Spider-Man 4 is ramping up ahead of its filming start next year, and new details from the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie make the best possible MJ replacement more likely to appear in the film. Zendaya"s MJ has been an exciting character to follow in Tom Holland"s Spider-Man movies. While the character carries the classic nickname of Spidey"s most well-known love interest from the comics, Mary Jane Watson, Marvel Studios cast her as a different character, Michelle Jones. The MCU"s MJ is very different from her comic book namesake in many regards, and their different personalities make Zendaya"s role more interesting.
Zendaya"s MJ is initially skeptical of Peter, but later befriends him and Ned. In Holland"s second Spider-Man movie, she deduces his secret identity, and they get together, while Spider-Man: No Way Home breaks them up in a heartbreaking way. I"ve enjoyed following Zendaya"s MJ and how her relationship with Holland"s Peter Parker has changed and evolved with every new Spider-Man movie. However, I believe that it is time to shake things up in the franchise. Spider-Man 4, one of the most anticipated upcoming MCU movies, has the perfect setup to replace Zendaya"s MJ with the character I want to see.
The Story Of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 Has Been Revealed The Next Spider-Man Movie Is Shaping Up To Be Intimate Close Tom Holland"s first Spider-Man trilogy maintained a tight release schedule. Every MCU Spider-Man movie was released two years after its predecessor, from 2017"s Spider-Man: Homecoming to 2021"s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Due to how big of a movie Holland"s third Spider-Man was and delays caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, that pattern has been broken for his Peter Parker return. Spider-Man 4 will be released in 2026, five years after Holland last played the wall-crawler. Delays to the film have caused few reveals to come out. However, with production set to start in 2025, details are starting to come out.
MCU Spider-Man Movies
Release Year
Spider-Man: Homecoming
2017
Spider-Man: Far From Home
2019
Spider-Man: No Way Home
2021
Spider-Man 4
2026
After Holland teased that he had read the Spider-Man 4 script and bounced with enthusiasm, I became excited about Spider-Man"s next MCU chapter. Now, we have finally got details about what is in that script that excited the actor so much. The first Spider-Man 4 story details have been revealed. According to Spider-Man franchise producer Amy Pascal, Tom Holland"s next MCU film will focus on the character abandoning his Peter Parker persona to fully focus on being Spider-Man. Pascal claims that the decision was because the hero found it too hard to be Peter. Check out the full quote below:
[indent] “We have to deal with the fact that he decided he was going to give up being Peter Parker, and he was gonna focus on being Spider-Man, because being Peter Parker was too hard. So that’s what the movie is about.”
[/indent]I love that direction for Spider-Man 4. As we were left with no updates on the movie for years, many rumors started to circulate in the absence of actual news. The biggest of them was related to how Marvel allegedly wanted to tell a street-level story while Sony was pushing for multiverse elements after Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield"s Spider-Man returns made Spider-Man: No Way Home a box office behemoth. I would be happy either way, but Spider-Man: No Way Home"s ending did set up a more contained sequel, and Spider-Man 4"s story seems to follow that street-level idea.
I Think No Way Home's Ending Means The MCU Has To Move Away From MJ For Now Zendaya's Marvel Character Could Return Later On Close While I like Zendaya"s MJ, I don"t think she should be Peter Parker"s love interest in his next solo movie. MJ will reportedly be in Spider-Man 4, but I think her role could be smaller than the one she has played in the franchise, perhaps with Tom Holland"s Spider-Man watching her from afar. Spider-Man: No Way Home"s ending would not be as effective as it was if Zendaya"s Marvel character came back to play a major role in the film. After all, Doctor Strange"s spell made everyone forget who Peter Parker was, and he chose not to tell MJ.
The reason for that was an emotional one, as Peter decided keeping MJ safe was more important than being with her. As such, I think having MJ appear in a major role in Spider-Man 4 and become Spidey"s love interest again would defeat the purpose of one of the MCU"s most poignant moments. Adding to that, Tom Holland has said that he wants to make many more movies as Spider-Man. I"m convinced that could include at least another MCU trilogy. For that purpose, a new cast of supporting characters would be the best way to start fresh with Spider-Man.
Black Cat Is The Perfect MJ Replacement Felicia Hardy Fits Spider-Man 4's Story Close If Zendaya"s MJ is not Peter Parker"s love interest in Spider-Man 4, then I know who could be her ideal replacement. Black Cat still has to be done justice in live-action, with Felicia Hardy only having a cameo role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 so far. The MCU could use the character in a huge way, as Black Cat would be the perfect fit for Spider-Man 4"s story. In the comics, Black Cat tends to be interested in Spider-Man, not really Peter Parker. That makes her great for Holland"s next MCU Spidey film, as Peter will be left behind.
Related The MCU’s New Spider-Man Can Finally Let Tom Holland’s Peter Parker Grow Marvel Studios will debut a new version of Spider-Man in 2025, and the hero can finally lead to a whole new chapter for Tom Holland"s Peter Parker.
Posts I"m convinced that Black Cat is the perfect choice to focus on Peter"s new stance as Spider-Man while also adding romance back to his life. Spider-Man is all alone in the MCU after No Way Home"s ending, and Felicia Hardy could be the one to establish the connection that Peter yearns for. Black Cat also happens to be the most requested love interest for Spider-Man, with many wanting Madame Web star Sydney Sweeney to play Felicia. I would love to see Sweeney as the MCU"s Black Cat, but even if that does not happen, just having Felicia would be enough.
MJ’s Other Possible Replacement Would Not Match Spider-Man 4’s Story A Spider-Man Franchise Has Also Already Gone That Route Close If Felicia Hardy and MJ are not Peter"s love interests in Spider-Man 4, then Gwen Stacy emerges as a popular alternative. Before Spider-Man 4"s story was announced, I saw Gwen"s MCU debut as a possible replacement for Zendaya"s MJ. In Marvel Comics, Peter and Gwen meet for the first time in college, which is where Holland"s character could be headed after concluding high school in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Another sign that could point toward Gwen Stacy is Spider-Man 4"s working title, revealed to be Blue Oasis. "Spider-Man: Blue" is an iconic comic book story focused on Peter and Gwen.
However, now that we know what Tom Holland"s Spider-Man 4 story is about, I don"t think Gwen Stacy makes sense for it. Unless it happened to be the Spider-Woman version of Gwen, similar to the animated Spider-Verse movies, the MCU is seemingly moving in a direction that makes the character"s inclusion in Spider-Man 4 make little sense. Gwen works best with Peter Parker, and as the new movie will focus on Peter ditching that side of his to fully be Spider-Man, Black Cat seems like Spider-Man 4"s ideal replacement for Zendaya"s MJ instead of Gwen Stacy.
Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

Spider-Man 4 SuperheroActionAdventure Spider-Man 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.
Release Date July 24, 2026 Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe , Spider-Man prequel(s) Spider-Man: Homecoming , Spider-Man: Far From Home , Spider-Man: No Way Home All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025 Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025 Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date July 25, 2025 Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
Release Date Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

Spider-Man Homecoming 4
Release Date July 24, 2026 Your changes have been saved

Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success!

Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027

---