Spider-Man 4"s Newest Update Makes 1 Surprising MCU Hero"s Appearance Feel Almost Inevitable

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The confirmation of the director for Spider-Man 4 makes the inclusion of one powerful Marvel hero in the upcoming MCU sequel even more likely. Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures quickly confirmed after Spider-Man: No Way Home that more web-slinging adventures would unfold in the MCU, and Tom Holland has long been expected to reprise the role of Peter Parker's Spider-Man. Spider-Man 4 got its biggest update in years in September, as Jon Watts' replacement as director was finally revealed, and he's a familiar name in the MCU.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that director Destin Daniel Cretton is expected to direct Spider-Man 4, continuing his esteemed career with Marvel Studios after leading Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming Wonder Man series. Cretton's attachment to Spider-Man 4 has raised anticipation for the sequel, and this could create the opportunity for some of the director's frequent collaborators to also appear in the movie. This includes someone well known to MCU audiences, who could be the perfect new mentor figure to Tom Holland's Spider-Man.
Brie Larson Has Appeared In Most Of Destin Daniel Cretton’s Movies Brie Larson Has Appeared In Four Out Of Five Of Destin Daniel Cretton's Feature Films

Since making his directorial debut in 2012, Destin Daniel Cretton has directed five feature films, and four of these movies have featured Brie Larson. Larson didn't appear in I Am Not a Hipster, Cretton's first project, but she had starring roles in Short Term 12 and The Glass Castle, and also appeared in Just Mercy and even Cretton's MCU debut, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It seems Cretton and Larson have a strong professional relationship, which makes her appearance in the MCU's Spider-Man 4 almost inevitable.
Brie Larson's Destin Daniel Cretton Movie
Year
Role
Short Term 12
2013
Grace Howard
The Glass Castle
2017
Jeannette Walls
Just Mercy
2019
Eva Ansley
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2021
Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel
Brie Larson didn't appear in Destin Daniel Cretton's directed episodes of American Born Chinese, and it's unclear whether she will return as the MCU's Captain Marvel in Wonder Man. Even so, the fact that she has appeared in most of Cretton's feature films suggests that she could easily pop up in Spider-Man 4. After the disappointing performance of her second solo movie, 2023's The Marvels, it would be great to see Carol Danvers earn a stronger reputation in the MCU, and showing up in Spider-Man 4 could be the best way to accomplish this.
Spider-Man 4 Could Explore Captain Marvel & Spider-Man’s Friendship From Marvel Comics Spider-Man & Captain Marvel Are Very Good Friends In Marvel Comics Close Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel popping up in Spider-Man 4 doesn't need to simply be a fleeting cameo appearance, as she has a fantastic friendship with Peter Parker's Spider-Man that would be great to see developed in the MCU. This is especially true after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which left Peter Parker forgotten and alone, with nobody to turn to. Of course, Spider-Man and Captain Marvel's romance from Marvel Comics likely won't be explored in the MCU, given the huge age gap between the characters, but they can absolutely become friends.
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This friendship has already been teased in the MCU, as Carol Danvers and Peter Parker introduced themselves to the other during the Battle of Earth in Avengers: Endgame. Marvel Studios could reveal that, somehow, Danvers still remembers Parker, which could be easily explained thanks to her remarkable and incomprehensible power-set. This creates the opportunity for Brie Larson to have a major role in Spider-Man 4, perhaps filling the role assumed by Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Doctor Strange in No Way Home.
Captain Marvel Would Be A Great Mentor To Peter Parker In Spider-Man 4 Peter Parker Has Been Mentored By Iron Man, Mysterio, Nick Fury & Doctor Strange

There has been some discussion about who could take over the mentorship role for Peter Parker in Spider-Man 4. This role has most notably been taken on by Tony Stark's Iron Man and Doctor Strange in previous MCU projects, and while some have suggested that Parker is now mature enough to go it alone, it would still be great to see him team up with an older and more experienced hero. The most popular theory suggests that this could be Charlie Cox's Daredevil, but Destin Daniel Cretton's professional connection to Brie Larson implies Captain Marvel could fit this bill.
Captain Marvel MCU Appearance
Year
Role
Captain Marvel
2019
Lead Role
Avengers: Endgame
2019
Minor Role
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2021
Cameo
Ms. Marvel
2022
Cameo
The Marvels
2023
Lead Role
After the events of The Marvels, Carol Danvers is Earth-bound, meaning it's likely she'll make appearances in the MCU's upcoming street-level projects. This, of course, includes Spider-Man 4. Danvers currently lives in the Rambeau family residence in New Orleans, but she could travel to New York City to team up with the young wall-crawler. Danvers' long life has granted her a huge amount of wisdom that Peter Parker could find essential, especially when it comes to maintaining relationships with loved ones, which Danvers has been notoriously bad at, and Parker has refused to re-cultivate.
Spider-Man 4 Can Set Up Both Captain Marvel & Spider-Man As Members Of The New Avengers The Avengers Have Been Inactive In The MCU Since Avengers: Endgame

The Avengers haven't been active as a collective superhero team since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and the trailers for 2025's upcoming Captain America: Brave New World have confirmed that the team is yet to be officially reformed. It seems as though Sam Wilson will build a new Avengers team ahead of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars in Phase 6. Destin Daniel Cretton's Spider-Man 4 could be used to set up Spider-Man and Captain Marvel as core members of the MCU's new Avengers team.

Related Marvel Has Set Up 10 Avengers Replacements For After Secret Wars Avengers: Secret Wars is the last announced project set to feature the MCU"s original superhero team, so a new team may replace them in Phase 7.
Both Spider-Man and Captain Marvel were only official Avengers for a short while in the Infinity Saga, but they could become permanent members of the team ahead of the Phase 6. Spider-Man would need to be reintroduced to many members of the Avengers, while Captain Marvel's new Earth-bound status makes her a clear candidate, especially since she's one of the MCU's most powerful heroes. It's unclear when Spider-Man 4 will release, but it makes sense that the movie will reconnect Spider-Man to the wider world of the MCU and its incredible heroes, including Brie Larson's Captain Marvel.

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Not Yet Rated SuperheroActionAdventure Spider-Man: Homecoming 4 is the first sequel to the MCU's Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland as the titular wall-crawler. After wiping his identity for the public's memory in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker continues his crime-fighting adventures without the aid of Iron Man technology or the support of his former allies.
Distributor(s) Sony Cast Tom Holland , Zendaya , Jacob Batalon Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe , Spider-Man prequel(s) Spider-Man: Homecoming , Spider-Man: Far From Home , Spider-Man: No Way Home Upcoming MCU Movies