Every Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen the title hero share the screen with other famous faces from the franchise. Sony’s deal with Marvel Studios gives it access to MCU characters in its solo Spider-Man films, making those projects more clearly part of the larger universe. Sony has certainly cashed in, as across four Spider-Man movies, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has met other huge figures like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), The Punisher (Frank Bernthal), and Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) of the X-Men.
While audiences await official confirmation on Spider-Man 5, one safe bet is that it will feature some kind of Marvel team-up. With that in mind, we’ve got ten picks that Marvel Studios should consider, both based on the characters’ comic connections and the storytelling possibilities it opens up for Spider-Man 5. This also benefits the ten MCU heroes stated below, as it raises their status with audiences who will rush out to see the next Spider-Man movie. These are the ten best candidates for who should appear in Spider-Man 5.
10
Nova
The MCU has been laying the groundwork for Nova since 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which introduced Nova Corps. After a reported Disney+ series in the works, rumors suggest Nova will instead get his own feature film at some point. Even though Nova has not yet officially joined the MCU (though I’ve got some ideas on how he could), he is a character that would make for a great screen partner with Spider-Man, particularly due to his comic book history.
When Richard Rider’s Nova was introduced in Marvel Comics in 1976, he was created as a teenage superhero as an homage to Spider-Man. Marvel also intended to let the character tell the classic teenage superhero stories Peter Parker had aged out of, since by this point in the comics he had graduated from high school and gone to college. Now that Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has grown past high school, Marvel needs a new hero to fill that void. Nova can do that, and letting Spider-Man mentor him pays homage to his comic history while showing Peter Parker stepping into the role Tony Stark filled for him.
9
Squirrel Girl
Squirrel Girl has also not yet debuted in the MCU, though the character was originally set to be played by Milana Vayntrub in a canceled New Warriors pilot. Real name Doreen Allene Green, as her name implies, Squirrel Girl possesses the power of the squirrels and can also command them. She is a humorous, animal-themed hero who would make a great mirror of Spider-Man.
Squirrel Girl has a connection to the MCU’s Peter Parker in the wider multiverse; in Disney theme park Avengers Campus (which takes place in a timeline where the Snap never happened), Doreen Green is one of the engineers of the Worldwide Engineering Brigade (WEB) program. We wouldn’t expect Squirrel Girl to play a major role in the film, though debuting in a Spider-Man movie might be the best way to introduce her to a wide audience. That way, she could show up in other MCU titles, maybe even her own Special Presentation.
8
Cloak & Dagger
After incorporating The Punisher into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the next film should bring in another former Marvel television character. Two prime candidates should be Cloak and Dagger, with Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt reprising their roles from the critically acclaimed Freeform series. A role in a new Spider-Man film is the best way to reintroduce Cloak and Dagger to fans of the franchise while also introducing many viewers who might have never even heard of them.
Cloak and Dagger have a long history with Spider-Man, even debuting in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64 from March 1982. The characters have seen renewed popularity thanks to their role in the hit video game Marvel Rivals, so now is the time to reintegrate them into the MCU. As young superheroes who only have each other, Cloak and Dagger could form a meaningful connection with Spider-Man and give him a superhero support group of people his age he can relate to.
7
Luke Cage
Since returning at the end of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, there are plenty of questions about how Mike Colter’s Luke Cage fits into the MCU’s plans moving forward. Many are hoping to see Luke Cage become the mayor of New York City after Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), similar to what happened in the comics. Yet as one of New York’s most public-facing heroes, Luke Cage needs to meet Spider-Man.
Luke Cage and Spider-Man have a long-standing friendship in the comics, thanks to their roles as members of the New Avengers. Mike Colter’s depiction of Luke Cage is a laid-back, approachable everyman who would pair nicely with Tom Holland’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Yet it would also make for a fun showdown if the two did have to fight, as Luke Cage can take any hit Spider-Man throws at him.
6
Ms. Marvel
With Marvel Studios seemingly pulling back on Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel’s future is now in doubt, especially after the poor box office performance of The Marvels. However, most fans agree that Iman Vellani has been one of the best elements of the Multiverse Saga and one that needs to have a continued presence. While the MCU figures out what to do with the Young Avengers, maybe Ms. Marvel could team up with Spider-Man?
