Every Spider-Man Villain Appearing in ‘Brand New Day,’ From Scorpion’s Long-Awaited Return to a Surprising New Threat
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ has arrived with one of the most crowded villain rosters the web slinger has faced in years. Between returning comic book threats, a mystery antagonist played by Sadie Sink, and a handful of morally complicated allies, the film gives fans plenty to track.
With reviews now public and the movie in theaters, it is finally possible to sort out who is actually a villain in ‘Brand New Day’ versus who was simply part of the marketing tease. Here is a full breakdown of the confirmed and rumored antagonists, along with how critics have responded to the film’s approach to its rogues’ gallery.
Scorpion And Tombstone Finally Get Their Live Action Moment
Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan, better known as Scorpion, is the one villain confirmed across every report about the film. Brand New Day pays off a villain tease nine years in the making by including Scorpion, a character first introduced in Spider-Man Homecoming as a criminal looking to buy some of Vulture’s Chitauri infused tech before he was arrested.
Joining him is Marvin Jones III, who goes by Krondon, as Tombstone. Deadline reported that Black Lightning star Marvin Jones III was cast to play Tombstone, the New York crime boss and Marvel villain with superhuman strength who often battles Spider-Man and Daredevil in the comics. The character made his big screen debut in 2018’s Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, but Brand New Day marks his first live action appearance.
Jones III previously voiced Tombstone in the animated Into the Spider-Verse, and Marvel Studios and Sony chose to keep him in the role for the live action version, creating a unique link between the two projects. According to a scoop cited by reporters covering the film, Tombstone is reportedly set to be an overarching villain throughout the entire new Spider-Man trilogy, which would make him one of the few MCU villains to appear across more than one project.
Sadie Sink’s Mystery Villain Role Dominates The Conversation
The most talked about antagonist in ‘Brand New Day’ has been the one nobody could name for months. Marvel Studios teased a villain whose ability to jump into anyone’s mind makes him an unpredictable threat, with a power set that creates a deeply personal battle for Spider-Man where every encounter could be a trap and every familiar face could be manipulated.
That role belongs to Sadie Sink, though her character was kept under wraps through most of production. It remained unconfirmed exactly who Sink would play, though evidence from the trailers, including a major mind control moment, pointed toward Jean Grey, and she has also been cast in Avengers Secret Wars, lending credibility to that theory.
Reports on the film’s plot suggest her character is doing more damage than any traditional Spider-Man villain. One description of the film called it a very good Jean Grey origin story starring Spider-Man, noting that the actual Spider-Man villains are largely cameos except for Scorpion, who is being controlled by Jean, with Tombstone and The Hand also reportedly under her influence.
Do you think they should have added more villains?
Critics who have seen the finished film describe her performance as one of the biggest surprises of the movie. Since the film’s Hollywood premiere, reviewers have highlighted Sadie Sink as one of the biggest surprises in the film, praising her performance and describing her role as devastating. The Variety review took a more mixed view of how the character is ultimately resolved, noting that the villain turns out to have an honorable and sympathetic motivation, which the critic felt undercut the tension the film had built around her telepathic abilities.
Hulk, Punisher, And The Rest Of The Supporting Cast Of Threats
Not every antagonist in ‘Brand New Day’ is a traditional comic book villain. Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner has been described as a secondary antagonist, with the character going on a rampage after Jean Grey’s powers are used on him. Both Hulk and Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle, better known as the Punisher, are being framed as morally complex figures whose goals may occasionally put them at odds with Spider-Man rather than as straightforward villains.
Tramell Tillman also joined the cast in a role connected to institutional oversight rather than street crime. Tillman plays Bill Metzger, head of the Department of Damage Control, the government agency responsible for monitoring, capturing and controlling superpowered individuals with advanced technology.
Several other villains were rumored throughout production without ever receiving full confirmation. Tarantula, Boomerang, Ramrod and The Hand have all been rumored for the film, with Tarantula and Boomerang’s involvement later confirmed after official merchandise spoiled their costumes, while a supposed leaked cast list also mentioned Rhino, 8-Ball, Chameleon and the Jackal. Artwork that surfaced online showed a red and black suited figure suggesting Tarantula’s involvement alongside Scorpion and Boomerang, though no actor has been confirmed for that role.
Critics Are Split On A Crowded Villain Lineup
Once review embargoes lifted, reactions to the film’s handling of its villains became one of the most debated aspects of ‘Brand New Day.’ Early social media reactions following the film’s Hollywood premiere were largely positive but noted the Spidey villains felt more like afterthoughts, with one reaction praising the chemistry between Holland and Bernthal above the villain material.
Some outlets drew a direct comparison to one of the more divisive entries in Spider-Man history. Some critics feel the movie is too bloated with multiple villains and characters, potentially repeating the mistake many associate with 2007’s Spider-Man 3, which is often criticized for its messy inclusion of too many antagonists.
Other critics pushed back against that framing, praising how the film balances its ensemble. Film critic Peter Howell wrote that the movie cuts back on multiverse tedium to deliver a grounded Spider-Man tale rooted in the city, adding that a seriously scary villain emerges in the form of a malevolent telepath.
The Variety review ultimately landed somewhere in between, appreciating the ambition while questioning the execution. The review noted that Destin Daniel Cretton stages the Spidey action with a clever, leaping grandeur, even as it argued the central villain reveal did not sustain the tension the setup had promised.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ clearly set out to give Peter Parker his most personal villain yet, even if it meant sidelining some of his classic comic book foes to cameo status. With Scorpion, Tombstone, and Sadie Sink’s telepathic threat all sharing screen time with Hulk and Punisher, which of these villains do you think came out of the film the strongest.
