Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s first official villain has been revealed – and Marvel fans are hailing it as ‘perfect casting’

• Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s first official villain has been revealed
• The Sony-Marvel movie will include a prominent crime boss from the comics
• They’ve appeared in animated Spider-Man projects over the past few years

Spider-Man: Brand New Day^[1] is reportedly set to feature a fan-favorite villain – and fans have already labeled it as “perfect casting”.

Per Deadline^[2], Marvin Jones III (Black Lightning) has been cast as Alonzo Thompson ‘Lonnie’ Lincoln, aka the crime boss more famously known as Tombstone.

Sony^[4] Pictures and Marvel^[5], who collaborate on Spider-Man^[6] movies that take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), haven’t confirmed Deadline’s report is accurate. However, given the trade publication’s track record for breaking official news ahead of time, it’s safe to assume that Jones III has officially boarded the project.

Jones III’s apparent hiring has gone down incredibly well with MCU^[7] fans, too. In the hours since the news broke yesterday evening (September 23), people have taken to social media, Reddit, and other forums to praise the movie’s latest cast addition.

This isn’t the first time Jones III has played Tombstone in a Spider-Man project. He also voiced the character in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse^[8], the first entry in Sony’s animated film trilogy that stars another webslinger in Miles Morales. According to Deadline, Jones III will reprise his role as Tombstone in 2027’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse^[9], i.e. the movie series’ third and final installment.

Curiously, Jones III was also reportedly due to play Lincoln in El Muerto. One of many villain- and anti-hero-led Spider-Man spin-off films that were canceled after the plug was pulled on the Sony Spider-Man Universe in late 2024^[10], the off-shoot flick would’ve marked Tombstone’s live-action debut, albeit in a movie that the iconic wallcrawler wouldn’t have been a part of.

Tombstone, who also had a large supporting role in Disney+^[11] animated show Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man^[12] in early 2025, isn’t the only member of Spidey’s stacked rogues gallery who’ll appear in Spider-Man 4^[13].

In May, a new Marvel leak indicated Brand New Day could feature three villains^[14]. Two months later, the identity of two of those villains was seemingly confirmed in a behind-the-scenes look at Spider-Man 4^[15].

It’s possible that the Marvel Phase 6^[16] film will feature more than a trio of antagonists, mind you. Ahead of principal photography getting underway in late August, rumors emerged that another villain – Mac Gargan/Scorpion, who was portrayed by Michael Mando in 2016’s Spider-Man: Homecoming – is also part of proceedings.

More outdoor filming is expected to take place in Basingstoke, UK, in early October and will reportedly be centered around a jailbreak scene. It’s possible, then, that we’ll get our first looks at Tombstone, Scorpion, and/or other villains shortly. Whether those action scenes will feature lead star Tom Holland following the head injury he recently suffered during filming on an indoor set^[17], though, remains unclear.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will thwip its way into theaters on July 31, 2026. Before it does, read up on everything we know so far about Spider-Man: Brand New Day^[18].

You might also like