Ms. Marvel is foundational to Marvel Comics in the 21st century as Peter Parker was in the 20th century. Like Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel is also a teenage superhero who grew up in the world of the Avengers and idolizes them. It just feels natural to pair Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man together, if not just to see the joyful comedic chemistry between stars Iman Vellani and Tom Holland both on and off-screen.
5
Captain Marvel
Spider-Man: Brand New Day broke many records, but it also ended one notable movie streak, as it was director Destin Daniel Cretton’s first movie without Brie Larson. Since his debut film Short Term 12, Larson has appeared in every one of Cretton’s films, even filming a Captain Marvel cameo for the post-credit scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Yet sadly, it appeared there was no natural place to fit Carol Danvers into Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
If Destin Daniel Cretton returns for Spider-Man 5, Captain Marvel should absolutely be in it. But even if he doesn’t return, Carol Danvers makes for a great character for Spider-Man to bounce off of, as seen in the brief interaction Larson and Holland shared as their superheroes in Avengers: Endgame. Larson’s Carol Danvers should be one of the pillars of the MCU and should be worked into more films as Marvel Studios figures out what to do with her own franchise.
4
Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones has a unique relationship to Spider-Man in the comics. While Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos created her, she was retroactively established as a background character in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 and as one of Peter Parker’s classmates. Even though Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones couldn’t have been Peter’s classmate within the MCU, the franchise could pay homage to their comic connection by letting the two partner up on an adventure.
Spider-Man could seek out Jessica Jones’s help, similar to Yelena Belova’s role in Brand New Day. Jessica Jones and Spider-Man could investigate the same case before crossing paths, ultimately leading to a team-up to take down a larger criminal conspiracy. It also would feel like a missed opportunity not to pair Ritter’s sardonic character with Tom Holland’s traditionally upbeat Spider-Man.
3
Shang-Chi
Given that Destin Daniel Cretton directed both Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it feels only natural to pair Tom Holland’s Spider-Man with Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi. In the comics, Shang-Chi and Spider-Man have crossed paths many times, including the Ultimate Marvel “Knights” storyline and the recent Gang War story arc. The most famous, though, might be in Spider-Island, where Shang-Chi trains Spider-Man in martial arts after the webslinger’s spider-sense begins to fade. Shang-Chi even helps Spider-Man craft his own martial arts style known as the Way of the Spider.
Now Spider-Man: The Way of the Spider already sounds like a great title for a fifth Spider-Man movie. But featuring Shang-Chi in a new Spider-Man effort could help make up for the character not getting a proper sequel. Spider-Man might have defeated the Hand, but what about the global threat of the Ten Rings that Shang-Chi’s solo film teased? Shang-Chi’s presence opens up many exciting possibilities for Spider-Man 5.
2
The Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man are so closely tied together in the comics, it would be a real shame not to have them cross paths in the MCU. Spider-Man attempted to join the Fantastic Four in the debut issue of his solo comic, and later developed a long-lasting friendship with the team, particularly Johnny Storm. The Fantastic Four not only discovered Peter Parker’s black suit was a symbiote, but after the Human Torch’s death, Spider-Man filled in for his fallen friend as a member of the Future Foundation.
It is unclear whether the Fantastic Four will remain in their own universe after Avengers: Secret Wars or be folded into the MCU’s Sacred Timeline, but Marvel Studios needs to orchestrate a way to have the superhero team and Spider-Man work together. This wouldn’t only honor the comic book history between these two Marvel titles, but the Fantastic Four’s role in a Spider-Man movie could raise the team’s profile even more after First Steps performed well.
1
Daredevil
Daredevil is the obvious answer, and hard to argue with. As two of New York’s most famous street-level heroes, Spider-Man and Daredevil have crossed paths multiple times in the comics and have teamed up in storylines ranging from “The Death of Jean DeWolff” to “Gang War.” Daredevil’s inclusion also opens the door for the Kingpin’s return, bringing Spidey into conflict with the crime boss who debuted back in The Amazing Spider-Man #50.
After Charlie Cox’s cameo as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it is only natural for his Daredevil alter ego to also meet Spider-Man. The dynamic would flip: Matt Murdock wouldn’t remember representing Peter Parker, but Spider-Man would now know his former lawyer is actually a superhero after the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 finale. A Spider-Man and Daredevil team-up in the MCU has been a long time coming, and at this point, it’s only a question of when.
- Release Date
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July 29, 2026
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
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Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
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Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
