Before writers and actors went on strike, Spider-Man 4 was beginning to take shape at Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures. Now, it will slip even further down the release calendar, though we're confident it will be worth the wait.
Recently, a rumour started doing the rounds claiming Michael Mando's Mac Gargan will return in the movie. It's previously been reported that the next movie is going to revolve around The Kingpin, but we actually think a better option is to pit Tom Holland's Peter Parker against this underrated baddie.
In this feature, we break down all the reasons why Scorpion would be a great choice of big bad for Spider-Man 4, including what his return could mean for the franchise's future. After all, "Scorpion" isn't the only mantle Mac has held (the other is positively venomous...).
You can take a look through our thoughts by clicking on the "Next" button below.
5. It Will Also Put JJJ Front And Centre
Spider-Man: No Way Home made it clear that the MCU's J. Jonah Jameson hates the web-slinger but, like the rest of the world, he no longer remembers who's beneath the mask. As his vendetta continues, it makes sense for JJJ to hire a private investigator to try and deduce who New York City's "menace" is.
That P.I.? Mac Gargan. A minor retcon would need to be made as Spider-Man: Homecoming's version of the character was a crook (who was meant to be a corrupt cop). That should be easy enough and, once Mac fails, Jonah can introduce him to Dr. Farley Stillwell in an effort to create a "hero" capable of taking down Spider-Man.
The Scorpion will be born, J.K. Simmons will get a lead role as TheDailyBugle.net's cantankerous figurehead, and we'll get a story that will feel like a breath of fresh air for the web-slinger's MCU-based adventures.
4. A True Challenge For Peter Parker
We've seen the MCU's Spider-Man face many formidable foes, including The Vulture, Mysterio, and the Green Goblin. Even so, Scorpion can push Peter to his limits, particularly if Marvel Studios leans into the dominance scorpions have over spiders in the wild.
Stronger than Spidey and boasting his own danger sense, his powerful armour makes Mac a major threat to the hero, something the comics have failed to effectively portray in recent years due to Scorpion's B-List status.
We'd actually love to see Spider-Man 4 follow the Spider-Man video game's example by having the villain poison the web-slinger. With that, Peter could suffer from all manner of hallucinations, with the final act showing Scorpion "transforming" into a monster for a horror-inspired battle.
3. He's One Of Spider-Man's Most Underrated Foes
Despite being one of Spider-Man's original villains (created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko), Scorpion rarely gets the same level of respect as characters like Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin. In fact, he's become a secondary baddie often easily dispatched by the wall-crawler.
That changed in Mark Millar and Terry Dodson's Marvel Knights Spider-Man when Mac learned of Spidey's secret identity (courtesy of Norman Osborn). With that, he enacted a plan which saw him stage Aunt May's death and assemble a Sinister Twelve to take Peter down once and for all.
Marvel Studios can put a spin on Mac that makes him a major threat to Peter and perhaps even his most formidable foe to date. There would be no world-ending stakes here; instead, we'd get a classic Spidey yarn!
2. A Venomous Future
At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock was sent back to his own reality but he left a piece of the Venom Symbiote behind. Will Marvel Studios pick up on that dangling plot thread? We certainly hope so.
However, rather than head down the expected route of introducing Earth-616's Eddie, we'd like to see Mac eventually get his hands on the alien suit. With that, a sinister new Venom could be introduced and, just like in the comics, this Venom would be an absolute beast of a character.
When the comic book version of this villain gained the Symbiote, he transformed into a hulking monster who ate people's brains (and limbs) and, later, he even became an amalgamation of both Venom and Scorpion.
1. Michael Mando Gets His Chance To Shine
Michael Mando's role in Spider-Man: Homecoming was little more than a cameo, and when we last saw him, he was in prison - after being badly injured courtesy of Spidey's intervention - and eager for The Vulture to tell him who's beneath the mask.
Even if he found out, the villain would have forgotten, but that interest can easily be exploited by Jonah. It feels like a logical next step for this franchise and, more importantly, a chance for Mando to shine. If you've seen his work in Better Call Saul then you'll know he's an absolute powerhouse of a talent.
Despite not being a big-name star, we're confident he can do Scorpion justice, putting himself and the character on the map in the process. We just hope Marvel Studios makes this a reality.