Spider-Man’s Coolest MCU Villain Design Upgrade Has A Truly Tragic Movie Fate

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man fought a villain before he got the best design upgrade for a Marvel Cinematic Universe Spidey foe; however, that upgrade was doomed due to a key factor. The MCU’s Spider-Man movies sit among the very best the shared universe has to offer, which is why Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy is always part of the debate over which MCU hero has the best trilogy. A large part certainly comes from Holland’s performance as Peter Parker; however, his MCU villains also impacted the Spider-Man franchise positively.

After debuting in Captain America: Civil War, Holland’s Peter went up against Michael Keaton’s Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, with the villain discovering who was behind the Spider-Man mask. Then, Spider-Man: Far From Home saw Jake Gylenhaal’s Mysterio reveal Peter Parker’s identity to the whole world. After two incredible MCU villains, Marvel’s multiverse exploration led to Holland’s Spider-Man fighting Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock, and more villains from the past Spider-Man live-action movies. While the MCU succeeded in bringing those villains to life, the best design for one of them was reserved for another universe.

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Vulture’s Morbius Design Changes Made The Suit Cooler

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Nailed Vulture’s Design

Keaton’s Vulture is one of the best parts of the MCU’s Spider-Man movies so far. The actor made Adrian Toomes a menacing character both with and without his supervillain costume. While Vulture’s technological suit looked cool in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it was not the best the villain has looked on the big screen. As noted by @VenomDbd on Twitter, Vulture’s mask design differed greatly from his MCU film and the villain’s cameo in Morbius.

If there was one aspect of Vulture’s design that fell flat in the MCU, it was the villain’s mask. Sony’s Spider-Man Universe might not have a great reputation with fans and critics due to the misfires that were Morbius and Madame Web; however, the SSU really did improve the look of Keaton’s character. While maintaining the MCU’s technological suit, Vulture’s mask looked way more bird-like and menacing due to its pronounced beak, increased use of green, and brighter/bigger eyes.

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Why Morbius’ Vulture Design Changes Will Likely Never Be Seen Again

Jared Leto’s SSU Movie Failed

Morbius was the first movie in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe to focus on a more obscure character. As Leto’s SSU flick was not beloved by critics or audiences, it is unlikely that the character will be brought back. As such, Morbius‘ tease that Vulture would team up with Leto’s character and other villains to possibly go after Spider-Man should lead nowhere. While Keaton could always go back to the MCU as Vulture, an appearance in a new Spider-Man movie would surely bring a new costume design, as usual, meaning Vulture’s design changes from Morbius will likely be confined to the film.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

After making his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland is back as Peter Parker for a new Spider-Man solo film. This time, Peter battles with Adrian Toomes, who takes on the moniker Vulture after profiting off of selling Chitari technology and weapons. Under Tony Stark’s guidance, Peter must prove himself a hero while protecting his city from Vulture and the other criminals in New York. Spider-Man: Homecoming was the first of three films in director Jon Watts’ MCU journey, dubbed the “Homecoming” trilogy.

Director

Jon Watts

Release Date

July 7, 2017

Cast

Michael Keaton , Martin Starr , Angourie Rice , Robert Downey Jr. , Marisa Tomei , Bokeem Woodbine , Logan Marshall-Green , Garcelle Beauvais , Michael Mando , Zendaya , Tom Holland , Jon Favreau , Donald Glover , Hannibal Buress

Morbius

Morbius stars Jared Leto as the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius set in the Sony Pictures Marvel universe. Afflicted with a terrible illness since his youth, Michael has struggled until he met his new surrogate brother, Lucian, nicknamed Milo (Matt Smith), who shares the same disease. The two bond over the illness, and years later, Michael discovers a potential breakthrough by using a unique gene in vampire bats. When the experiment proves to be a success, it cures Michael of his ailment – however, it also turns him into a bloodthirsty vampire. While Michael aims to curtail his bloodlust, his brother, who has also taken the cure, does not share the same empathy. As a result, Michael will have to manage his powers while trying to stop his brother’s murderous rampage.

Director

Daniel Espinosa

Release Date

April 1, 2022

Cast

Adria Arjona , Al Madrigal , Jared Harris , Matt Smith , Jared Leto , Tyrese Gibson