Marvel makes the case for Kingpin’s replacement as Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s main antagonist if Vincent D’Onofrio can’t return for the Phase 6 MCU movie. After facing several of Marvel’s most iconic Spider-Man villains, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will fight a new threat in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Whoever this is, they’ll bring together Spider-Man, the Punisher, the Hulk, and possibly multiple fellow criminals.
Daredevil: Born Again made Wilson Fisk every NYC hero and vigilante’s top enemy. Meanwhile, Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle is set to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day after his appearances in Born Again and his own Special Presentation. It would be logical for the MCU to continue this narrative and have Spider-Man, the Punisher, Daredevil, and other vigilantes face off against Mayor Fisk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
However, Vincent D’Onofrio has stated that featuring Wilson Fisk in an MCU movie is tricky, as the character is allegedly “caught up in rights and stuff.” While D’Onofrio could just be hiding Fisk’s surprise movie appearance, there’s a chance Marvel will have to leave Kingpin in the back burner and instead use a similar antagonist for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Marvel Proves Tombstone Is The Perfect Villain For Tom Holland’s Spider-Man If Kingpin Isn’t Available
The Punisher: Red Band #1; Written by Benjamin Percy; Art by Julius Ohta & Yen Nitro
Tombstone threatens a criminal in The Punisher Red Band #1
In The Punisher: Red Band #1, Frank Castle gets involved in a turf war between Kingpin and Tombstone, both of whom show off their darkest side by tormenting their enemies before killing them, leaving a horrific trail of blood behind them. Wilson Fisk pressures a priest into removing himself from Kingpin’s path. Then, Tombstone takes violence up a notch and cuts up his criminal informants like meat, to put it nicely.
Tombstone is one of the few villains who can match Kingpin’s power and influence. As a mob enforcer turned crime boss, Tombstone is a danger to anyone caught in the crossfire of his dealings. Like Wilson Fisk, Lonnie Lincoln is willing to wipe out journalists, rival gangs, and street-level heroes, either by calling a hit on them or by crushing them with his own hands.
Tombstone’s unbreakable skin and enhanced strength allow him to fight Spider-Man head-on, while his calculating cruelty ensures no truce is safe in the criminal underworld. Tombstone thrives on brutality, which makes him the perfect figure to represent organized crime in a Spider-Man movie if Wilson Fisk’s political career keeps the mayor occupied. Not to mention, an MCU movie has more time and budget for a comic-accurate Tombstone.
Tombstone Appearing In Spider-Man: Brand New Day Could Make Kingpin’s MCU Story Even Better
Tombstone & Kingpin Could Be Enemies Without Meeting Each Other
Tom Holland’s Peter Parker web-swings through the air next to Iron Man in Spider-Man Homecoming
If what Vincent D’Onofrio says about Kingpin’s movie rights is true, then, unfortunately, it would be safe to say that Kingpin can’t make the jump from TV to the movies, and Tombstone can’t make the jump from the movies to TV. Sony’s deal with Marvel means that no Spider-Man-related character can appear in a Marvel TV show. Still, Tombstone and Kingpin would exist in the same universe and city.
Tombstone’s takeover of New York’s underworld in Spider-Man: Brand New Day would prove that Kingpin can’t control the whole city. Regardless of whatever Kingpin accomplishes in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, there will always be a bigger criminal. It’s only a matter of time until Spider-Man and Kingpin meet somehow, but until then, Kingpin can lose ground to a Spidey villain off-screen.
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton