infinity Trilogy, Mark Millar‘s Civil War and Brian Michael Bendis‘ Secret Invasion have already been adapted by Marvel Studios which will next turn to an adaptation of Marvel’s first crossover event, Secret Wars, as the capstone to the Multiverse Saga. While fans wait to see just how that project comes together, new reports indicate that the studio may also have plans for a different type of crossover that would involve an unprecedented level of collaboration.
As Sony prepares to take its Venom franchise for one last spin around the dance floor, rumors and reports have begun to emerge that suggest that the story of Tom Hardy‘s Eddie Brock may continue in the MCU.
After revealing that Knull, the terrifying villain of Venom: The Last Dance, was portrayed via motion capture by Andy Serkis, industry insider Daniel RPK shared the news that the character was set to appear in future projects down the road. WIth Sony having confirmed that the upcoming film will be the final installment in the Venom franchise, that has led to speculation that the character may be making the jump to the MCU.
While it’s purely speculative at this point, there’s enough circumstantial evidence to allow for the possibility to be considered. Knull, also known in the comics as the King in Black, is an incredibly complex character but what’s important for the context of this potential crossover is that he is an eldritch god who created the symbiote race of which Venom is a part. After losing his connection to them for a time, Knull sought to regain control of them and take over the cosmos. As seen in trailers for Venom: The Last Dance, Knull is sending creatures to Earth in search of symbiotes and it could be assumed that he’s doing so to bring all of his “children” back to him. With a piece of the Venom symbiote having been left behind in the MCU, it’s not too hard to imagine that Knull could be making his way there soon.
It’s interesting that the news comes just ahead of the release of Venom: The Last Dance and as Sony and Marvel Studios begin to prepare for production on Spider-Man 4. After recently undergoing a major overhaul, the fourth installment in the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man franchise has reportedly shifted from featuring a “street-level Civil War” to potentially featuring a Multiversal story that could tie directly into Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Holland is reportedly set to play a leading role in both Avengers films and a meeting with Hardy’s Eddie Brock and a battle with Knull could work to put his Peter Parker in the black symbiote suit that first debuted in Jim Shooter‘s 1984 crossover event, Secret Wars, just in time for the 2027 MCU film of the same name.
The level of collaboration between the two studios that would be required to make this sort of studio crossover is unprecedented but also carries some potentially incredible implications. While Marvel Studios recently had major characters from non-Marvel Studios’ produced films appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, the studio had regained the right to all of those characters. In the imagined scenario where Venom and Knull appear in a film set within the MCU, the studio would be using characters solely owned by Sony and would have no choice but to adhere to the prior storytelling that brought them to where they are. Of course, with the Multiverse Saga in its back half, it is now or never for such an opportunity.
Venom: The Last Dance hits theaters on October 25th.
With the writing team of Chris McKenna and Eric Sommers back for a fourth go-around and Destin Daniel Cretton on board to direct, the creative team for Sony and Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man 4 looks to be in good shape. With the studios hoping to get principal photography underway in the first half of 2025 to get the film ready for 2026, the next step is assembling talent around star Tom Holland. While the supporting cast of the first MCU-set Spider-Man trilogy had several key members play large roles in each film, Spider-Man: No Way Home remade Peter’s status quo, leaving room for potential new friends and enemies.
The spell cast by Doctor Strange at the behest of Peter Parker in the final act of the Spidey threequel was intended to make everyone forget they knew the man behind the mask of the Wall-Crawler. And as revealed before the film wrapped, the spell was a success. Happy Hogan, MJ and Ned all interacted with Peter with no recognition of their friend. With his friends safe from enemies who would otherwise exploit them to get at Peter and Aunt May having been killed by The Green Goblin, Peter is set up for a brand new day…which may just include a new love interest!
According to social media scooper MyTimeToShineHello, as Spider-Man 4 heads for a May 2025 start of production, the project is searching for a new female lead.
While the scooper didn’t provide any follow-up details, it hasn’t stopped fans from speculating that the character may well be one that’s been both slated to rumored to appear in Spidey movies in the past: Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.
A cat burglar with a bit of a vengeful streak, Hardy has engaged in an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with Peter. The plot for Spider-Man 4 has yet to be revealed though rumors about the film involving either a street-level civil war or a crossover battle with Sony’s Eddie Brock/Venom, played by Tom Hardy. In either case, it’s not clear what role Black Cat would play but then again, neither plot is confirmed nor is it clear that she is the new female lead. With the studios moving quickly toward production, however, it wouldn’t be too surprising if more information about the project was revealed soon.
After staying quiet on their plans beyond 2025, Marvel Studios has quite clearly been working hard behind the scenes on getting its 2026 slate put together. Once the studio made the decision to pivot to Doctor Doom as the new centerpiece of the Multiverse Saga in Avengers: Doomsday, other pieces started to become easier to put into place. And so while projects such as Blade, Armor Wars and a Shang-Chi sequel face uncertain futures, other projects have started to gather some momentum.
According to Production List, production on Spider-Man 4 is currently slated to begin in January 2025.
Paired with additional news from Production List that Avengers: Doomsday is slated for an April start of principal photography, it looks as though Holland will have a three-month window to film his scenes for Spider-Man 4 before jumping into work on the fifth Avengers film. That timeline is indeed consistent with the filming windows for the three previous MCU-set Spidey films, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
As encouraging as things sound, Production List is NOT a trade and neither Marvel nor Sony have provided any official updates on Spider-Man 4. So as compelling as it is to believe a growing collection of circumstantial evidence, don’t mark anything on your calendars just yet.
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