With the anticipation mounting for Tom Holland’s next outing as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans and analysts alike are speculating about the direction Spider-Man 4 should take. After the multiversal mayhem of No Way Home, which redefined the character and reset Peter Parker’s life, the next film presents a unique opportunity to ground Spider-Man in a more personal, street-level story — the kind of narrative that made the character so beloved in the first place. Enter Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat. With her rich comic book history, complex relationship with Peter Parker, and untapped potential in live-action, Black Cat isn’t just a strong candidate — she’s the only choice to take center stage in Spider-Man 4.
At this point in the MCU, Peter Parker is alone, stripped of his support system, forgotten by his closest friends, and living in a humble apartment in New York City, just like his early comic book days. He’s finally the classic down-on-his-luck Peter that fans know: scraping by, facing personal challenges, and balancing responsibility with his desire for connection. Black Cat offers the perfect narrative foil to this iteration of Peter. She’s someone who lives in the gray area between hero and criminal, who challenges Peter’s moral compass, and, most importantly, sees Spider-Man — not Peter Parker — as the person she connects with. That’s a dynamic we haven’t yet seen in the MCU, and it’s ripe for exploration.
Black Cat made her first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 in 1979, created by Marv Wolfman and Keith Pollard. Inspired by classic femme fatale archetypes and the likes of Catwoman from DC Comics, Felicia Hardy carved her own niche as a cat burglar with a penchant for high-stakes theft and flirtatious banter. But what sets Felicia apart is the emotional complexity beneath the mask. She’s not just a thief for thrills — her motivations stem from a complicated past, including a desire to live up to her father’s legacy and to control her own destiny. Her powers — often depicted as “bad luck” hexes or athletic prowess enhanced by technology or genetic experimentation — allow her to stand toe-to-toe with Spider-Man, not just physically but emotionally.
Introducing Black Cat into the MCU now makes perfect sense, especially considering the current tone and trajectory of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. After No Way Home, Peter is looking for connection, for someone who understands the double life of being a masked figure. Felicia Hardy fits that mold perfectly. Unlike MJ or Gwen Stacy, Felicia doesn’t fall in love with Peter Parker — she falls in love with Spider-Man. That creates an immediate tension. Peter, who is yearning to be seen for who he is, might find both solace and conflict in a relationship where he’s admired for the mask, not the man underneath it. It’s a dynamic that challenges him in ways we haven’t seen in the previous trilogy and opens the door for emotional growth.
Moreover, Black Cat could lead Spider-Man 4 into a more noir-inspired, grounded territory, focusing on heists, street-level crime, and moral ambiguity — a contrast to the bombastic scale of the multiverse or alien threats. Picture Spider-Man torn between his sense of justice and his growing fascination with Felicia, who offers both companionship and danger. Their push-and-pull relationship is a staple in the comics and would translate well to a film that seeks to humanize Peter while delivering action and romance.
There’s also an opportunity for world-building here. The MCU has already laid the groundwork for characters like Daredevil, Kingpin, and Echo to inhabit a more gritty, New York-centric world. Black Cat would fit seamlessly into this environment, potentially setting up future interactions not just with Spider-Man but with the broader street-level heroes and villains that Marvel is finally bringing into the spotlight.
In terms of casting and aesthetic, Felicia Hardy offers creative freedom. She can be portrayed with the style and charisma of a classic film noir anti-heroine, blending humor, allure, and vulnerability. The MCU is known for reinvigorating characters with modern interpretations, and Black Cat is primed for this treatment. Importantly, she has never been portrayed in a live-action film, despite years of rumors and abandoned projects. This means the MCU could introduce her without the burden of comparison, giving audiences a fresh take on a character who deserves the spotlight.
Other potential characters for Spider-Man 4 — such as Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, or even the Sinister Six — either require heavy narrative setup or tread familiar ground. Black Cat, by contrast, is a clean slate in the MCU, and her presence would bring novelty, emotional depth, and thematic weight to Peter’s evolving story. Her morally gray actions challenge Peter to define who he is without Tony Stark or the Avengers, and without the safety net of his past relationships. In a sense, Felicia Hardy forces Peter to grow up — to navigate adult relationships, make tough decisions, and question the rigid lines between right and wrong.
Spider-Man 4 needs to be a personal story, a character-driven narrative that reminds fans why Peter Parker is the heart of Marvel. Black Cat can do that — and more. She’s the only choice to push Spider-Man into new territory while staying true to the core of what makes him great: responsibility, sacrifice, and the search for connection in a chaotic world.